The rains began to come a little early this year. It has rained more this year than it has in the past several years. The rains help the crops to grow and make everything turn green. However, there are problems created with so much rain. There is flooding everywhere. This is happening not just in Senegal but all over West Africa. Roads are flooded which make it impossible to drive through or else the roads are washed away which makes it impossible to drive. Homes are flooded so much that many have had to leave their homes to stay elsewhere until the waters recede.
Some people have managed to pump the water from their homes only to have it return with the next rain. .
Some people have even had walls of their homes collapse due to the rains.
Last night we had a storm blow through Fatick. When I say blow, I REALLY mean BLOW. It started with the wind, then came the rain. Fortunately the rain wasn't too heavy nor did it last too long. What followed was an amazing display of lightning with loud claps of thunder. I just sat on the foot of my bed gazing out the window marveling at God's awesome display of beauty. The words to the hymn "My Lord Is Near Me All the Time" came to my mind:
In the lightning flash across the sky His mighty power I see,
And I know if He can reign on high, His light can shine on me.
Chorus:
I've seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, and felt it in the rain;
My Lord is near me all the time, My Lord is near me all the time.
When the thunder shakes the mighty hills and trembles every tree,
Then I know a God so great and strong can surely harbor me.
Chorus
When refreshing showers cool the earth and sweep across the sea,
Then His rainbow shines within my heart, His nearness comforts me.
Chorus
Fortunately, I have not had to deal with flooding but I have had to deal with leaks. We have managed to fix a few of the problems that were causing some major leaking but I still have to put towels around to soak up the water from leaks around the back door and places in the classroom/living room.
Another problem caused by the rain is an influx of roaches in my house. I guess they are just seeking some dry ground. We kill at least four or five every night before going to bed. I guess I must have missed one the other night. As I was sleeping in my bed, all tucked in under the mosquito net, I felt something on my forehead. I swatted at it with the covers and continued to lay there. Within a few seconds I detected an odor so I sat up to see what it was. There on my pillow was a dead roach (I had just killed it)! This occurred around 3:15 AM so he must have been in bed with me the whole night. Needless to say, I was not able to go back to sleep for a while. Finally, around 5:30 AM I managed to calm down enough to go back to sleep. My lesson has been learned, though. I have sprayed all around and under my bed and I will check the bed covers out before I get in bed. I don't want any more bedfellows!
