I took a week trip to Trinidad. I loved it to no extent! I do not feel anywhere worthy of posting this. My friend, or as they say in Trinidad & Tobago: Brother Kosi, wrote this. I asked him before I left to write a blog for me to post on my blog about my trip with him. Of course, the last thing on my mind when I asked was for him to write something so he could brag about me and I could post it for self glory. However, he sent me this today, and this is what he wrote. He wants me to post it, which after reading it, I struggle to do so because it brags me up. I've never been a fan of people bragging about me. I should be the one to brag about his incredible family, that which I would love to model a family I someday hope to raise. My next blog: My Trip to Trinidad.
Kosi's Blog:
As I look over these pictures, I'm reminded of Romans 12:3-5 (NIV)
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. I love the latter part of vs. 5 which says, "so in Christ we who are many form one body." For anyone reading this and probably for the first time you're hearing about this...and for some reason may find it strange to believe that how can various people from different races and cultures be one? Yes, it's true we can be one. Bryan White, to me, you're a brother. You're a brother to me because we're both in Christ. You're of a white race; I'm of the black. You're American; I'm a Trinibagonian. You're slim; I'm thick and solid (fat). You speak proper English; I speak bizarre English! Lol. But what unites us it the Holy Spirit that indwells both our lives. We both share so much in common in that shocked the last nerve in me; I kept asking myself, “is he really white?” Lol. With Bryan being on this trip has confirm that a God exists and I do serve and know Him. I was born and raised in a ghetto on the outskirts of the city of San Fernando in Trinidad, West Indies. It’s been a struggle for survival for almost all of my life but knowing God and seeing Him provide for our every need time and time again has caused me to draw closer to Him.
Romans 12:3 begins by saying,” Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment” and this is the first thing that me and most of my family members did when I mentioned that a friend was coming to visit and spend time with us in T&T, we judged ourselves and thought that a white US Citizen from a very classy neighborhood has no right spending no sort of time in the ghetto. I was opting for renting an apartment to accommodate him but God lay on my heart not to take that option and therefore, Bryan stayed at my home in the ghetto. My home is nothing to brag about; it’s small, incomplete, overcrowded and noisy most of the times. But there are some key ingredients in my home which many homes lack and my brother Bryan pointed these out to me: Laughter, Love, togetherness and Christ. For this I’m grateful!
Here are some of the many ways in which I saw the hand of God moving while my brother Bryan was here:
1. Financial Blessings
There was a great increase in my finances prior to and from the moment Bryan got here. I’m self employed and earn an income on my own by doing stuff which I enjoy such as; making puppets and doing puppet shows, decorating, cleaning, sewing, etc. People kept calling me to do stuff and were paying me more than I expected / would have charged them. There were even friends whom I’d usually do stuff for absolutely free…basically because they’re my friends… were paying me and if I refuse to accept it…well they gave it to Bryan. Bryan didn’t have to change any of his US currency and I’m grateful to God for that because usually when you’re from a third world country, you expect people of first world status to pay their way though. Both Bryan and I were planning on doing some Island hopping throughout the Caribbean and as the date to do so approached… monies kept coming in. Eventually I had more than enough money to pay for all our trips. God is truly awesome and even though we didn’t go Island hopping it was a reminder to me of one of God’s nature and that is, He is a Provider!
2. Divine Favor
In my immediate family no one owns a vehicle as yet and therefore, there was a challenge getting to and from the airport which is located over 60km North (approximately 1hr. – 1 ½ hrs drive) from where I reside. My brother- in-law (Shawn) is the only person in our family with a vehicle and although he had his family to take home the night of Dec 14th 2009, he willing offered to go with me to the airport to pick up Bryan. When Bryan decided to change his flight to an earlier date, the only place it could have been done was at the airport on Sun. 20th Dec. We needed a ride to the airport and my friend Melissa, willing offered to drop us there and although she had no lunch up to that point, she was also willing to wait on us but of course, we were uncertain how long the process would have taken and therefore we both allowed her to leave. Just to say more, when Melissa got home she called me to ensure that we’d gotten through and were both safely home that day! WOW! When we approached the AA counter clerk to make the necessary changes, a gentleman told us that we couldn’t and put us on to some sort of toll-free number and we still didn’t get through. I was about to give up and leave but then the Holy Spirit gentle told to go back at the counter and guess what! We got through! Bryan’s fight was changed and he was homeward bound! Praise the Lord! The morning of his departure, which was about 3 am…we had to be at the airport to check in at 4am! No transport at that hour in the morning! But God works in mysterious ways. My little brother had made arrangements with one of my neighbors and although his car was not in proper working condition he willing offered to take Bryan to the airport and we got there on time! What was even more amazing, my neighbor waited patiently until Bryan was all checked in and ready to depart. At the check in counter, Bryan was being charged $112 US for the changes. I stood there praying because I felt that it was too high. In the end he only paid $66 US. Which he’ll probably be refunded! And they gave him window seats on all the connecting flights. Thank God!
3. Renewed Faith
This brother of mine caused my faith in Christ to be renewed. He questioned almost every one of my theological beliefs and doctrines. Almost every night into the wee hours of the morning we were up debating and reasoning our beliefs. All my possible explanations and accommodative language was insufficient at times. In the end, I was reformed and my commitment to follow Christ was strengthened.
4. Strengthened Friendship / New Connections
Though Bryan and I are from 2 totally different backgrounds, culture and race, we are one. We’ve both experienced the same sort of hurts when it comes to relationships; we share the same views on dating, courtship and marriage; we both desire to serve the Lord by doing all that God requires of us; using all our abilities/ gifts to please the Lord; and there’s so much more I can talk about here but I want to focus more on the impact that Bryan made upon my family, friends and loved ones
My father is usually very hard to please when it comes to accommodating a guest at our home, whether it’s a couple of hours or days, and that’s so mainly because he feels as though our home lacks a lot of comfort and luxuries. And it’s true. I’ll spare you all the details… to have a “white” youngman in discomfort would have been a shame not just for him but for all of us.
Two days after Bryan’s departure from T&T (22/12.09) I was up doing some sewing at 2:49 a.m., my father began to express his thoughts to me concerning Bryan’s stay in T&T…he’s not the type to do this sort of thing so I penned and dated it so I’ll not forget. First he asked me if Bryan had gotten to the US safely because he’s worried that he didn’t get home as yet. After assuring him so, a short while after he began laughing to himself, so I inquired what the joke was and he said that 99% of the times he spoke to Bryan; he knew that Bryan never quite understood him because Bryan constanly aked him to repeat himself and off course my dad understood Bryan perfectly. He was also laughing at the way Bryan dressed to go everywhere…shorts and T-shirt; the manner in which Bryan combed his hair with water and his fingers. Lol!
The following were his openly expressed thoughts:
“That youngman really amazed me! He stayed here as though he was accustomed to this type of lifestyle. He slept well, ate what we offered him, bathe in the cold water...he even took Jenny and I to a nice restaurant just to say how thankful he was…you see that youngman...he’ll reach very far in life! He knows how to show gratitude.” Almost immediately after saying those word’s he began to pray for Bryan that he’ll get a good job, and things will go well in life for him and his family. He expressed his gratitude to God for bring Bryan to T&T and returning him home safely.
I sat there in awe at what just unfolded before my eyes and ears but to me… the whole experience was truly a remarkable one!
Thanks Bryan for your devoted commitment to our friendship.
God bless you!
Much Love!
