Naturally, we have been juggling a lot of details since our arrival here: getting a household set up in a new country, still wrapping up the sale of our house in the States, adjusting to being students again 20 – 30 years after our college/seminary days. So we’re trying to be patient with ourselves when a few details slip through the cracks. Sometimes it is more difficult than others.
Last week, for example, when Dave went grocery shopping with me, he went to the ATM first to make a withdrawal. The ATM is not in the grocery store, but is in the same shopping center. When we checked out, we paid with a different card than the one Dave used at the ATM. The cashier inadvertantly failed to return the card at the end of the transaction, and neither Dave nor I noticed. We were out of the store and well on our way, when we heard someone behind us. It was the cashier returning our card. Amazing! But that’s not all. Several days later we realized that our other card was missing. After searching through pockets, bookbags, closets, and various hiding places, we concluded that Dave must have left it in the ATM machine. We learned, though a series of phone calls, that the bank does not return cards left in machines. In spite of this info and the fact that it was now one week later, we returned to the ATM. Of course, the card was nowhere to be found. We decided to ask at the grocery store anyway. The security guard, who thankfully spoke a little English, spoke to the woman at the concession stand, who directed us to the manager of the store. She asked my husband’s name and then immediately took us to a desk, opened the drawer, and pulled out his card! Apparently, some honest soul retrieved it from the ATM and took it to the grocery store. This in a city where we’ve been warned over and over about theft. We’ll be giving our business to that grocery store!
Even though we asked people to pray that the card would be found, we barely had a mustard seed of faith that it would happen. And yet, God made it clear to us again that he is taking care of us here.
Hi Guys! It looks like you already have a hang of this! Jacob and I have loved getting to know you this past month or so! Keep up the great work!
Courtenay