Weekly news from Africa January 29, 2004

 

The past week has been busy writing devotionals for the “Forty Days of Purpose” project, which starts Saturday night with ministers gathering to watch a Rick Warren video. I have written the first 14, so I am ahead. This is good, because setting up housekeeping in the house begins Sunday, and that will probably disrupt my writing for a while. It might disrupt my emailing, depending on how long it takes to get phone service installed and whether I can find another way to send something next week if I don’t yet have a phone. No sense borrowing trouble now, though. I’ve also been searching for sales on the various things that will be needed for the house. Erton and his wife will bring quite a bit, but they don’t have a refrigerator or washer, and I will need a bed (I’m not going to go the Bushman route and sleep on the ground outdoors – at least, not yet). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                               Lydia (his wife)                 Erton Chirwa

 

Since the storm on Monday (torrential rain, hail, high winds) the weather here has been absolutely beautiful. It has been very warm, but not scorching, with bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine. The house is not air conditioned, so you actually have the feeling of being here – you feel the breezes, smell the smells and hear the sounds. I like it. I often think of Kansas City and the series of ice storms, and I must say I am not terribly sad to have missed the last one. Or the next.

 

A couple of notes on life in Africa: a number of people in the church report that their phone service goes away after it rains. After the lines dry out (or whatever), things return to normal. Last night Ruth visited a couple that live near the top of a good sized hill here on the south side of town, and they are often without any water pressure at all. They have to go to their parents to bathe with some regularity. (Speaking of which, I’m not sure what they do about their toilets . . . )

Love to all there,

Lary

 

 

A gathering at Ruth’s house on Sunday afternoon (two of the trees in the background of this picture were blown down by a severe storm on Monday)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to previous page