Improbability At Its Finest

When something improbable happens to you, you can feel either absolutely horrid if it was bad, or absolutely elated if it was good.  Today, I am elated.

Feeling lonely and wanting to combat that by being around other adults and not just small children, I told my husband that we were going to do a children's program at the library then head to the pool tonight.  When we were at the library, there was another first-time couple there.  He was African, she was Canadian.  Then I heard her say to their son, "Ndio."  and "Asante".  That is Swahili for "yes" and "thank you". 

Many, many moons ago I was a missionary in Tanzania for a couple of summers.  I was in Dar es Salaam, but then travelled through the country to the north and to the south and saw a lot of places.  I learned Swahili and fell in love with the people and the culture.  I considered moving there, and had a Tanzanian "mama and papa", who took special interest in me, sending gifts home for my mom here in Canada.

I went over and introduced to myself.  He perked up when he learned that I had been to Tanzania.  Hardly anyone he has met has been there, and few could find it on a map.  I told him that I was a missionary at the University Dar es Salaam in 2002 & 2003.  He was stunned and told me that he was involved with the same organization and studying there at the same time.  He said he was from Mbeya from the south.  I had been there too, most likely driving through his village. 

We knew the same people and  travelled the same roads.  8,000 miles away.  Now we live only 3 blocks apart.

His wife was most likely serving at a BP's in Vernon the same time that my husband was stationed in Vernon with the army cadets and hanging out at BP's on a regular basis.

I love improbabilities like this.  He was utterly encouraged.  I was elated to relive the memories of that beautiful land.  I was battling loneliness, but not on the same scale that they were.  They just moved here from Vernon, so they really don't know Edmonton or anyone here. 

I love God things like this.  We are going swimming tomorrow, this time with some new friends.