The Flood of 5/15/2011

This is truly a day to remember; the day of the flood of 5/15/2011 here in Peru. There is no dam that I know of on the river in Lima. There is no way we can even see the river from our home. There is little, if any, rain in San Juan de Lurigancho. They say the measureable amount is less than ½ inch per year. But we experienced the flood of 5/15/2011! It was on Las Orquideas. That’s the name of our street. In fact, it was at building #290! That’s us. We were up front and close when the flood took place.

Yesterday a friend of the landlord came to our apartment to change out a faucet in our laundry sink. Water was not flowing at a normal pace and the small stream left was not enough to warrant using that faucet. When he exchanged the faucet he shut off the water to the apartment. When he did that, he must have done ‘something’ else to the washing machine hoses in error. Today I put a load of wash in, and sat down to read while the machine performed its magic. Soon….

Well, let’s say we had to rapidly construct a bath towel dam, get out the mop and bucket, kick off the shoes, roll the pant legs, and move 9 suitcases that store linens for one of the American Teams, because the washing machine was draining out all over the kitchen floor! Don immediately turned off the power, but it had emptied out so much by that time, that we were like ducks splashing around as we attempted (and I mean attempted!) to stop the flow. It seeped out the kitchen door to the landing outside our door. Soon it was seeping back in our front door and under our couches. When I looked out the door, we had created a set of waterfalls right down the steps to the next landing! It’s sure funny now, but at the time it wasn’t. After sopping and mopping for over an hour, we were able to open the windows and let the clean floors dry!

With the washing machine re-connected properly (thank you dear Don!), we both sat down exhausted. Now I’ve always loved thick, luxurious, large bath towels – until today! How often have you had to wring them out by hand, time and time and time and time again? My fingers, wrists and arms were sore. The water was cold. I was soaking wet. But in the big scheme of things, it was nothing!
What was the lesson in all of this? We aren’t sure! But what we do know is that there were a lot of positive things that happened today and we like to think on those, and be thankful in all circumstances. First of all, we were home and not preoccupied when the flood took place. Second, we have a normal size washing machine, not one of those extra large sizes which would have caused a larger flood! Then, too, we were challenged to make quick decisions, and to work together as a team! We didn’t get upset. No one was hurt. The repair cost us nothing. We have clean floors and clean feet. We can laugh at ourselves. At this very moment, the towels are drying on the clothesline after successfully being spun in the washing machine. Just another day in the life of a missionary! Watch out – you, too, are a missionary!

Thinking back on the whole episode, I know there must be something to be said about our attitudes under these types of circumstances; our heart attitude and the outward appearance that others may witness. There is also the thought of the washing (cleaning) of our hearts. In Romans we read God’s loved ‘poured out’ upon us. We were definitely overwhelmed with the volume of the pouring out today. (I’m always looking for the lessons and the positive side of situations.)