Friday August 6

Friday: This morning we still had very little water here so I went with Samuel to walk the waterline to look for leaks or places where someone may have tapped into the line but it checked out ok. We went over to the University and ADRA which are all adjoining properties. ADRA had one leak they were working on but in our travels we found a guy who was there and helped put the waterline in. He told us that our problem was most likely in the sand filter. It should be cleaned every two to three months but he doubted it had been done at all since installation six months ago. We spent the rest of the morning searching for a key to get in to the locked filter vault. Back and forth from one person to another but no luck. We do have a limited supply of water but at least we have some. We’ll try again on Sunday. In the afternoon we mixed and poured that reinforcing beam which was a big job and tedious as we had very little room to work. We got it but we were at it until 6:30 pm and then clean up. Last night about 8:00, Ron and I went up on the Hospital roof to close the lid to that old reservoir incase it decided to rain over night. We were just standing up there enjoying the lights of the city and the gentle breeze and having a really enjoyable conversation and watching the lightening show off in the distance when the odd small drop of rain started to fall. So we decided to go down incase it decided to get serious. We weren't back to our room for more than 2 or 3 minutes when there was a terrific crash and instantaneous darkness as the power went out. I don't know what it hit but it was close. The generator does not start automatically so after three or four minutes someone started it and we had lights again. It actually didn't rain much and there was only one more audible clap of thunder. But something I wouldn't have thought about was the fear that comes to the people here from something like that. Many start crying and hiding thinking it is another earthquake. The staff here at the hospital immediately went down the wards reassuring patients and trying to comfort them. They feel just like they are reliving that experience all over again. Yes it has been very hot here. The humidity doesn't help of course. Friday the high was 37.8 and the low 27.7.