On the 10th January 2012, I was waiting for almost twenty minutes at the bus stop at Botany Town Centre to transfer to a bus that went to East Tamaki Heights. There was no sign of a bus. I was bored and kept looking at my phone for the bus timetable. Suddenly a dear old Chinese lady aged 75-80 years old came to me with a paper that had some telephone number written on it. At first I didn't understand what she was saying to me because she was speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese. But then I tried to listen more clearly, and I heard the English word 'Taxi'. I understood she wanted me to call the taxi. I called the number. Just as the phone was ringing, I saw my bus arriving at the bus stop. However, the time was 12:55PM and I was worried that I might be late for my 2:00PM appointment. And if I missed this bus I would have to wait for another 15-20 minutes as the bus frequency in East Auckland is very low.
But still I thought I should help her first and then take the bus. I had to wait a few minutes before the operator answered my call.
The operator on the other end told me that there were no taxis available in the area. In the meantime the bus left, and I thought to myself that it’s ok; I can just get another bus. I told the lady that there are no taxis available.
She went back to her seat. I looked around for any convenience stores or NZ Post shops from where I could help her to get a taxi. After a while I went to back to her and told her that we can go to the bank and ask for help.
In the bank, the lady told me that there was a taxi stand right across the street in front of the Starbucks cafe. I took the lady to the stand. I saw the 0800 number for the Taxi service. I called that number and again I had a negative reply from the operator. But she gave me the number of another taxi operator. I called them and they said they will send the taxi in 5 minutes. I told the lady that I will wait until the taxi picks her up, but by then it was almost 1:10 PM.
Eventually a taxi arrived but it was not the one I called, and she decided to take that taxi instead. I helped her with the bags. As I was walking back to the bus stop I saw the taxi I called. I immediately went to the taxi driver and told him that I was sorry but the old lady took another cab and went, and that I was just helping her. He said its ok.
I went back to my bus stop and I finally got my bus. I reached East Tamaki in 10 minutes which was 30 minutes before the actual appointment time.
I was so glad that I helped the lady and didn't leave her all alone at the bus stop and also able to help the old lady despite of the language problem.
Thank You Lord so much for giving me servant heart to help people in need and helping me to understand people even though there have been language barriers.
But still I thought I should help her first and then take the bus. I had to wait a few minutes before the operator answered my call.
The operator on the other end told me that there were no taxis available in the area. In the meantime the bus left, and I thought to myself that it’s ok; I can just get another bus. I told the lady that there are no taxis available.
She went back to her seat. I looked around for any convenience stores or NZ Post shops from where I could help her to get a taxi. After a while I went to back to her and told her that we can go to the bank and ask for help.
In the bank, the lady told me that there was a taxi stand right across the street in front of the Starbucks cafe. I took the lady to the stand. I saw the 0800 number for the Taxi service. I called that number and again I had a negative reply from the operator. But she gave me the number of another taxi operator. I called them and they said they will send the taxi in 5 minutes. I told the lady that I will wait until the taxi picks her up, but by then it was almost 1:10 PM.
Eventually a taxi arrived but it was not the one I called, and she decided to take that taxi instead. I helped her with the bags. As I was walking back to the bus stop I saw the taxi I called. I immediately went to the taxi driver and told him that I was sorry but the old lady took another cab and went, and that I was just helping her. He said its ok.
I went back to my bus stop and I finally got my bus. I reached East Tamaki in 10 minutes which was 30 minutes before the actual appointment time.
I was so glad that I helped the lady and didn't leave her all alone at the bus stop and also able to help the old lady despite of the language problem.
Thank You Lord so much for giving me servant heart to help people in need and helping me to understand people even though there have been language barriers.
