Really though, we are on our 4th day with no incoming water from Dawasco, the water company here in Tanzania. Our house worker, Mama Rose, told us this morning that she had heard on the radio that it might be a week. So, we thought, ok, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday of next week we'll have the water come in again. We checked the tanks, we're down to 1/3 left. I started mentally making plans....
Then, a local friend, posted on Facebook, that it was a week more, so a week from today...well, that changes things, we can't go a whole other week on what we have...we have enough for another couple of days, that's it, and that's with rationing...ie. no laundry and quick showers, etc.
So, I decided to send Indy out to get us some water jugs so that we have enough to drink and can do bucket showers. I tell the children that we'll only flush the toilets once a day, at night, before they go to bed, so they don't have to smell it...otherwise, keep the lids down. I clean out a bucket and tell them they'll each get 1 bucket of water at night for showers, we'll get you wet, soap up, then rinse you. I tell Indy that we'll fill up the sink with water to wash cooking dishes, then just do quick rinses, otherwise, we're going to paper plates for eating....I think he's also going to stop shaving... etc, etc, etc..... then I say "We're fine, I don't think we're in crisis mode yet..." At this point, Indy starts to smile and laugh, almost hysterically... "That is funny, we're talking about bucket showers, not flushing the toilet, not doing laundry, eating on paper plates, and you're totally ok with this...that isn't crisis mode? A few months ago, you would be about ready to cry!" I just smiled back at him, because yes, a few months ago, this would have totally and completely stressed me out, today, I jumped into planning mode and I know that we'll be fine. God will provide...my only other thoughts are what will those without back-up tanks do during this time? Can they afford to buy bottled water for their family? Will they have enough to make it through until Dawasco fixes the water main break?
Instead of stressing out and allowing my fear and worry to overcome me, I am "Counting on God"...one of my favorite songs from Desperation Band and Jared Anderson back in Colorado Springs! It's definitely one of those marker moments when you can look back over a time in your life and see the changes in your attitudes about gratefulness, about stress, about worry, about others, about God's faithfulness.... Here's to many more of those in the years to come, because I know, that even at 37 years old, I am still growing and learning so much about life. I'm hopeful that at the end of this race, I will be all that He wants me to be...I'm not there yet, so I know the race isn't done, and I'm thankful for the time to grow while I'm completing it!
The extra water jugs that Indy just purchased.
Yay you! This is huge. Glad to see on FB that you now have water. ;)
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