So we (and I use that term loosely because I really haven't helped much) spent all last week uncovering the water lines in hopes of finding where the massive amount of water has been pouring out. For the last two months, the water bill has skyrocketed. The ever-so pleasant lady at the water company insisted there was a leak. Well if that much water had been leaking for 2 months, there would probably be signs, right? Pools of water somewhere, soggy ground, or maybe even wet spots around the house, but no signs anywhere. Well we thought that if we uncovered all of the pipes, we would be able to see where the leak was and fix it (unless it was under the house). So, on Tuesday we dug up the yard. While there was no leak already there, the pipes are plastic and the shovel created some new holes. So Brother Scott and Safari (the guy that works on the property) patched up the new leaky spots. No leaks, but the water was still pouring out from somewhere. We went in to town Tuesday afternoon back to the water company and told them we couldn't find a leak and that same ever-so pleasant lady said that she would send a technician out tomorrow and he would find the leak.
That night we went into town to a hotel called the Driftwood to eat dinner, but we knew there was a reason Brother Scott wanted to go that night. Turns out that there was a moonrise and we would be able to see it perfectly from that beach hotel. Here are some pictures of the moonrise on the Indian Ocean.
On Wednesday I started cleaning out the guest houses that the mission team will stay in when they come at the end of July. When any building isn't used for a while, it becomes a home for other things. The lizards, geckos, and salamanders have decided that the guest houses are great places to live and go the the bathroom. Everywhere. This is also where the wings of termites get left behind (I guess they outgrow them and lose them or they just fall off or perhaps this is what is left when the lizards get through with them. I'm not sure about that one). So I began initial sweep through. We then had a brief meeting about the mission trip just to get on the same page and figure out some details. While meeting, the technician guy came to look at the water lines. He didn't find a leak either. Bummer. Idea #2: Maybe it's under the driveway. Start cutting off the lines at different places and see if the meter stops turning. Not under the driveway. Well at least we didn't have to bust up that concrete. Continuing this test, they had to start busting up the back patio Thursday morning. It looked a little something like this:
In doing this, they found out that it wasn't under the house. Now mind you, we haven't had running water because we've had it cut off so that the water bill will not continue to add up. So, when they found out it wasn't under the house, they capped the line going towards the guest houses and we got to turn the water back on! YAY! WE CAN FLUSH THE TOILETS AND TAKE A SHOWER!
I cleaned some more out in the guest houses Thursday, but there is still much to do out there before the team comes.
I did not feel well on Friday, so I spent most of the day sleeping and the men spent most of the day finding that the water leak was in the very last possible place it could be underground. It was in the little alcove right before it goes into the guest houses. They had to bust up a lot of concrete to get to it, so we will need to replace all of that as well. On Saturday it was time for us to fill in all of the holes in the ground. I spent Saturday morning pouring the dirt back in where we dug up the water lines and Brother Scott spent that time working on the pipes and filling in the holes on the patio. On Saturday night Missy baked "my" birthday cake and I put the icing on "her" birthday cake. See, my birthday was Sunday and hers was Monday. We put it in the fridge to have for our birthdays.
On Sunday we attended church in the village of Jimba where Brother Scott preached on ordination. After services, we were invited over to the home of the pastor there, Brother Daniel. His family was very welcoming and we stayed there for a while talking and sharing a meal of ugali and this fish and tomato dish (my dad called it couvillion when I described it to him for all of you south Louisiana people). Brother Daniel's daughter's birthday was on Tuesday, so we laughed about that a little (mine on 10th, Missy's on 11th, and her's on 12th). While talking to Brother Daniel, we got on the subject of weather in the US and he honestly doesn't understand how people can function in the winter time. He asked me, "So how do people make work while it is that cold?" and "I guess your attendance at church goes way down at that time." Their lives revolve around being outside, their crops, their livestock, and walking to get places that they can't fathom trying to survive in freezing temperatures. It is "winter" here on the coast of Kenya and at night it can get down to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They bundle up like it's freezing! I felt a little dumb because I don't even think twice about getting to get in a warm car and drive to work in the middle of January where I have central heat and air in my workplace. I challenge you this week to stop and think about the little luxuries that you enjoy every day. Maybe even try to go without one of them for a week (running water, electricity, going to the grocery store, television, computer, AC, radio...) and see what God will reveal to you through that experience.
After we left there, we stopped on the side of the road and walked down this path to the ocean. It was the neatest little place with the most vibrant colors of water! I have spent the last several birthdays on the beach and this year couldn't be any different. I could tell you how awesome it was or you can check these out:
We traveled back to the house and had an English Bible study with 2 other ladies who live here in Kenya, Christine and Laura. After our Bible study, we enjoyed birthday cake and coffee. It was a very enjoyable birthday.
Monday I raked the dirt around the areas of the yard that we dug up. It looks better than it did and the dirt is starting to settle back into place. Brother Scott spent the day making some repairs to the water lines. Hopefully all the repairs will be finished this week. For Missy's birthday we went out to a place called I Love Pizza. It was delicious. Hopefully this week we will also finalize some of the plans for sleeping arrangements for when the team comes in July. We will be doing some painting and some cleaning in the guest houses and also making sure we have things ordered in town. As the time gets closer, we will get much busier.
Thank you all for your prayers. It looks like everyone around here is feeling much better and God is good!
In Christ,
Ashley
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