The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: RAIN (04/18/19)
Gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid

The familiar sound of a wheelbarrow loaded with empty plastic containers wheeled past my bedroom window around 6AM in the morning.’ Water blues’ I thought as I turned in my bed.’ Thank God for the well.’ There was a sound of rustling leaves and then the familiar squeak of the hinges of the metal lid covering the well. The audible voices of the neighbours hashed in disappointment as the metal lid was slammed shut.

Gid t gid t gid t gid gid t gid t gid t gid gid t gid t gid

This time I raised my head from the pillow enough to peek through the window curious as to why the neighbours were leaving so early. I was in time to see a child with a plastic container in each hand running to catch up with the others. The well was dry! Flinging the bed covers off I got out of bed. Quickly I tied a wrapper around my waist and rushed to the kitchen. Relief washed over me as I noticed that the water drums were filled with water. Hopefully, the water company would supply us with water later in the day.

‘If only it could rain.’

Gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid t gid

Beyond the gate of the yard, I watched one of the neighbours trudging down the street pushing a wheelbarrow carrying empty containers and later return with filled ones. There had been no running water for three days. Women balanced buckets filled with water on their heads as I watched half admiringly as well as half challenged that I felt less of a woman than them. I had no clue where they were going to fetch water from. A part of me wished that I had been brought up in a village so that I could also know how to balance a bucket on my head. Instead I turned to look at the sky feeling inadequate and prayed "Lord please send us rain." ‘Then I won't have to go out of this yard and fetch water. I can't carry a bucket of water on my head; neither can I carry one for more than five minutes without putting it down.’

There wasn't a single cloud in the sky. The Sun was blazing hot. Still I hoped for rain. "Please Lord, let it rain. So that the water table will rise and the well will have water again." ‘I need to fill that large plastic basin in the bathtub with water for the toilet, Lord. It is running out. Oh yes and I need a bath...with more water than I had this morning.’

“Please let it rain Lord," I continued as I walked around the yard searching the sky. ‘It is either rain or running water but since the problem is with the water company, please send the rain.’

"Send the rain, Lord," I pleaded somewhat discouraged. Then the rivers and dams can fill up and the load shedding of electricity can stop. I had walked around the yard feeling crushed and helpless.’ Why were there no clouds?’ I had prayed now it was left for God to answer. I went back in the house to do the rest of the housework.

Later that afternoon I ventured outdoors to inspect the sky and sure enough there were clouds gathering in the sky. The clouds were a slight grey. "It is going to be a lovely day," I sang. I returned indoors and checked on the water drums. They needed filling. I positioned them for easy manoeuvring. Then I lined up containers that I could easily lift. Satisfied, I went to the living room. Now I could play a game of UNO with my cousins.
Pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter. The fat raindrops fell upon the roof. Soon it was pouring.

"Run! Get the drums."

"Quick, it's raining! Run!"

As the rain came down the roof and flowed down the gutter we positioned our containers under the roof one after the other to collect the water from heaven. Now I didn't feel less of a woman than my neighbours. ‘Thank you Lord for the rain!’
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 607 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
04/26/19
I loved your use of sound and repetition! Amazing story and well done!
C D Swanson 
04/27/19
Lovely! I enjoyed this and thought it was a great use of the topic in content and delivery.

Blessings~
Marlene Custer 
04/29/19
Great reminder of God’s provision.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/04/19
This is a great story. The nature vs man conflict pulled me in immediately and I was eager to keep reading. When using onamatoepia like in the first line, you might want to put it in italics to show it's a sound (as well as thoughts too). I think the way you represented the sound of the wheelbarrow was fantastic. Some sentences could use some trimming. You don't need AM and morning both. Instead you could just say: around six in the morning.
I enjoyed the short prayers sprinkled about. It shows such an intimate relationship with God. The ending was great--a message of hope, faith, and persevering. And you nailed the topic while creating great mental pictures.