Missionaries (particularly in Africa, I believe) tend to wear several different hats when the need arises. I’ve heard stories of missionaries acting as surgeons and hearse drivers, just to name a few. Obviously, that’s just a small sampling of what may happen in Africa. Yesterday was one of those days when all kinds of things happen.
I started out the day in the kitchen acting as cook and dishwasher, well, and janitor, too, I guess. I had to make kettle corn for a ladies’ Bible study we had in the afternoon. Typically, when I make kettle corn, I ending up creating a disaster zone out of the kitchen with popcorn and sugar all over the floor, counter, and stove. Yesterday morning, after my first batch of popcorn, I was ready to extol the virtues of kettle corn—there were only two pieces of popcorn lying on the floor at this point. And then I made a second batch. Never mind my previous pleasant thoughts towards kettle corn. During this batch, I dumped popcorn on the floor, flung sugar around the kitchen, and burnt my arm (not badly, mind you, but burnt it none the less). I decided that laughing was probably the best option at this point.
In the early afternoon, I acted as a teacher’s assistant for our Bible club. We had a large group of about nine kids show up at our house around 1:00. These kids had stopped by a few Saturdays ago after Bible club was over. I told them the Creation story, although they seemed more interested in financial aid than spiritual aid. This week, they stopped by for some water on their way home from gathering fire wood. Ellen was able to detain them long enough to hear another Bible story. Although some of the kids appeared to be listening well, they once again wanted food and taxi money more than anything else. We had to tell the kids that they were welcome to come to Bible club, but it’s not a time for us to provide for their physical needs. We want them to come to Bible club so that they can learn about Christ and how he can fill our spiritual needs. It’s a hard thing to know how to help in such situations.
Later that afternoon, I went to the ladies’ Bible study. Our pastor’s wife began a study through the book of Revelation. This is quite a book to take on, but the ladies seem very interested in the challenge. During the Bible study, I unexpectedly had to take on the role of translator. I love the French language, but I definitely feel poorly equipped to be a translator. But, God can work in spite of my inadequacies: I think the ladies understood the main concepts Julianna was presented to them.
And my evening ended rather eventfully when I took on the role of plumber. Ellen’s sink has been backed up, so I scoured the internet looking for home remedies for unclogging a stopped up sink. I stumbled upon a recipe involving baking soda, vinegar, and salt. I poured the combination down the sink and waited. And then I waited some more. The sink was still stopped up. C suggested that I unscrew the pipes to clean out the junk, but Ellen’s sink has a pedestal, and I didn’t think I could get to the necessary pipes. So I tried shoving a metal wire down the sink to see if I could loosen anything up. I then realized that the baking soda and salt had not dissolved as I thought it would. Extreme measures were now necessary. I tried to find a small bucket that would fit into the space behind the pedestal so that I could try to avoid making a mess when I unscrewed the pipes. Then, to my great relief, I realized that the pedestal could actually be removed. So, I unscrewed the necessary pipes, and out plopped a large clump of baking soda and salt. I’m not sure if my home remedy cleared anything out of the pipes, but the sink now drains properly. In a few days, however, I fear I may have to take up that hat once again.
Like I’ve said before, every day brings new adventures. I’m rather dreading the day in which I will have to don my nursing assistant hat! That day will probably come sooner than I wish it to.
