By the time you read this Newsletter, it will be mid-rainy season. In this region of Africa, we have three seasons—rainy season, harmattan season and dry season. Rainy season is mild and wet, bringing problems with mold and mud. The harmattan season is dry, windy and relatively cool. The dry season is hot, dusty and very humid along the coast.
The interesting things about these seasons are their effects on the environments and the people. During the harmattan season, the cool, dry wind dries up almost everything. There is very little rain, dew or fog. Leaves turn brown and fall from the trees. Blowing across the Sahara Desert from the north, harmattan winds blanket everything with a fine coating of dust and put a haze over the sun for days at a time. It is often impossible to see more than about 600 feet through the dusty air. The harmattan season’s effects on people include dry skin and lips, lung trouble from the dust, colds and other airborne diseases.
After the harmattan comes the dry season characterized by stifling heat and almost unbearable humidity along the coast. The intense heat from the sun dries up every drop of moisture in the tall elephant grass and the fallen leaves. Areas that were formerly muddy become very dusty. Windblown dust exposes people to airborne diseases.
Then comes the rainy season. It begins and ends with violent wind and thunderstorms that sometimes knock down cement walls and tear roofs off of entire neighborhoods. Usually after the third rain, the dust is washed out of the atmosphere, and life springs up everywhere. Dry seeds germinate, dead grass gives way to tender young shoots, and insects emerge from the earth. Snakes, frogs and other animals come out of their holes to find food. At this time it is not uncommon to see cobras out hunting frogs.
The ugly part of this season is the wide range of waterborne diseases including dysentery and the insect bites with their discomfort and diseases. Even though the rainy season brings new life to the landscape, most people here do not like it because of the frequent heavy downpours. There are times in July and August when it will rain heavily for entire weeks. Travel becomes difficult. Neighborhoods flood, but the people have nowhere else to go. Flooding always leads to bad times of sickness. If the rains lessen for a time after flooding, the malaria-carrying mosquitoes breed and spread their misery and death.
Indeed, the rains do slow things way down around here, especially for those who don’t own vehicles. During this season, fewer people come to church for Wednesday prayer meetings, Friday vespers, and even Sabbath worship. Bible studies slow down, too. Even though people’s houses are damp, and mildew grows on the walls and in clothes, they would rather be sheltered at home than out in the pouring rain.
This year’s rainy season took a toll on our church property. Strong winds knocked down a section of our nine-foot-tall perimeter wall. People have been coming in through the opening and taking whatever they find. The members of our little flock are making every effort to rebuild the wall around the church yard, donating their time, money—anything they can afford. Will you help your brothers and sisters in this part of the Lord’s vineyard? We would greatly appreciate your donations to help repair our church property.
