Go play in the STREET!

Last Monday some guys came out the dig a new drainage field for our septic system, because our current field leaks whenever it rains (stuff bubbles up). The hole is about 10’ deep and was supposed to be about 6’x 8’. The entire project was supposed to take 4 days. Well the one edge of the hole keeps collapsing which keeps adding to what they have to dig, by hand no less. The hole was finally dug and the guy doing the work went to cash our check to buy materials and it bounced and we didn’t get money wired till the following Monday. One night we got a really bad rain storm and when I work up there was about 7’ of water in the hole, which by now has spread to 8’x 12’. It took two days for the guys to remove all the rain water, using oil jugs with holes cut in the side and rope. One bucket at a time for two days. Last night I noticed that one of the guys was in the hole shoveling out some of the mud from the bottom of the hole, they had finally finished. About a half an hour later I noticed the most disgusting smell and I looked out and everyone was standing around the hole with their hands over their noses. Another chunk of ground had caved in and it opened up to the old drainage field. Yuck Yuck Yuck! For 30 minutes it was like Niagra Falls pouring into the hole and it smelled so bad I had to wet a wash cloth and put it over my nose.
We are now on day 11 with a big hole and huge pile of dirt right in front of the house and about 5’ from my window. Michael was able to find a sewage waste company to come out and drain our hole and septic tank, but that is an additional $250 that we didn’t budget. I laughed at the check bouncing, more than anything because I think it’s good for people to see that the ‘white’ people don’t have an endless supply of money. It is hard though because money is tight for the organization right now and even though someone stateside made a donation for the septic system repairs we have surpassed the donation. Where does the money come from then? Michael. I’m amazed at how many times both Michael and Julie have dipped into their own pockets to cover expenses that we didn’t budget for. There is always something and none of it is cheap.

Yesterday the guys pulled 4000 Liters out of the hole, they came back to finish the job but their truck wasn’t working. They were supposed to come back at 7am today, but I think it was raining. When I looked out my window this morning the hole was full again because of the rain last night. With all the rain we’ve been getting how is this hole ever going to get filled?!

The hole has made life interesting at the house. It was about 5’ from the door when it started and now is probably less than 3’. I brought a few soccer balls from the states and laugh every time a kid asks to use it and I say “Go play in the street!” Of course no one here thinks that is funny but I laugh every time.

Prayer Request:
- Please continue to pray for Pedro, I still don't know what to do with him most days.
- My computer... it is still having problems and now 2 of my memory cards aren't working right either. So I am not able to get the pictures off of them. I'm hoping that I will be able to get a mini usb to usb to try to pull them off the camera that way.