Sunday, August 8, 2010

Life Happens

Dear friends I have been meaning to write for such a long time and have not done so. I tend to let the college business over run my time. So much has happened since my last communication; however we will catch up with that later. I want to share my morning with you!

This morning I was preparing rice in the microwave, with 102’ weather, I did not want to turn on more than one gas burner. As the rice was cooking, I was preoccupied with my sweet and sour chicken preparation. I cut the meat up and while it was marinating; I prepared the veggies.

I checked the rice and it was not quite done so I turned the microwave on for an additional five minutes. Great! I was eager to complete my preparations and get back to studying. Church meets at 3:00 and I am attending an engagement party tonight.

Guess all my preparations got me into trouble. Ok – you electricians will love this. My microwave is from America and uses 110 volts and we have 220 here. Therefore I have a transformer for the microwave. I have never had a problem with it. I have used the microwave for five minutes at a time and then another five and so on. Well today, I put my rice into cook for ten minutes and then another ten and so on.

As I was stir frying my chicken, smoke began to fill the room and I grabbed a towel to cover my mouth and nose. I could not see where it was coming from and the microwave was still running. I had enough sense to turn it off. The smoke was so thick, I could not see the fridge or the transformer. I grabbed my fan and set it up to blow the smoke out the window. This was great I can see the transformer is on fire. Paranoid about electrical fires I panicked. I had no idea of what to do. I ran into the big room, furthest from the kitchen and asked the Lord to send me someone to help.

I heard a banging on my door. It was my neighbor from upstairs. He came to investigate what I was doing and saw the smell. He stayed and helped me clean up the mess and get the power turned back on because half the apartment was without power. I had no idea they had circuit breakers. Now, I know!!!

Oh, by the way when I fled the fire, I also burned my chicken! Life is the same no matter where you live – it just happens.


By the way, here is a photo of my burned sweet and sour chicken and my scented candle. The burning smell is horrible!

Be blessed and may the Lord shine His face upon you.