It is pretty common for our water to shut off every couple of weeks. It usually shuts off for several hours or up to 2 days. We have become very used to this by now and it is no big deal. However, this month we experienced the longest period without water so far. Our bathroom water was out for 9 days! Thankfully our kitchen sink (cold water hookup only) was working as well as the toilet was able to flush.
These were certainly tiny pieces of blessing we could rejoice in! When events happen like this particular one, we are challenged by Father’s word in 1 Thess. 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pr continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Father’s will for you in the Son.” It is very easy for us to drown in our complaints of cultural differences and annoyances, but this is not His will for us. His will is for us to not only find joy but remain in a constant state of joy while we pr and give thanks for all we endure. What a challenge to accept! We ended up washing our hair in our kitchen sink around day 7 and had quite the good laugh about it. We aren’t too sure why we waited so long. Really we kept thinking each day, “Oh it will come back on soon.” Nope! We were beyond grateful that our toilet runs on a separate line! And overall, we really feel a great appreciation for things once they are gone. We take small but valuable things for granted so often. We thank Father for giving us this piece of truth to rely on for all circumstances, and we know it will especially come in handy when we face another challenge!