Friday-Feb. 18th - We are all still in shock over Bharat's death. Tim and Kim are going by the house this morning. The funeral will be some time tomorrow. His body will be cremated. Bharat was Hindu, however Tim had witnessed to him several times. He had even visited the church and raised his hand during the invitation. Whether he was saved or not, we don't know.
A plumber was called to repair the flushing mechanism in both toilets. He came on a bicycle with a little plastic bag of tools. He worked for sometime and did get one of the toilets working. He went into town to look for parts for the other one. None were to be found. So he is going to see if he can somehow fix the parts and if not a new flush tank will be necessary. He is gone again and no one knows when he will return.
I did feel chilled all afternoon and had a little temperature. During the night I felt chilled again. To be on the safe side it was decided that maybe I should go to the clinic in the morning and have my finger pricked.
The evening was spent playing scrabble. Tim is so far ahead we have stopped counting.
Saturday-Feb. 19th - Faye and I got ready to go to the clinic. Dr. Ruth picked us up at the house and drove us to the clinic. My finger was pricked to check for malaria. And sure enough, I do have a one count which is hardly anything. However, Dr. Ruth gave a prescription for Malarone. It was filled at the clinic and a driver brought us home. I really don't feel bad at all and I'm sure since we started treatment early it won't amount to anything.
The plumber returned and worked 5 or 6 hours, rebuilt the broken parts on the toilet, and charged 5000 shillings (about $4). Now both toilets are working. What a blessing since friends from Mwanza are coming next week. They will be here 4 nights.
We all went to Bahrat's home for the viewing of the body this afternoon. There are no funeral homes here. Neither do they embalm. The body had been kept in some sort of cooler to preserve it. The body was brought to the home on what looked like cot springs. It was wrapped in white cloth and laid on a straw mat in their living room (all furniture removed). He was a very friendly business man so hundreds (4 -5) came by to view and pay their respects. It was so sad to see and hear some of the ritualism associated with the funeral. It wasn't like any funeral we have ever been to. No one addressed the crowd at all. After about 2 hours of viewing, wailing and chanting the body was then taken to the crematory to be cremated. Only the men and boys accompanied the body. It sure was a sad day for all of us.
Sunday-Feb.20 - There were visitors in church today. I don't know what the attendance was. I do know that some scattered while Tim & Kim were on furlough. That happens every time. Bro. John seemed to have liberty and power this morning; more than usual. Two of the men go to the village each Sunday morning to conduct services there. I did not hear anything about their services.
Tim preached the evening message. He preaches in Swahili. I know from the references he used that he was encouraging the people and pastor to keep on being faithful in spite of adversity.
Home again. Oh yeah, popcorn for a snack, a little TV and off to bed.
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