Me Thinks

 

Perhaps the most shocking revelation I have had since moving to a different country, is that having clean water throughout my life was a blessing I totally took for granted. For 61 years I drank water freely from the tap, I washed my clothes and bathed myself in it. I rinsed food, washed babies, washed my hands and poured cup after cup of it for satisfying consumption. I never realized what a blessing it was to have clean water! Now I am see the effects of water that is not clean. Missionaries have skin issues. They tell me they itch after showering. They have sores that won't heal and get infected, and I realize that I see only what is what is happening on the outside of their bodies. Yet, the missionaries are blessed and they are careful, and they continue to serve.

I asked a missionary about his apartment this week and he showed me around via video. We went over the supplies he should have in his apartment and after talking with him, I know he and his companion need: a toilet seat for the toilet, a new can opener, a small frying pan, two dish towels, and a vegetable peeler.  At the end of our interview I asked, "Elder K., are there any issues in your apartment that we did not talk about?" 

He paused and thought, then replied, "There are little red worms in our water." 

"What?"

He and his companion laughed. "There are. We can see them."

"I had no idea! I am so sorry! We need to find you a new apartment!"

"It's okay Sister Clarke. We are kind of used to them now. Whatever you think is best for the work."

I can't get Elder K. and his companion out of my mind. I thought about driving to his area this week and searching for a new apartment, and then I wondered if the situation would be the same in the new apartment. I can't fix everything here, though I want to. I can't solve every problem and make things all better. There are basic things like clean water that I would really love to provide for every missionary! We provide blue jugs of drinking water, but what they wash their clothes in and bathe in is a different story.

I love Elder K.'s humility. He is willing to stay in that apartment if it is best for the work. Wow.