Vuli

Looks like Vuli is finally knocking on the door...Vuli is the Swahili name for a small rainy season, the equivalent of European spring time. Clouds have been building up for several days, murky weather, humidity, hard to breathe air, barometric pressure changing constantly...First shy drizzles, be it at night or during the day, for a few minutes, and us running around with plastic buckets and containers, trying to catch every drop possible from roofs, gutters, anywhere...


Thanks be to Almighty! We have been struggling for a second week without running water, with my truck fetching water for the construction of the water tank and from Musoma - clean water for us, for household use. And no sign of any improvement, as the water pipeline to which we are connected has developed some kind of fault, above Kiabakari, on the way to Butiama, thus rendering pumping of water from the lake towards Butiama - simply impossible. First, it was power cut as the bills for electricity were not settled by the Water Authority. Now, immediately after the bills were paid in half or whatever the amount was, the pipeline gave in... We have a Polish saying for this situation, but I won't quote it as it is not that pleasant...

So, all our hope is in the Almighty and the rules according to which the world exists and revolves. Season come and go, and with them our hopes are increasing, as we are saying goodbye to Kipupwe (dry season) and enter slowly Vuli. I hope for good solid rains that will fall peacefully, without strong winds which would disperse clouds quickly, with no benefit for us, thirsty for water... Check how dry everything has become! Today we brought some coarse aggregate chipping size for fabrication of some 300 concrete profiles for the tank that are still needed for the construction. While offloading, a huge plum of fine dust covered everything! Luckily we closed the doors of the church beforehand, otherwise...hmmmm...

In the meantime I have repaired gutters, checked roofs for leakage, replaced some roof nails, seal off any possible places through which rain would possibly penetrate...Hoping now for constant, frequent rains which would fill our tanks and enable us to switch our minds to other issues. And - what is very important to me - enable me to leave parish for three months, in confidence that my sisters and workers are safe and secure - at least on this front.

Though it is not Advent yet, today as I hear thunderstorm approaching from northeast...

 
I sing in great expectation to myself: 'Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum!' (Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just)...