Back to the Longhouse
April 6, 2008 – 4:49 pmI joined my mom’s cell group for the trip to the longhouse, which is normally once in two weeks. If you remember, I was at the longhouses for the short term missions trip. So anyway, we went to Rumah Tuan. I, because I wanted to see those folks again, and to look at the place where I spent two nights in.
The highlight probably isn’t the visit. It’s the bus and the road. Now, I’m sure I don’t mind the bus that is practically falling apart, and that the windows rattle like there’s an earthquake. No, I don’t mind. But add to that bad roads, and it’s nearly unforgivable. The road between Siba and Tuan used to be good, taking only about 15 minutes. But now, without proper maintenance and loads of heavy trucks passing, the road is kind of torn up. The bus jerks and puffs along for nearly 40 minutes. What time wasted!
So there I sat in the bus, lurching along with it, until we reached RH Tuan. Nice to see the folks and kids - the kids were there for the service’ p&w, which was something missing from the previous trip. They did the action songs most cutely. Anyway, I was of some use, playing the keyboard.
When the service was over, we walked 200-300 metres in the dark, guided only by torchlights, to the side of the road. It had begun to rain. We waited 20 minutes for the bus to pick us up, each time we saw headlights from afar, everyone began dissecting and speculating whether that could be a bus or not. Twice we were disappointed. But in the end, the bus came, and we began the lurching and jerking home. This time, since it was so late, it is hard not to fall asleep. And since the bus’ seats are the ‘half-backs’, you can’t really lean back to sleep.
Some experienced people brought pillows, so they could sleep against the windows. I had to be content with dozing off every now and then and knocking my head against the window (which was wet) or the metal rod behind me.
Eventually, at exactly 1.28 am, the bus jerks to a stop within the Wesley compound. And finally I can rush home to my bed for a few hours of sleep before church early the next morning. The entire trip, while kind of torturing, is actually worth it. But I probably can’t stand going every two weeks.
One Response to “Back to the Longhouse”
eeee.. u went ther!!! was it fun?? did u c catherine my baby?? ahahaaaa.. >.
By micmic on Apr 12, 2008