It has been almost a month since my family and I moved to Africa.
We are slowly adjusting to our new home. Like most missionaries, figuring out even the simplest things is a journey.
I am still figuring out how to get water here where we stay.
My home has two water tanks: one underground and one above ground. From what I heard or what my landlord told me, water comes from the government at night and is stored in the underground tank. Then I have to switch on a pump to pump water from the tank on top.
Also, I can’t check how much water the tank on top holds. So, how do I know when to switch on the pump?
For now, I flip the switch on every 2-3 days. When the top tank overflowed, I turned off the switch. But some days, no water overflows. So, does it mean there is no water in the underground tank? -_- I have no clue, LOL.
For now, I bought one big jug of water at home for backup, just in case we need to shower and there is no water.
This is just one aspect. I am still learning how to get electricity, gas (for cooking), internet, trash collection, and everything else we need to live day to day.
As you can imagine, things can get stressful very, very fast.
So, how do we deal with it?
I still remember my first open-water swim during my first triathlon. I was struggling because the water was murky, and I couldn’t see a thing. I was so scared. Amid the struggle to not drown, I kept encouraging myself to keep going—just one stroke at a time. Don’t think about the entire race. Just focus on the next step.
In a way, being a missionary is exactly like that. There are so many things I feel overwhelmed by, but I keep reminding myself (and Wai Jia) that we are to take things one day at a time.
We keep ploughing along. We learn the language, how to buy food, how to live, and how to serve.
When Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow and to focus on today, I live this way because I have no choice. Thinking beyond today is too overwhelming (and tiring). I can only focus on one small step at a time.
With this, we keep moving forward, and by God’s grace, we will keep moving forward.
Missionary, like a triathlon, requires just one simple thing. It is the blind determination to keep going.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
