Saturday morning was most interesting. We loaded the little mini clothes washer but it wouldn't drain into the sink. After reading the instructions, it has no water pump and so the drain hose must lay flat on the floor and let gravity do the draining. The "laundy" is in a little back screened open air room with tile floors (All floors are tile) and a drain. The water is really soft so Sister Dansie found that even a little tide is too much tide. Once we got it running, the local missionaries showed up to see how we were getting along. Then we noticed that the washer had emptied but the floor drain wasn't working and so the back room had about 2 inches of soapy wash water. The missionaries pitched in and while we were moving the washer into the 2nd bathroom, one of the missionaries worked the drain with a plunger for 5 minutes and go it flowing again. So the washing is solved. We dry on a clothes line and bought a small drying rack in that back room. The room has barred and screened windows so it's sort of open air all the time.
Bucket Showers
Later Elder Dansie was in the upstairs shower covered with soap and the water pressure dropped to zero. Many of the missionary apartments have shower areas with a tap instead of a shower head---hence the term bucket shower. Sister Dansie filled a bucket from downstairs and brought up so he could finish. Fortunately the water pressure has been better since and not needed a bucket.
Mega Malls
In contrast to thousands of roadside stands selling anything and everything, there are four big malls in town. Walter Mart, Robinsons, SM Megacenter and SM City. SM is a huge chain built by the Chinese in most larger cities. They are as nice as any mall around and include many restaurants and food. Quit a change from the tin shacks next door where many people live.
More AC
We decided to buy a second air conditioner and put in a weird hole in the wall in the 2nd upstairs room. So now we have an AC bedroom and AC office, we are in heaven. That and buying several hooks, bins and cheap shelving and we finally are settled in. In another blog we'll give you a tour of the house and it's wonderful features.