Flood Part 2

Thursday night a member of the community came to the house after we had dinner. He discussed with Silivia and Emmanuel in Luo for a long time. Emmanuel finally turned to me, explaining that they were discussing homes that needed to be rebuilt in the community. This week people were mostly focusing on food - the Red Cross and government had delivered maize and beans, and Abba was running a lunch time feeding program. Emmanuel explained that unless people started working on their homes soon, they would probably not be receiving help from the community the longer they waited. There are at least 7 homes that need to be completely rebuilt.

Thursday it rained all night. I woke up multiple times, listening for the sounds of Silivia yelling or the roar of a false ocean. None were there, and I slept until about 7 the next morning. We woke up, taking tea and sweet potatoes and discussing the need for additional soil inside Abba's muddy classrooms. It was muddy out - but nothing out of the ordinary.

A few more hours passed, and Happ returned to the house, telling us that the water had come again. I pulled on my gumboots and walked to the road, my stomach heavy with dread. I stood in the same spot as last time, listening to the same roar of water as last time - wondering if I was dreaming as I looked down again at water rushing past my gumboots. We tried to stop some of it from flowing into Abba, and others in the community dug trenches and mud walls to try and save their homes.

Again the river has swelled over its banks, pooling in one area because there are not enough culverts in the new, raised road to allow it to flow to the lake. I greeted a lady I knew, asking her if the water was entering into her home, and she told me to follow her. The rerouted water was flowing directly next to her house, as she informed me that as long as that water didn't increase, her house would be okay.

I am speechless for a second time. The water has returned - showing more gusto than the last time and flooding a larger area, with more homes. Not even a week's time has past - leaving the still damp marks on peoples' homes with a fresh coat of water. Peoples' homes are in serious need of rebuilding - so again, if you can, please email me rachelmclark2@gmail.com if you are willing to help build a new home.