water in the desert

     This is a Monday in the Middle East post. Sorry it has been a few weeks since I last wrote. Two weeks ago it was Hans' birthday and last week we were really busy, so this is the first time I have been able to blog. And I am trying to finish it quickly in hopes that it might still be late Monday night somewhere?! haha! But not to worry, if you were sad about not having a post to read these past couple of weeks, there will be a number of post over the next few days :)

     Great news! We are getting city water! I have been doing my happy dance since finding out this bit of information. Now I can wash dishes, fill up the bath tub for Alexis, wash clothes, and yes, even flush the toilet without the fear that I may not have enough water. Up until this point we had to call to have our water delivered by truck. The water man drives up in his water truck, connects it to a pipe outside and it pumps into a large holding tank. There is also a tank on the roof (I think this is to help with water pressure.) Because the tank sits out in the hot sun, it is normal in the summer for the temperature of the water coming out of the faucet to scalding. Washing clothes in the day is a no-no, unless you want your colors to fade, and your clothes to shrink! I usually wake up around 6AM to put in a load of clothes because I figure by then the water will have cooled off a bit from the night air. I am not sure how the city water works as far as temperature goes, but I do know that the endless supply of water will be wonderful! Our outside tank is usually enough for 10 days or so... but we have been caught during a holiday week without any water because our water man was off work.  During that week we had to use some of our drinking water to give Alexis and Kristopher bathes. True Story.

Our drinking water

refills (and sometimes bath water)

Outside water tank

A water truck getting refilled at the spring and ready to bring fresh water. One truck load is enough for one tank. So they have to refill after each house. 

     One of the things we have learned since being in the Gulf is the importance of water. I have heard some Arabs say that water is a greater natural resource than oil. And the more water a country has, the more prosperous they are considered; this is why countries like the UAE build massive water fountains  everywhere. The malls in Dubai have the most impressive fountains that I have ever seen!  Alexis loves to see them. Really, these pictures do not even do them justice.

The Dubai fountain
Alexis  calls it "The Splash"

This one is inside the Dubai mall and is 3 stories high!

But, in seeing all this water, I am reminded of how "dry" it really is, and how little water seems to be flowing... Praying for His water to flow abundantly. 

This is the view from my front door

 "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams." Isaiah 44:3-4