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Hortense asked me if I would attend her community bank loan disbursal today to greet the members and offer them an encouraging word.  I’ve been able to work on my public speaking skills here by giving these short speeches from time to time.  I speak in French and usually it’s translated to either Lingala or Kiswahili.  I dream of the day when I will be able to converse freely in those languages.  But the silver lining is the way I’ve grown very comfortable with impromptu multi-lingual public speaking.  I even have a few lines that I throw in when I want to crack ‘em up.

There were some delays getting to the community bank and there was a standard mid-afternoon power outage.  I was feeling a little tired and worn out.  We had dinner with a couple of American pilots who were in town for the evening last night.  Good conversation was consolation for slow restaurant service (I think we were there for four hours). 

When I walked into the bank meeting, I really liked the group’s vibe.  We were under a tin lean-to in a small courtyard.  A woman was cooking on a small fire just behind me.  Just as I was asked to stand and address them the skies opened up and pounded rain down on that tattered tin roof.  I’ve got a strong voice, my translator did not.  I don’t know how much they heard and I am not sure how much it matters.  We shared some smiles and stayed mostly dry. 

Next time it rains where you are, try to imagine what it might be like to live in a place where rain closes most business down and stops your transportation in its tracks, leaving you to hunt for quick shelter before you are soaked to the bone.  It leaks through your roof or floods in through the front door. 

The rain cools the jungle heat.  It waters the garden and the abundance of water keeps famine at bay.  It gives your children a scarce reason to smile and leap for joy as they frolic with their friends in the mud.  And your community bank group is wise enough to meet under an old tin roof so that rain or shine you can get some cash into your small business and work things out.