I spend hours each day on the computer and the internet, thus after completing needed work, I rarely read the internet articles which flash across my screen. But last week I read one with guidance for handling fridge items after electricity outages. Their #1 rule: Throw out most of the food in a fridge after more than two hours of no electricity!
My reaction was disbelief and laughter! Following this rule would require restocking our fridge once or more times weekly! At our house when the electricity returns (often hours and hours later) and you reopen the fridge, you only throw out food which feels ‘warm’! Our #1 rule: Never, never, never open the fridge when the electricity is out! I once visited a friend with young kids who kept duct tape on the fridge ready to tape the door shut during outages!
My reaction was disbelief and laughter! Following this rule would require restocking our fridge once or more times weekly! At our house when the electricity returns (often hours and hours later) and you reopen the fridge, you only throw out food which feels ‘warm’! Our #1 rule: Never, never, never open the fridge when the electricity is out! I once visited a friend with young kids who kept duct tape on the fridge ready to tape the door shut during outages!
Articles such as this remind us that we do live a different life from friends and family in the States. It is important for us to feel at home, to be comfortable in our routines, but we do need reminders to take extra caution and care OR I should say, sometimes we need to remember that the needed caution and care can become ROUTINE and we should constantly reevaluate our alertness and preparation!
Example – As friends in the States prepare for presidential elections, I doubt that they stock-up on cooking gas and tinned/ packed foods which do not require refrigeration. Elections are scheduled for next March in Kenya and we are already stocking-up on long-life milk, packaged and canned vegetables/ fruits/ meats (which we rarely use), cooking gas, etc., in case there are riots and chaos which limit our routines. But to be honest, we usually keep a small ‘store’ of these things as one never knows when problems might arise – as happened this week in Mombasa, our home years ago. This island city on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast is usually a very laid-back place, but after the murder of a suspected terrorist last Monday, there has been ongoing unrest, including destruction and more deaths.*
We did receive a special ‘perk’ last week! Due to security issues, I shop more often these days in the out-of-the-way stores rather than the big malls, but I did visit a grocery store in a big mall last week when I learned they had my favorite soda as well as Jack’s! So, our cupboards at the moment also hold cans of Diet Caffeine Free Dr Pepper and A&W Root Beer!
How can you join us in prayer this week? Pray for peace and safety in our world. Pray for open hearts and ears among those affected in the Mombasa situation and other places of unrest and that true communication and solving of problems will occur. Pray that Believers will be strong ambassadors of their Father‘s love and peace as they react/respond to situations and individuals. Pray for calm in the hearts of those living in the area, especially wisdom for parents as they help their kids make necessary adjustments. BERT YATES
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* “Kenya cleric Rogo death: Grenade kills Mombasa policeman” – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19396421
Many of the photos were taken during last Sunday’s kid-led service at our church Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road. For a mini-sermon/challenge video, “Who is Imitating/Watching You?” made last Sunday at Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road, go to https://plus.google.com/photos/105343089902291545775/albums/5781271000965291889 -
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