This time, however, was different.
The police officer peered through the driver's side window and asked for my license and cedula (Visa/ID card). A typical question, so I handed them over. As soon as I saw his skeptical look, I remembered that I had recently gotten a renewed cedula, and so my license had expired just a few days before. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, as the policeman paid close attention and pointed out this not-quite-so-minor detail. I apologized, explaining I was planning on renewing the license the same week (which I would have made true on that promise). But the policeman wanted something else.
He had me pull over the car to the side of the road. Fortunately, there were several people passing through the area, and I had two friends in the car with me. The policeman and I began a long discussion over the license. He used all sorts of threats: the ticket will cost a lot of money; we might have to tow your car; you're not allowed to drive anymore, etc. I cheerfully responded with "Sure, I broke the law, so I'll pay the ticket." He even had the machine in his hand, but still he wouldn't print it.
Finally, I was asked to step out of the car, and he laid down additional excuses to get me to bribe him out of getting a ticket. But I stood my ground and was honest, having had a similar experience in the past and knowing that I didn't want to encourage the corruption or dishonesty of the local police force. I explained that we had just made a quick trip and were coming back from worshipping God at church. At this, the policeman looked kind of startled, and a change came over his face. "Pues, no voy a escribir este tiquete." (well fine, I won't write the ticket).
Shocked, I responded with a sincere, "Gracias!" I thought the process was over, and my friend could drive us all home, since his license had not expired yet under the tourist visa rules. But no.. the policeman would not let it rest.
"Cafe?" he asked.
I thought the question strange, but, again this isn't the first time this has happened.
"No pienso que tengo cafe en mi carro. Voy a chequiar"
So I rushed back to the car and asked my friends if they had any snacks or anything at all to give the policeman so he would finally let us go. The only thing I could remember having in my car was a box full of unfrozen otter pops popsicles that I was going to freeze for my Bible study small group. Not a great gift at all.
But praise the Lord! A student at Crossfire, earlier in the night, gave a bar of chocolate to my friend, and my friend sacrificially and willingly gave that up. I handed the chocolate bar to the police officer, quickly muttered another "Gracias," and my friend quickly changed to the driver's seat and drove us all home. Whew!
I know my friends in the car were all praying, and specifically that people in the Chico church were praying for safety in the car and in Panama. Wow--your prayers make a HUGE difference! Thank you for being obedient when God asks you to pray or puts me specifically in your heart or on your mind!
The funniest thing about this story though is that the next day at school I was telling the story to some of the Panamanian teachers. And they started laughing and laughing when I got to the part about the "cafe." It was then that they explained that "Cafe?" really means "Bribe?," in Panama. Turns out, the policeman didn't really want literal coffee. They thought it was hilarious that I innocently told him I didn't have any coffee in my car.
Of course, I wasn't going to bribe him, but they advised that I actually keep "bribe" snacks in the car to give police officers who are just bored or looking for something extra. Wow! I learn new things about Panama all the time. Continue to pray for safety and a good sense of humor, as well as grace with police officers. Although-yesterday I went and renewed my license without any hassle or fines, and it's good for 2 more years. So next time I go through the police stop, I'm going to show him my new license and have a packet of coffee for him, just in case.
No comments:
Post a Comment