Heavy drops pelted us as we ran from the van to the front door. One lady in flip flops slid on the first step and started screaming as she tumbled over a potentially jacked-up ankle. She should have just gotten a little wetter. I took my time. My white v-neck was already soaked and it wasn’t like I planned on being dry anytime in the near future. Once inside, I looked around and listened for anyone who was speaking English. I heard a whole lot of Italian and some Spanish. I smiled blankly at people who might understand my language, but didn’t try them.
A skinny, gray-headed man was making his was through the crowd, collecting papers and payments. I dug my reservation out of my backpack, and handed it to him. A big drop of water landed on it as I held it out for him to grab. The thatch roof wasn’t exactly waterproof.
He and several other men started handing trash bags with head and armholes cut out of them to the small crowd. We pulled them over our clothes. Next, they passed out hair nets, helmets, and goggles. It was still pouring rain and lightning had started flashing close by. Oh well, we were going anyway. I was alright with riding in the rain, it’d keep the dust down and driving a four-wheeler through giant puddles was always fun.
Several minutes of instructions in languages that meant nothing to me left me starting the vehicle only because everyone else did. Then we were off! My goggles were splattered with rain water, but soon that didn’t matter as the first puddle we drove through sent a wave of brown liquid that actually hit me in the face. I didn’t have a second to recoil or even wipe off, a straight shot of path meant that everyone was going to punch it as hard as possible.
We sped around the jungle, through puddles and little streams. I dodged hanging green things, branches, and the occasional really deep hole in the path. A couple of times, we stopped because one of the Italian men had gone off the path and couldn’t get back on it. They’d have to kill the engine, shift into neutral, then push it backward to get back to the ruts created by so many of the same machines tearing through the wilderness.
Back to speeding, I felt like I got air off a couple of small hills that I flew over, but that could have just been my butt flying off the seat. The rain continued to pour, but I didn’t even notice it at this point. I’d sealed my iphone and everything else I thought I’d need up in a plastic bag inside of my backpack. It was all fine.
While we were driving, I kept thinking about what I’d write about this experience. Would I add the cheesy life-lesson, or would I just leave it alone? I kept thinking about leadership principles, and how so many of them could easily be illustrated by this adventure. I was being a weirdo. But it made me think about who I am and what kind of man I desire to become.
I’m glad you left it as is, without any leadership principles or life lessons. I think it spoke louder this way, at least to me it did – on more levels than I think it would have if you tried to list out the principles you learned from this. So, thank you.
Oh – and I hope the rest of your vacation is just as much fun!
You’re definitely a fan of me not explaining. That’s a battle I tend to lose, but oh well. SERIOUSLY, today was amazing. All that was before we went down into the really strange, opaque water-filled caves. At one point, I was walking through this giant hole in the ground with water up to my chest and I couldn’t see a bloody thing. Each step was a guess… but it was nice to wash the mud off, I suppose.
I could feel the rain, the mud, the excitement and the sheer joy of just going for it. Oh…and yes…you are definitely on your way! So happy God is giving you the opportunity to experience a piece of wet, warm, green, gorgeous creation…and grace.
It was the most fun thing I did the entire time I was there. I want to do it all over again!
Well, being what I’d like to consider a good friend, I want to assure you, yes, yes indeed, you’re a weirdo…
Takes one to know one they say!
The desire from God in your heart to be what He desires for you is uplifting to anyone who knows God. Yes, His grace is the beginning and the end.
Hope you have a wonderful vacation, make sure to get a picture of yourself with your scuba gear under the gorgeous blue ocean, can’t think of a cooler souvenir than that!
FLOYD! It’s upsetting that we missed each other in Phoenix. Delayed planes and the plans they ruin. We’ll have to make sure there’s another opportunity. I’m entirely glad I went. I had fun, relaxed, talked with Jesus and now here I am. It’s a wonderful place to be.