Neat Conversation

Today was my first full day in Dhaka. This afternoon we took a taxi to the other side of town which is a decent drive in a city of 12-15 million people. Rick knows this particular driver b/c he uses him often for trips that will take a few hours. Late in the evening on the way home we went through one intersection crowded with rickshaws, taxis, baby taxis, beggars, and tons of pedestrians all trying to get squeeze their way through. The usual intersection except for this one had a pedestrian crossing above it. On the corners one would climb steps and walk across the bridges suspended above the intersection to get to the other side. A genius way to allow both foot traffic and wheeled traffic through at the same busy time; except there were only two or 3 people on the whole bridge system. I asked our driver why no one used it. He said that Bengalis hate discipline and structure and being told what to do, so they won't use it. I thought this odd since Islam is all about discipline and structure and being told you cannot do certain things, and have to do certain other things. So I said "But isn't Islam and extremely disciplined religion?" He made some excuse about everyone not always doing right all the time. He said "lying for example. I lie all the time, no one is honest, you cannot find an honest person in this country. We cannot follow everything Islam says to do." Careful not to be boastful, the conversation continued, but I pointed out that Rick was an honest man. I asked Rick if I was an honest man and he agreed. The driver said how much he loved Rick and that he was a good man.
It wasn't a super lengthy conversation and we didn't discuss so much more that I would love to discuss, but I feel that was all the Spirit led me to say. It was something that was on top of a good relationship Rick has built, and hopefully it is something that Rick can continue to build on. I'm thankful that God is giving me some boldness, and also giving me words to say. On the first day in this city of 12-15 million people, mostly extremely poor, and mostly Muslim, my first reaction is to say nothing, just take it in and try to process it all. I'm tired and I'm in sort of a daze, taking in a sensory overload amount of new sights and smells and awkward uncomfortable experiences. I guess thats what they call culture shock.
I can feel your prayers and I'm thankful for them. Pray that I will continue to be filled with the Word, led by the spirit, and have many more good conversations.