Now we were stuck with others in city traffic staring at the nearby bus terminal. At this point I sat on the edge of my seat with a very full bladder. I was grateful for the on board toilet but honestly didn't want to be jerked around mid-pee when the bus took off. So I waited, hoping we would soon be at the terminal and within a few minutes, we were.
As soon as I could, I headed straight to the 'sanitárias' but there was a man behind a desk expecting a fee for a pee. I had used the last of my cash to buy lunch so...I raced off with my bags to the upper floor to find an ATM. Unfortunately the only ATMs in the terminal were the ones that charged a very expensive fee for foreigners like me to have the privilege of withdrawing cash. I then looked for other sanitárias on the upper floor and they too charged. Oh why didn't I use the toilet on the bus?? So I gave in and used the ATM. I got the cash and headed to the nearest sanitárias on the mezzanine level. There were two ladies behind a desk but no turnstiles. I walked past with all my bags, looking at them as I went and they didn't stop me. I had to leave my big bag outside the cubicle as it was impossible to fit everything in. Everyone I knew in Brazil said how dangerous Rio was and to be careful, be careful, be careful. But my most important priority was not my big bag but my bursting bladder. So I asked God to take care of my bag that I had parked just outside the door of the cubicle. If someone decided to walk off with it, well...God had me covered and I would have to choose to trust in Him and pee in peace. Nothing happened to my bag. I washed my hands (you'll be glad to know) and then headed out, past the two ladies at the desk who still weren't expecting any money. There is such a thing as a free pee! At this point I had such a joy in my heart that God was watching over me and helping me each step of the way that the £6 fee I had to pay to use the ATM stopped bothering me.
My phone charger had stopped working the day before and my battery was rapidly running out. So on my way out, I looked around the terminal for a new cable. I had paid Rs.15 for the one that broke and off course I expected higher prices in Rio but when I saw the marked price of Rs.78, it shocked me. So I thanked God that He would help me get a new cable somehow and went to find the metro station. I looked expectantly for signs pointing to the metro except there is no metro station, in or anywhere near the grand bus station I had arrived at.
The taxi would cost Rs.64 to get me to my hostel. I took a step away from the girls in their stalls flogging taxi services and tried to figure out what to do. I remembered the hostel had offered a pick up service and tried to find their email to see what they had charged but I couldn't and off course I needed to conserve what battery life I had. I turned around then, believing in my heart, there must be a way and there in front of me was the tourist information desk. I asked what my options were and found that I could take a bus for Rs.16 that would also accommodate my big bag, such good news! So I happily went off to find the blue cubicle from where the blue buses departed. As I enquired about my bus in my terrible Portuguese, a lady standing nearby heard me and started a conversation with me in perfect English. She spoke to the bus company on my behalf and checked that I had the right bus and helped me to know where to get off etc. and she also asked for help to get my big bag loaded on the bus. I was so grateful to have some help! We all waited in the thick humidity for the bus driver to arrive until the kind English-speaking Portuguese lady asked me if I would like to share a taxi with her and another. It cost the same as the bus and we would get there quicker she explained. Isn't God good! We loaded up the taxi with our stuff and set off. What I didn't realise at that point was how long it would've taken on the bus, probably at least 2 hours, not including the walk to my hostel from wherever I was dropped off.
The taxi driver, in conversation with the lady sitting next to me, asked what I did for a living. My new friend told him that I was a missionary. I understand a little Portuguese so I understood what he said next...a missionary, what kind of missionary? He kind of scoffed and laughed asking that question, almost like, really?! So my friend said, I don't know, you'll have to ask her. Earlier on, when she had asked me the same question, I had explained a little of my life. So she shared with the taxi driver what I had said which was that I pray and ask God where to go and that's where I go. The driver said, I would like her to hear God for me. So I responded in Portuguese, you can hear Him too. They were surprised that I had not only understood but had also responded, so we had a laugh together and I was dropped off right on the street I was staying. In parting, I said to the taxi driver, Deus te abençoê, a blessing which he happily received and I set off, with a grateful heart, to find my hostel, only a short walk away.
I had a chat to the very helpful guy at my hostel reception about buying a phone cable and after walking around that first night could only find one that cost Rs.99. So I decided to wait until the next day when the market stalls were open. I found one for Rs.30 and it works perfectly.
I was so very grateful for so many beautiful things in such a short space of time, the beautiful , comfortable bus ride to Rio, my free pee, access to cash, the taxi ride that cost me less than a third of the original price, meeting helpful people who spoke English and being able to buy a new cable. Being in Rio de Janeiro, a place I had long dreamed of visiting. I thank You Father for being in the details of my life, for helping me in each step and also for being able to even write this testimony as an encouragement to others.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
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