Learning to Swim

I needed to get away, to have some quiet time, so Joseph and I went down to the beach and he rented a little boat from one of the fishermen for 50,000 metacais ($1). It was one of those little hollowed out trees with two seats and an oar. We rowed way out into the bay and then just sat there in the silence (Pemba is never quiet). After awhile, he said “You can turn around if you want.” Well I moved about an inch and the boat just went crazy. I froze and eventually, it stopped rocking. Joseph said, “On second thought, maybe you better stay put.” One piece of essential information here: I CAN’T SWIM! I was thinking, “what if we sink,” cause quite a bit of water seemed to be accumulating in the bottom of the boat, despite my constant bailing with the used water bottle with the top cut off. Joseph, good ole California boy that he is swims like a fish, but I’m not sure he could drag me that far to shore. Life jackets you ask. HA! This is Mozambique. And besides, who would be stupid enough to go out if they can’t swim! I asked one of the young boys that rowed out everyday to collect shells from the islands, what they do if the boat capsizes and he just looked at me like I was crazy and laughed.

So we sit there for a while and then realize we’ve been slowly drifting farther and farther out to sea. It had been just calm as can be, but suddenly out of nowhere, the wind picked up and we’re rockin’ away on the white caps with storm clouds on the horizon. Joseph starts rowing us back, and after a while he says, “Do you think we’re getting any closer to shore.” And I answer in a small voice, “Yeah, I think maybe a little.” But I’m looking at the houses, and they are getting smaller and smaller. I’m thinking, “How far out is Madagascar anyway? And what if we miss it, what’s next, India?” That’s when Joseph says, “I just noticed this oar is broken and they just tied it together with a piece of string. I’m afraid to put too much torque on it or it might break.” Suddenly, I can really identify with those disciples in the boat in the storm. Yeah, Jesus is just as present with me now as He was with them then. But I was sure wishing he would stand up and command that sea to be calm instead of me praying like a mad woman. Well, eventually we did get back to shore, and Joseph just takes off to play soccer with the kids, not a care in the world, while I lie shaking on the sand and make a vow. I’m gonna learn to swim if it kills me!

~ by sylvia on June 22, 2005.