Wading for a Sale

I woke up to the rain this morning. It was a pleasant sound that coerced me to stay in bed a bit longer. I awoke an hour later - the rain continued. Still a pleasant sound that relaxed me as I sank into our cozy couch for some reading.

Yet another hour goes by and realizing that a window was broken in the Landrover, Janelle and I decided to run out into the still-pouring-down-rain to fix a plastic bag over the hole and avoid a messy car flood. We laughed as we ran back inside -drenched from only a few moments in the storm.

Another hour past - still raining - we drove to church making our way through many flooded areas. Janelle asked Patty and I, "isn't there a way to avoid flooding the engine of this car?" We couldn't quite pinpoint it, but we agreed it's one of the following:

1. Have a Hutton jump out to assess the water depths and navigate us around the deepest parts
2. Gun it!
3. Hop out and dig a french drainage system around the car
4. Leave Liberia and come back during the dry season

After church, pasta, and brownies, Patty and I decide that it's time for a little photo-taking and mangoe buying. The rain is only drizzling at this point, so we start walking - forgetting about the flooded roads ahead of us. Our lifesaver Thomas sees us walking along the road and stops to pick us up. "What are you doing?", his wife Hauwa asks with a laugh. "Buying mangoes!", we say with a smile while hugging her. They offer us a ride which we take, realizing that there's no way we'll make it back without a little swimming involved. Really - what were we thinking?

So we bought some mangoes from our friends....

This is normally a joyous occasion for Patty and I. We love visiting this family. However, today their smiles are labored. They remember us and ask us where we've been. "Bopolu", Patty replies, "sorry-o, we've missed you guys!"

"We suffering-o" Fatu gently tells Patty as she sends her daughter wading through the flood waters to bring us a plastic bag for our mangoes.

We caught a ride back through the flood to the junction and as we walked the last leg to our warm, dry house Patty says, "My heart breaks for them, Mel."

"Mine too, Patty - mine too." I say.

In prayer, we go to bed. Realizing that the pleasant sound of the rain that continues to pour without relief tonight, is gently putting us to sleep as it harshly puts our friends out of their homes.

Please pray with us tonight. Pray that our Lord would provide safe shelter for those displaced by the rain. Pray for protection from disease and violence for all those affected. And pray for the sun to shine tomorrow!