Febrero loco - Crazy February

We have been told that there is a saying here about the rain to be expected during the months of the rainy season: enero poco, febrero loco, marzo borracho (January a little, February a lot, March is drunk). If the first three days of February have been any indication, the statement could be true for other things as well as rain...
Yesterday morning we woke up to no water. Not a drop. We have clean water to drink, but none of the precious liquid was pouring out of the faucets at the turn of a handle. This is not necessarily atypical in Peru. It takes some getting used to, but you quickly figure out you just have to wait for the return of the services and get creative in the meantime.
Creativity yesterday required rainwater. Thankfully for us, the Cusquenan rainy season came through and we were able to collect about 8 gallons of runoff water from our roof to at least flush our poor toilet. In addition, the Wycliffe missionaries who live across the street from us collected more rainwater than they could possibly use and shared some with the rest of our little missionary community here. We said we felt like the widow who collected jugs from her neighbors into which to pour oil.
And as if that were not crazy enough, we were playing the entertainers yesterday. There were 6 of us around the table at lunch and about 17 youth jammed into our living room last evening for a game night/Welcome Shannon and Bethany party, which included smores and roasted Peruvian hot dogs (which aren't really your typical fat, artery-clogging American fare). Thankfully, this is Peru, where such utility shortages are part of life. No one seemed to mind dumping water in the back of the toilet to flush it, especially seeing as how most of the rest of Cusco was without water yesterday as well.
We awoke this morning to cloudy skies, restored water services, and a kitchen full of dirty dishes, realizing that God truly is in control and we truly are not.
I also found the first dead mouse under the refrigerator yesterday. Jubilantly I announced victory and recruited Carrie's metal ruler for the job of extricating said rodent from said confined space....only to realize that I had been excited about a piece of garlic adorned with a rather large dust bunny. We still have yet to find the first dead mouse. We are considering a cat.
Today was our Sunday to visit the church in Huacarpay for the first time. I definitely realized that life is simpler in the country and was reminded that church in Huacarpay is quite different from what I have been experiencing for the last 5 years. It was, however, a good morning and I really enjoyed it. After church, we went to the pastor's house for a very large lunch of potatoes - freeze dried, plain, and sweet, corn on the cob, carrots, cabbage, meat, and broth. My stomach is definitely expanding... After lunch, we went to check out the ruins of an ancient Inca military fortress that are close to Pastor Celestino's house. It was quite a hike in church clothes, but very fun. Got to see some black widows (ugh!) and a lot of cool ruins and beautiful scenery. God's creative power is amazing!
Of course, since today is the last day of Carnavales, which means that people are out on the streets armed with buckets of water and water balloons, the trip home could not have been complete without being pegged in the face by a water balloon and becoming quite wet. If you're not quite so lucky, shoe polish and colored flour can also be involved. We were lucky in that regard.
And that has been most of the beginning of our February. Loco? Just a little. But has God been there? Absolutely. And I trust in His faithfulness for whatever craziness awaits us in the next few weeks as well.
One more thought with which to leave you. According to Pastor Celestino of Huacarpay, February is the month in which women talk the least. His explanation for this statement? February only has 28 or 29 days. Some things cross cultures. :)