Sometimes the challenges of this trip are almost comical. Last night the power went off at around 8. I was in the middle of my evening Bible reading, which I have been doing on the computer, using a downloaded version of World English Bible because it is much easier to read than the relatively small print of the Bible I brought with me because my normal large-print Bible was just too heavy. The computer was fully charged, so there was not a problem with that.
Then came ferocious wind and bucketing rain. A good night to be inside, even if it was by candlelight.
When I finished my reading, I went into a prayer time. I was in a fairly intense time of intercession when I started hearing “plop”, “plop”, “plop”! Surely not, I thought. But as I felt the end of my bed, sure enough “raindrops are falling on my bed!” (‘Fess up, those of my generation – you started to sing it, didn’t you?)
A quick look at the ceiling revealed a hole, and another patch that looks as if it’s about to break through. I’m guessing the wind had taken off one of the roofing sheets – definitely not comical for Pastor Philip and his wife. He moved my bed around so that it was away from the drip, and he will be up on the roof today to see exactly what damage there is.
On one of my very early trips to Africa I spent a night in a mud hut with an unlined tin roof that had very obvious holes. I was not surprised to get rained on there, but I definitely didn’t expect it in this lovely big modern house!
Ah, my Africa! I love you, but at times you really try me. (Though in fairness, this could have happened anywhere in the world. But it didn’t. It happened here, just another of the ongoing challenges great and small of this trip.)
Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am writing this with a smile on my face.