Repair Man Two

Found the leak! How to fix it.

Saturday morning workout.

Well, the saga does not end.  The water pump just kept right on running and none of our faucets were turned on and all the toilets were filled already.  So after walking around the house and checking things out several times, Rod finally found that there was a wet spot in our front lawn and we had a couple of dry days.  So the pump was turned off.  Of course, I am such a patient wife I was all joy at not having water coming into the house all night and morning. (Said with a sarcastic voice, just in case you really thought I was patient).
  Saturday morning, Rod was up bright and early and ready to start digging.  In support I put on my jogging clothes and ran around the yard to get my exercise.  There really was only one shovel, so I really couldn't help with the digging. (smile)

Green pipes

Repairmen Two

Matthew Lind, the REAL repairman showed up and worked with Rod at deciding how exactly to repair the pipes and what kind to replace them with.  They replaced the galvanized pipes which we decided were only five or six years old with PVC, green PVC.
And I must say that the new part on the washer is great and we no longer have to put a towel in front of it.  Rod is still working on how to get the hot water to come into the washer.  But I am very thankful for the dry flows and the water pressure coming into the washer now.

Matthew and his family have been here for a year. They came for the year to help with repair projects for our MAF team.  It has been a very busy year for Matthew.  He has repaired his own roof on his house, rebuilt a wall from a fallen tree, built an IT building for our program, and helped two families move to new homes. Those are some of the major projects. He has been on call for smaller repair projects.  We are truly thankful for him and his family being here.  What is very exciting is that they are going back to candidacy to be full time with MAF.

The Repair Man

The wrong part flown in from America

Rod returned on Sunday Evening after 4 1/2 weeks in America.  Before he arrived I sent him a list of all that needed to be repaired when he got back. During the 36 hours of his flying back my watch broke which I use for lots of useful things, like being on time places and timing my cooking and baking and my exercise routine.  (A friend is going to America next week and will be able to bring one out to me).  On Monday the pump went out on the washing machine.  So Rod has spent the past four days repairing things around the house as well as helping at the hanger and flying.

The equipment for repairing the air-conditioner.

My highest priority for Rod to fix before the washing machine went out was the truck air-conditioning.  Driving through Kinshasa traffic is always an adventure but having to have your windows rolled down adds to the adventure and causes an insecurity in my heart that I really don't enjoy facing.  Rod brought the parts back for the air-conditioner. One of the parts didn't fit properly but it was the part replacing the "unbroken" part of the ac so it was okay.  But last evening when he went to put the freon in, it leaked!  Rod said, "Like a sieve."  So here we are with new parts put in but it doesn't hold freon.

The washing machine was a different story.  We have a friend who was coming from America so we quickly ordered a new pump for the washing machine.  In the meantime we still needed to wash clothes so Rod began looking through washing machines left around our MAF homes to find a pump.  He found one and put it in but it leaks. So yesterday I was able to do laundry BUT I had to keep a towel in front of the machine to keep it from leaking all over my washroom and pantry. While Rod was repairing the pump he also repaired the water "intake" which means I now have water pressure in my washing machine.  Before I was running hoses into it and occasionally flooding the pantry when I would forget to turn it off.  Last evening our friend arrived from the states with the part.  We do hope this one will fit.

I have a house helper, Tata Oscar who helps me with the laundry and yesterday as we washed with the front off the washing machine he was over joyed to see the parts all work.  He kept saying over and over, "Bamondele bazali na mayele mingi."  "White men have so much knowledge or wisdom".  I tried to tell him that an African could have invented a washing machine too but he just wouldn't believe me.  I need to find some stories of African Americans who have invented different things and show him their pictures and tell their stories.

Other repairs Rod has completed and they have stayed repaired is the security light outside and the battery light switch. It is comforting to have my man back so I guess you can say my heart is better too.