Cold Description

We have been tremendously blessed by God this winter. We have a house that warms up and holds the heat, (in the room where the wood fire is burning). Hamroz can arrange the wood, throw in a match, close the lid and half an hour later, the big logs on top are flaming. I can arrange the wood, care for it intensely for half an hour and burn all of the kindling without starting a fire of any appreciable magnitude. Each one is gifted in our own way.

We hold water on our roof in a big tank. The tank can be filled from the well, through the pump we operate in our front yard, or from water when it is provided from the municipality which happens for 3 or 4 hours at a time, several times per week. But now, our pipes are frozen. I went out with a torch to unfreeze them and ran out of fuel without thawing any pipes – really a special talent of mine. Neighbors told me it is not worth it – unfreezing pipes just ensures that they will freeze again the first night.

The warm room is necessary for Hamroz’ new project. She invented a business that has never existed before in Afghanistan – we call it daycare. The children are already coming. The local government can not quite understand the concept, but I’m sure she’ll get it registered soon.

We hand pump water from our well to use for flushing toilets, washing, etc. We boil water for drinking and an occasional shower. Cold well water is kept in buckets in the bathrooms and kitchen. Now, it is freezing in the buckets.

These are not complaints, but descriptions. If I didn’t describe these things, you wouldn’t know what Hamroz was talking about when she tells stories of how much she hates winter and dreads the cold. Ten degrees Fahrenheit in Philly does not equal ten degrees Fahrenheit in Kabul. We are being blessed and protected; we would not want to be anywhere else. And we are looking forward to seeing you all. In summer, when it is warmer.