The nicest thing a stranger has done for you ( Archived) (6)

The entire time I was backpacking I had so many strangers do many kind things for me, but one in particular stands out in my mind....

I was in Papau New Guinea and decided to head down to one of the more remote areas in the country... the only way there was by small plane or cargo boat and I opted to be adventurous and signed up for the boat. I decided to treat myself and booked "first class" and upon booking was informed that I needed to bring all my own food and water for the 3 day 2 night passage... well I was looking for adventure...

As the boat crept up to the dock, I looked on in dismay... this piece of wreckage didn´t look like it was capable of making it out of the harbour, never mind down the coast! All of our tickets were checked and the barrier removed and people ran for the boat...climbing through every available opening and I remember thinking... "what´s the rush?"

Well I soon discovered what the rush was all about as I made my way through the tangle of bodies in the lower compartment of the boat and up the narrow step ladder and through the hatch to the "first class" deck. Well a deck was all it was... with bunkbeds lined up in narrow rows... about 40 of them and about 60 people...I gazed around and realized this was going to be a boat trip like nothing I had ever experienced before. Unable to find an unoccupied bed... I found a small clear area on the floor and began to unroll my camping mat and sleeping bag when it began to rain.

There was a roof on the boat and the sides came up to my waist but all around was open and within seconds the floor was soaking wet and i was quickly picking up my belongings and wondering what I was going to do for the next couple of days and nights.... A young girl came and took my hand and said "you come" and brought me over to where her parents were.

They had secured two side by side lower bunks for themselves, their daughter and her puppy, and were offering me one of the bunks... tears of relief welled up in my eyes as I thanked them, but insisted that their daughter and the puppy and I share the bed they had so generously offered me.

The boat trip was an amazing experience as the locals shared some of their lives with me. The women attempted to teach me to make string bags, the men shared part of fish they had caught on a trawl line... and I enjoyed listening to the stories they told. I played with Layla and her puppy and had my one and only experience chewing beetlenut. I signed up for an adventure and got so much more.

I have met so many people that touched my life for only a moment.
Off hand I will go with the tech who did my mammogram,it was right before Christmas and I tried but was missing people gone from my life,I felt so alone.We got to alkingand I tried to keep up appearances,but she saw though me somehow and gav me a big long hug.She said she was ging to pray for me to feel better.Her warm caring attitude brought tears of happiness to my eyes.I went out to the car feeling better than I had in weeks.

The nicest thing a stranger did for me was......Paid my rent for two months while I was recuperating from a accident and I had no income, I still don't know who it was because they wanted to remain anonymous.