Water Troubles

Having water issues is normal for Tanzania. This fall we received more rain then usually so I didn't experience many of the difficulties I did my first year living in town. Not having water really affects every aspect of life. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to wash my hands, have squeezed soap into them and then went to turn on the faucet only to remember or discover that there isn't any water! This year my water problems usually involve problems with the pipe. I've been told the water comes through the pipes with lots of force from the mountain and that when it reaches the church the pipe gets too small too fast and the pressure damages the pipes. There must be some truth to that since we've been mainly without water since Wednesday morning(it's Friday afternoon now). The pipe is broken right outside my fence. I can see the water coming out and pooling next to the road...it broke in the same spot in December. Raymond, my neighbor and pastor of the church, has called the city so there is really nothing we can do not except wait. When they decide to come, they'll come. When we do have water often it comes through dirty, muddy or a strange whitish color that I've been told is a chemical added to purify the water. The picture I posted isn't coffee; that's the water I had coming through the pipes a few days last week! So far I haven't decided if it is worse to have no water or to have it come through so dirty that it is practically useless! I'm praying for the day that when the church follows through on their promise to put in a water tank next to my house!