Last week after Evangelist
Kipingu led morning devotions at the children’s home, he mentioned that the
rainy season (called the “short rains”) would begin on Sunday the 13th. Sunday morning was a lovely day, so we
decided to walk to town after church.
While in Lushoto, the clouds moved in and by the time we were walking
home the torrential rain began.
This rainy season
is called the short rains, because it rains almost every day, but only for a
short time. Often the rain falls during
the night. On Monday the rain continued
on and off all day. Our laundry hung
inside the house all day, but did not dry.
Tuesday dawned
with the clearest sky we have seen in a long while. The sky was a brilliant blue. All of the laundry went outside and Veronica
added to it with the day’s wash. By
evening everything was dry.
After devotions
in the morning, we got together with Mama Mdemu, Mama Mrisho, and Christian,
the driver, to take a ride to the home’s shamba (farm) up in Irente Juu (Upper
Irente). Tom drove up past Irente Farm
and toward the View Point. We turned
onto a narrow dirt lane, past some small houses and farm plots, until the road
ended. Tom parked and we got out to
walk. The walk through the forest was
wonderful. The shade protected us from
the hot sun and there was a nice breeze.
Some men had been hired to dig the soil.
Soon the field will be planted with corn and beans.
We walked back to
the car and found two goat kids enjoying the shade underneath. With the goats safely back with their mamas,
we turned around and headed back up the road.
Ahead were many boda boda’s (motorcycle taxis) bringing people to a
house. As we approached we could hear
loud crying. We stopped to see what had
happened.
The woman who
lived there had just received the news of her granddaughter’s death. With cell phones and a great community spirit
here, many people came to console the family.
Some women were already beginning to prepare food for all who would
arrive.
We all walked up
to the house to shake hands with each person and express our sympathy. Frankly, this is something which feels
awkward to me. In a great time of
tragedy like this, who really wants perfect strangers arriving? But we were warmly welcomed and appreciated.
This morning,
Wednesday, we awoke to find that there was no water. Tom walked up to the home to find out if the
water was still working there. It was
not, but he was able to fill some buckets from the sims tank there. Within a few minutes, two students arrived
with two more buckets full and our neighbor Zulfa brought us two more. When I thanked them, one new student named
Rita said, “No, we thank you Bibi and Babu”.
Tom’s job this
morning was to take some students with lots of buckets to the next village to
bring water back to the home. With 39
children plus the students and staff, lots of water is needed for washing,
cooking and laundry. He will probably
make another water-run this afternoon.
Hopefully, the
problem will be resolved before too long.
One of the things I have learned to appreciate and miss from home is tap
water, something we mostly take for granted.
How wonderful to be able to enjoy a glass of water whenever you want,
straight from the tap!
On Friday this
week, we are traveling to Handeni to visit with our friend Pastor Shemkala, who
was previously pastor of Kana Lutheran Parish in Tanga. His new congregation has many Masai
members. This will be our first time in
the Handeni area, which is located south of Korogwe, about a four-hour drive
from here. Pastor is sending his driver
for us. We are looking forward to our
time with him, his family, and his congregation. We will return home on Sunday after church
services.
We are thankful
to God for all of His blessings. The
water came back by lunch and we did not lose power at the same time.
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