Running Water. Something We Used to Take for Granted.

A Letter from Uganda

Lily and I went on several short-term mission trips before we headed off to Uganda.  Each time we returned home from a trip, we always had a deeper appreciation for what we had in our home.

But long-term missions are different.  We are now appreciative of several things that we used to take for granted in the States, like running water.

Water for our house comes from Uganda's National Water Corporation.  Everyone has a water tank in Uganda since there is the occasional day where National Water does not pump.

Our Water Tank

One day, Lily ran several loads of laundry.  What she didn’t know was that our guard had watered our vegetable garden to make sure the newly-planted seeds would grow.  What nobody knew was that the National Water was not pumping to our neighbourhood that day.  We had depleted our tank water by 11am, and National Water was not pumping water to refill it.  There was now no water for dishes, washing hands, or flushing the toilet.

Uh oh.  It's empty.

We dealt with it in stride.  Lily left the soiled lunch dishes for later.  That evening we went shopping, had dinner at a local Greek restaurant, and used the restrooms at both places.  We sent the kids to bed without a bath.  Nobody complained.

My guard called me at 10:30pm telling me the water was back.  Lily and I took our showers, delighted to retire to bed feeling clean.

But that was only our first day without water.  The next week we ran out of water again and again.  Lily and the kids now had the routine down:  no washing dishes, use the toilet (but don't flush), and wash hands with hand wipes.

Another missionary family (Brian & Jill Kanyike) live up on Naguru Hill.  National Water had not pumped to their house for an entire week.  Wow!  We had it good in comparison!

Lily now has some paper plates and plastic utensils.  She usually only washes one load of clothes a day.  We may store water in the garage to flush the toilets, and I may get a second water tank.  Whatever we do, we now appreciate something that we used to take for granted, running water.

From Kampala,

John Eastham

New Missionary to Uganda