News from Sierra Leone . . .

Imagine a city of 1.2 million people without water.  According to our good friend, Olly, that's Freetown right now.  The city water supply has been irregular since the war, but there has always been some water.  People got used to waking up early and queuing for hours to fill their buckets and "gallons" from public taps and leaking fresh-water pipes.  Yesterday, the main water supply into Freetown was damaged leaving the whole city dry - 1.2 million people have no water for washing, cooking or drinking.  The wealthier residents are able to buy water from trucks for 2000 Leones a gallon, but as the poorer people live on only 4000 Leones a day, they can only afford food or water.  Pray for them.  Meanwhile, on the ship, there is limited reserves so the crew is back to rationing:  cold showers, the laundry is closed, disposable plates and silverware, etc.  Please pray that the water company gets the pipe repaired and water will flow again!  We'll be there in less than a month . . . Margo