Hot Water for Rainy Days

Two rather unexpected events have occurred this week:
1) ongoing rainy weather in this desert region
2) installment of a hot water heater for the girls' building - yippee!!

It generally rains in Arequipa about 5-6 times per year, so needless to say the constant rain for the past week and a half has shocked the people here and overwhelmed the city with water. Most homes are leaking - many worse than others - simply because homes are not constructed to endure substantial rain here. We have buckets and bowls strategically placed in our house and in our office to catch the dripping rain. Here are 4 of the 5 that sit at the top of our stairs, creating a rhythm that lulls us to sleep at night:
Few things are nicer on a rainy day than a hot cup of tea and a hot shower. In the past only one of these would have been an option for the kids at New Hope because hot water was not even in their frame of thinking. All hot water here is produced through solar powered hot water tanks and the cost for these tanks is prohibitive for most of the population. Thanks to the generosity of several couples in the US, the funds were given to purchase a hot water tank for the girls' building. The money was given on Friday and on Saturday morning the crew was out to install the tank. In true Peruvian fashion, they hoisted the tank, solar panels and stand up the side of the building. (They wonder why Americans spend so much time navigating stairs with large objects when you can hoist them up a building or into a window with just a few ropes!). Here are a few pictures of the process:
I have had such fun listening to the girls comment on their first ever hot showers:

- That was the longest shower I've ever had!
- I've never wanted to stay in the shower any longer than I had to - but I didn't want to get out today!
- The soap comes off easier in hot water - how strange!

The extravagant nature of this gift has reminded me once again of the incredible number of every day conveniences that we have grown up with, taking them for granted most of the time. It grieves me how quickly I can detach myself from the reality of the kids at the orphanage while I take warm showers each morning with water from the tank on top of our roof, yet it happens because I am so accustomed to basic commodities like hot water. The installation of this water tank was a true answer to prayer, and I had the privilege of observing the joy and glee that it produced in the hearts of these dear girls. Please join us in giving thanks to the Lord for his provision, and for his patience with us as we forget the realities of those who are living around us without the many basic commodities that we so easily take for granted.