Wise Words from a Trash Can

 I have been away for a little while due to my water troubles in M Town. With a mixture of emotions, I had to vacate my apartment and have had limited Internet access. I have shifted to another town that lies closer to the mountains. Some great people are letting me temporarily stay in a flat that is already furnished and paid for. I will be traveling a bit and then moving my things out of my old flat into a new one soon.  Its been a time of great transition but also a really good time to lean on the ONE CONSTANT in life.

And..also a good time to glean wisdom from a trash can.

This sign was found on a trash can situated on a side of a mountain. 

 a name for a brand of fruit juice here. Come guys…do some research before you go doing stuff like this...

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

A magical place in the middle of the city

Nothing says a good day off like driving an auto.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

 "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around every once in awhile, you could miss it" Ferris Bueller.

I did something I rarely do anymore. I took the weekend off and went exploring. A few friends of mine went up to a tibetian colony for the day. We had yummy food and explored a new neighborhood.

 

 

 

 This is some sort of puffy dough thing.

 

A Nice Day

Like always, if these pictures are good…I didn't personally take them. This was a nice day in a village so I just thought I would share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water

I have never worried about water before. Until living here. I can do without electricity but water...well, we need it. And it makes me feel anxious when I don't have it. Normally, it eventually comes. But there is a big water problem in my building. And people are starting to get restless. I got my pump fixed but then I was asked to please not turn it on. Which is ok for awhile...but that means that I don't have access to water. This morning, when I found my tank still empty...I stood up on my roof and tried to figure out what to do. You know they say that true character comes out when people get pressed. So, my initial response was... to be a jerk. I need water for crying out loud. I have a 'right' don't I?? The things inside our hearts are so ugly. That's my true character- to be a jerk. And that is a SIN that separated me from God - not just an annoying personality trait that I can laugh off.... And I really believe that I am going without water so that the Lord could show me that. (and honestly, at the touch of a button I could get out of this situation)

I took a few deep breaths, walked down the stairs and met with my neighbor. "Are you taking tension?". she asked (this is their version of- are you upset"?)

I smiled and said "well, I would eventually like water". We went on to talk about her plants and her job and her life. She ended the conversation saying something very sad and revealing under her breath. "here...we live life by trickery". If I would have been a jerk to her--what would that have proven? Why do we want to make ourselves feel big so that others will feel small? So yea, I could have been mad. But, how sad is that- to know that you have to life live by trickery and deceit? When I am living life underneath the shadow of the cross. Why am I living as a child who has no hope? In my sin- I would have been a jerk and made her life even more sad. But in His grace- I can wish her a good day. So, yes, I can I do without water. Because really- He IS the Water. Because really- He tells us to not worry about tomorrow. And so I won't.

The Crazy Just Doesn't Make Sense

So many crazy things happen around here that I don't bother mentioning. Because, really, the crazy just all blends in there together and I forget most of it anyway

I think a lot about the people from the 'days of yore'..... and I wonder how they survived.. But the truth is...a lot of them went crazy, died or burned out quickly. They were only human and made mistakes too so I really shouldn't compare. So I find myself trying to be thankful for what He has given me. The very fact that I even HAVE running water is a blessing in itself. But some days....the crazy just doesn't make sense to me.

Last night, my water ran out. This is a common problem so I just fell asleep. "Water will come in the morning" I thought.

Well, early this morning, I wake up...no water. So I go downstairs to turn the pump on. And this is what the wires look like. This is why I am a little SCARED to turn my pump on. Because yes,YES, those are indeed live wires being connected directly into electrical sockets. Somehow, I manage to get the pump turned on. But still...no water....

After a few hours of waiting and wondering...a neighbor finally fesses up and says...
well...somebody cut your wires.

WHY?

"Well, because your socket caught on fire. So, we had to cut your wires"

AND NOBODY TOLD ME?? I asked
(nobody thought..gee golly...she won't have access to water now...)

"Well...no..". my neighbor answers as he looks at me like I am stupid.

(Me (totally in my head): Ok, I am showing you love right now by not punching you in the face- thanks H for your funny quote)

Me: (out loud) "Ok well...thank you for telling me". I say with a plastered -kindly- but -obviously- fake smile.

(Me (in my head again) :just breath..just breath
And as a disclaimer: I really do have good neighbors. They honestly mean well. But its as if we speak two different languages...oh wait...

So, even if the water doesn't come in the morning...I know that His mercies always do. And I know that I should never act on my impulse to punch someone in the face. :)