The Day It Rained In Maracaibo

...was significantly more satisfying than The Day It Almost Rained in Maracaibo, when we excitedly waited outside as the chilly wind blew dust around the city but never accumulated into anything.

As there is normally not a stormy-day-amount of humidity outside, I could barely handle the heat in the morning. We had a slow morning since there weren't students on campus on account of there not being any class. We found someone to talk to on a different campus, and halfway-through our conversation, while staring beyond the girl trying to figure out where the masses of feathery-cotton fluffballs were flying from, I noticed the distinct rain-carrying quality of the clouds. Then, instead of focusing on the tired words being exchanged, my attention was captured by the tropical breeze carrying the fluff that was floating around the halls.

I had thought I heard that faint sound, and as I sporadically felt a cool sensation on my arms, that familiar boom thundered in the distance and I knew that I would get my thunderstorm that day! Just as we got to the overhang at the bus stop, it started pouring. As soon as we took refuge, and not knowing how long we would be stranded, to my surprise a smoothie stand was waiting for us just under the overhang! I stuck with the original "frape de fresa" and it turned out to be one of the best combinations of sugar, strawberries, and ice I have had thus far. As I stood there enjoying my treat, I wished for some excuse that would require me to run outside the overhang so the rain could soak me.

The drizzle allowed us to make our way over to the line where the caritos and buses would come to take us to Medicine campus. As we trodded across the cul-de-sac the puddles heated from the asphault warmed my chilly toes. "How long would can we wait at the front of the line without getting a ride??" The man directed almost all the caritos to stop short, allowing the people at the back of the line to get in. Other people kept sneakily finding their way in front of us when we were distracted trying to figure out if a bus was going to the "salida" or the "comedor." As we waited, I dreamed of snuggling in front of a movie with a warm sweatshirt on once we got home.

We finally reached our destination an hour late, after standing in line yet again to obtain the perfect rainy day lunch - hamburgers. Our friend didn't mind, in normal Venezuelan fashion. We hadn't seen each other in awhile, so we chatted over the usual fluffy topics. I had previously made up my mind to ask her about the 4 Laws because I wasn't sure if anyone shared them with her the day I met her after Sheri's talk about suffering. I mentioned the talk and invited her to the follow-up Bible study on Monday. It was the perfect opportunity to ask about the 4 Laws, but I didn't feel that bad changing topics to something more meaningless.

A few minutes later, I had no problem "transitioning" to the 4 Laws by simply telling her I had some information about what we believe. She listened attentively and had good input and responses. I really felt the Spirit speaking through me as I challenged her with what God would say to her if she was standing at the gates of Heaven. I knew that she genuinely understood when she said that if she prayed "the prayer" it would be a commitment, not just something you do over and over again. I asked if that's what she really wanted to do, and she prayed to receive Christ! I fully believe that through Jesus' saving power she passed from death into life on that rainy Wednesday in Maracaibo.