Dust Tornado

Yesterday at lunch we experienced a crazy natural fluke. At first we didn't know what was going on when the doors to the kitchen slammed shut and then it go really windy just outside the porch area. But, one of the girls had gone outside to sit at the picnic table on the porch and she quickly turned around, saying "Oh! Don't come out here with your eyes open!" She had gotten dust in her eyes from the wind that had all the sudden picked up. But, it wasn't just wind. It was a huge dust tornado-like funnel that picked up the dirt on the road right next to the Guest House and was swirling it relentlessly. At first it was fun and amazing to watch, because it was bigger than the ones we get in the U.S., but as it made it's way to the other side of the compound, distruction was on its mind. Some of the WHI hired ground workers had been working on making a shaded area for the vehicles by propping boards up and nailing tin on top. They had the top covered with tin and nailed down yesterday. But, when the massive dust swirl came by, it tore right through the middle of the roof, taking a big chunk of sheet metal with it and flipping it over to land on the other side of the wall of the compound. The other girl and I were watching and saying, "Oh, no!" "I hope no one got hurt on the other side, because that could really hurt!" "That's horrible! They were working so hard!" as we looked at the swarm of workers that came to observe the damage. One man threw his had on the ground in frustration, understandably so, and other Zambians were trying to get the sheet metal without going on the other side of the compound wall. It will be fixed, I have no doubt, but it was a very intense moment at the time. A dust storm in Africa sure has a lot of power!

Today is classes, more meetings, and possibly another walk to the market. Or, I might use that time to study for my two nursing classes and journaling that I have to do as an assignment. I am going to be doing a lot of writing, which doesn't bother me much since I love to write and express myself through that, but I do have a fear of over-writing or burning out on it. Oh, well. We'll see what happens.