Brrr!

We have been experiencing some of the lowest temperatures ever in our area. On Saturday, two days ago, it was 12 C (54 F) in the early morning. We had never seen it so cold. We weren't surprised, though, because we had sure been feeling it. Then today it was even colder, 8 C  (46 F)! We've had strong, cool winds, too. And it's not been warming up much during the day, only to 24 or 25 C (mid 70s F).

January is usually the coldest month of the year here, but the lowest temperatures we had previously experienced were 16 or 17 C (low 60s F). Even this seems quite cold to us and our neighbours.

You might be laughing at this point that the Wards and I, winter-loving Canadians--and supposedly hardy missionaries to boot ;-) --are finding it cold, particularly since many of you reading this are experiencing true winter cold right now. Well, let me seek to justify our "wimpiness" somewhat. :-)

We live in houses with no insulation, lots of places where drafts come in, and no solid windows, only screens. Even though we have metal window shutters we can close, they also leave gaps where cold air can come in.

Ward kids bundled up against the early morning chill

In addition, we don't have many warm clothes or heavy blankets, since we don't usually need them. We have been going to bed wearing several layers, and covering ourselves as best we can with the few light blankets we have and layers of sheets.

Our situation is at worst a little unpleasant and at best rather amusing. However, many of our neighbours live in shacks made of woven grass mats which don't provide much protection against the cold or wind. And they have even fewer clothes and coverings options than us. And much less experience with cold.

Their solution to the current weather is to hunker down inside their homes, whether they be grass shacks or traditional huts, with a small fire going to provide some heat, and not venture outside until about 11 a.m., when the temperature has warmed up some.

My teammate Julie and I went out on our usual 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning prayer walk and found our village practically deserted. We saw a total of four people, whereas normally we see a few dozen. We realized it was kind of like a "snow day" in North America, where most things shut down.

Church services started late yesterday morning because people wanted to wait until it got warmer to come out. One pastor was so surprised at the weather, almost incredulous; he said he had never experienced such cold in his life!