A LONG DROUGHT
Not only has the Dodoma environment endured a long dry
spell, so also has my blog writing.
Actually the dry season here has lasted much longer than my blog writing
hiatus, but today seems like a good day to recognize a new season and get back
to writing.
Yesterday morning’s rain has changed the face of the
countryside. It started to rain at about
3.30 a.m. and continued on for almost two hours. There was a real downpour at the beginning
and then it settled in to a more gentle rain for a total of almost 2½
inches. All the dust that had been
accumulating on the trees and bushes was washed away and they all look so green
and shining today.
And as I walked this morning I saw numerous people on their
way to their fields, each one with a hoe on one shoulder, a bag of seeds on the
other and carrying a jug of water. Every
little unoccupied plot has been planted and certainly the rain has brought out
the farmer in everyone.
One thing I especially noted on my morning walk was how many
trees planted alongside the road have survived.
Nearing the end of the rainy season last year the City Council planted
trees on both sides of all our new roads in this area. Some were cared for by the people living in
nearby houses; some were eaten by the goats and cows; some died from neglect;
others that I noted today survived and now after this beautiful rain are
standing strong and ready to grow during the coming season. They will certainly beautify the area, as
well as offering their shade.
The frogs are croaking away in the gully near our house, and
viewing the road kill today I saw smashed frogs, lizards and those big black
scorpions that make me shudder. The
water has gone down in all the nearby gullies but I could see where it had been
high, way above its banks. Because it
has been so hot people have been saying that we’re going to have a heavy rainy
season. We shall see.
It feels like a new beginning with the rain, and the fact
that the celebration of Jesus’ birth is only a couple days away just reiterates
that feeling. New life, new birth, new
peace and loving kindness on our earth:
my prayer today.
