(Bill) Let there be rain!

Since arriving in Malawi, we’ve been hearing of the rainy season that usually arrives late October to November.   As we marched through the hot and dry season (August-Nov.) with 90+ degree heat, we began to take on the excitement and anticipation that most Malawians exude when talking about the rains.   Just as Advent readies for the coming birth of Jesus, all of Malawi seemed to be in a similar form of anticipation for the arrival of the much- needed water. 

As a family, we were becoming wistful for the moderate climate of Seattle with our consistent friends:  rain and gray.   I was wondering about the choice to bring so many pairs of pants, or even a rain jacket.  Everyone seemed to be taking up the role of prognosticator (like the 3 wise men, perhaps?) scanning the skies for signs and making predictions for the first drops.

Well, the rains arrived pretty late—not until mid December.  But when they came, they CAME!  The typical pattern has been for thunderclouds to begin building and then a 2-3 hour dumping commences.  This isn’t Seattle drizzle; this is a full-on, torrential downpour!  It is certainly exciting with all the accompanying lightning and percussive explosions of thunder.   Then, typically, the sun comes out again and dries the ground before the next dumping.  A perfect rhythm for turning the dry, brown lands emerald green. 

(Always a good rainy day activity:  The Settlers of Catan!  We welcome Emily and Laura, the latest Swedish residents to come through Blantyre.  They're awesome--and not just because they play board games with us!)

After the initial rains, we saw armies of folks take to the troughs of dirt that had been prepared in the months leading up.  Everywhere, people walked with hoes on shoulders and bags of seed in hand.  Both our day and night guards took to hoeing parts of our yard, mainly for the planting of maize.  Blessings got our garden planted as well. 

But now, we could use a bit more of that dry, hot weather.  We’ve had 3 days of epic rains.  Apparently, a storm from South Africa had made its way north and we have had no let-up.  Trees are falling down, roots grasping in the saturated ground.  I heard two families at the school comparing stories of collapsed retaining walls.

I feel so sorry for the absolutely soaked people walking the roads that resemble muddy riverbeds, hopping around the water obstacles or shoes off, just sloshing right through.  I hear our chickens outside and could it be those cute little clucking sounds are now gargles? (=  Definitely grateful to drive around in a car and have a roof (though leaking) over our heads!  This storm is supposed to last for much of this next week, with the worst of it yet to come.  Could get interesting around here!