We have been increasingly busy while here over the past couple of weeks. Ergo, I have had little time to document the course we are currently on. Nevertheless, know that life is grand, things are well and even though the times are demanding, we are soaring on the wings of eagles as Christ so allows. The ministries are going well and everyone has fallen back into the schedule that existed before Christmas, with a few alterations. I am teaching at the African Bible College once more and am one class away from ending the Preparing Biblical Messages and Pastoral Ministry course and beginning with Biblical Doctrine. This will certainly be a pleasant switch as Biblical Doctrine is far more exciting than planning catalog systems to track the attendance of members and visitors at church. Haha This, of course, is certainly necessary but is far from being my forte.
Having returned after the base’s closing over Christmas, of course we discovered that we were overrun with mice which now all seemed to depart with the appearance of the large rat. This rat no doubt bullied them out and had taken up permanent residence in our kitchen. After we found some partially eaten carrots a couple of days ago, I realized this was the last straw. I can’t quite understand the mind of a rat that would take a bite out of each one of the carrots instead of just eating one whole one. It is this sort of behavior that makes me realize the actions are out of spite and terrorism, not a selective diet.
With all this unfolding I realized it was time to take the rat hunt up a notch or two, especially since they were avoiding the traps that were set. I probably would have avoided them too if I had access to carrots and bananas. Nevertheless, I purchased some rat poison that guaranteed their rapid death. Having purchased this shortly after lunch time yesterday, I placed it in the perfect hidden corner in the kitchen and began the wait with a joyous heart. I didn’t prefer this method although it being swift and complete, it would send the rat into a tiny place to die and then I would have to fish out his rotting corpse days later. Regardless, I waited, hoping to see him with an inebriated sort of swagger, sauntering out of the kitchen and then collapsing in death at the threshold of the house.
Later in the evening I took one last trip into the community house to refill my water bottle and in looking down noticed a wriggling tail before my shoe, attached to the large body of a rat. Trying to think quickly, I alerted the other occupant in the room (who was peacefully reading a book) to bring something blunt that I may smash the rat’s head. Just as said occupant stood, halfway believing me, the rat made a run for the kitchen. Obviously the food it had consumed was weighing it down for I have never seen a creature laboring so vehemently yet gaining so little ground. With his lumbering gate I had ample time to reach for the narrow ended push broom, swing it over my head and bring it down in a firewood-splitting motion.
The noise was deafening as the broom struck the floor and I could hear my adrenaline induced heart beating quickly in my ringing ears. As the explosion of power dissipated and I regained my bearings, I saw that there upon the floor laid the stretched out body of the rat, giving a few last twitches before its life on this planet ended. The broom had caught it just above the shoulders in a guillotine style strike, rendering it in a deceased state immediately. I was still stunned by the outcome of the short but decisive conflict and by that time the noise had drawn a small crowd.
A few screams from shock and some from horror escaped the mouths of those standing around the carcass. Some, like myself, were so aghast that breathless silence was the only response. As an ease crept into the atmosphere, realizing our foe would berate us no longer, a celebration ensued. I almost had a glimpse into the army of Israel when Goliath had been dropped in one fell swoop. We rejoiced over the oppression that had been lifted from this rat’s tyrannical rule on the kitchen’s throne. I then carried his lifeless corpse behind the house, where it was left as a testimony to all who attempt to get the better of us. Worry not for we are now mouse AND rat free and will carry on with the work we were sent here to do. Bwana Asifiwe!
Having returned after the base’s closing over Christmas, of course we discovered that we were overrun with mice which now all seemed to depart with the appearance of the large rat. This rat no doubt bullied them out and had taken up permanent residence in our kitchen. After we found some partially eaten carrots a couple of days ago, I realized this was the last straw. I can’t quite understand the mind of a rat that would take a bite out of each one of the carrots instead of just eating one whole one. It is this sort of behavior that makes me realize the actions are out of spite and terrorism, not a selective diet.
With all this unfolding I realized it was time to take the rat hunt up a notch or two, especially since they were avoiding the traps that were set. I probably would have avoided them too if I had access to carrots and bananas. Nevertheless, I purchased some rat poison that guaranteed their rapid death. Having purchased this shortly after lunch time yesterday, I placed it in the perfect hidden corner in the kitchen and began the wait with a joyous heart. I didn’t prefer this method although it being swift and complete, it would send the rat into a tiny place to die and then I would have to fish out his rotting corpse days later. Regardless, I waited, hoping to see him with an inebriated sort of swagger, sauntering out of the kitchen and then collapsing in death at the threshold of the house.
Later in the evening I took one last trip into the community house to refill my water bottle and in looking down noticed a wriggling tail before my shoe, attached to the large body of a rat. Trying to think quickly, I alerted the other occupant in the room (who was peacefully reading a book) to bring something blunt that I may smash the rat’s head. Just as said occupant stood, halfway believing me, the rat made a run for the kitchen. Obviously the food it had consumed was weighing it down for I have never seen a creature laboring so vehemently yet gaining so little ground. With his lumbering gate I had ample time to reach for the narrow ended push broom, swing it over my head and bring it down in a firewood-splitting motion.
The noise was deafening as the broom struck the floor and I could hear my adrenaline induced heart beating quickly in my ringing ears. As the explosion of power dissipated and I regained my bearings, I saw that there upon the floor laid the stretched out body of the rat, giving a few last twitches before its life on this planet ended. The broom had caught it just above the shoulders in a guillotine style strike, rendering it in a deceased state immediately. I was still stunned by the outcome of the short but decisive conflict and by that time the noise had drawn a small crowd.
A few screams from shock and some from horror escaped the mouths of those standing around the carcass. Some, like myself, were so aghast that breathless silence was the only response. As an ease crept into the atmosphere, realizing our foe would berate us no longer, a celebration ensued. I almost had a glimpse into the army of Israel when Goliath had been dropped in one fell swoop. We rejoiced over the oppression that had been lifted from this rat’s tyrannical rule on the kitchen’s throne. I then carried his lifeless corpse behind the house, where it was left as a testimony to all who attempt to get the better of us. Worry not for we are now mouse AND rat free and will carry on with the work we were sent here to do. Bwana Asifiwe!
posted by Scott Anthony Williams | 4:06 AM
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