Then, we use a rope and a lot of muscle to lift the containers up to the platform where the water tank sits.
Step 2: It takes two of us to lift and pull in order to get the containers to the top. |
Step 3: It takes fifty 20 liter containers to fill this 1000 liter tank. 360 liters in one day was enough for this old man! |
All that effort didn't even fill the tank halfway, which doesn't go very far if you are taking showers (there are eight people staying/working in our house!) and flushing toilets. But the truth is, we still have it easy. None of our neighbors have any indoor plumbing, and they haul their water on the back of a bicycle from the well. I suppose I could make a long list of things that I take for granted, but water is no longer on the list. Have you examined your list lately? I suspect that almost every American takes water for granted, just as I once did. Next time you have a chance, see what you can do to help make water more accessible to the poor in third world countries. They will be very grateful for your help. But best of all, you will be acting as the hands and feet of Jesus, the Living Water that we must bring to those so desperately in need!
It's not until you leave the US that you can really understand what we take for granted there. Even in AU, little things like a clothes dryer in rainy season or the simple joy of having a double kitchen sink now cross our minds. And then there's ordering printed material and finding it has to come from the States and will take a few weeks to arrive. Minor inconveniences but all a reminder of being grateful in all things!
ReplyDeleteP.S. - We've had to have our water tanks refilled in dry season as well, but not with our own manual labour, but 'pocketbook' labour. 'Ouch' for both ways!
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