The Washing Machine

When last we left our Central European missionary, she was without a washing machine for six months. During this time, she shared a machine with two other team members, but it was about a 15-minute walk from the Missionary's apartment. Not a major inconvenience -- in the big scheme -- but an annoyance at times. When a small washing machine was offered to her, she jumped at the chance to have one in her small kitchen, even though it meant putting the microwave in the combo dining/living room. Again, no biggie.

Two weeks past before the Missionary got the washing machine hooked up, but last night she finally ventured to connecting the hose to the water spicket, turned on the water and ARGH! water sprayed everywhere. After mild frustration, she finally maneuvered the hose correctly, got the machine working and was happy...

Until the machine went into the first rinse cycle, at which time, water poured out from the bottom of the machine. She shut the water off, as well as the machine and retrieved sheets and towels to "mop" up the standing water in her kitchen. Finally, she relented and called for help, only to discover a loose-fiting cap covering the culprit hole where the water dispersed. Easy fix, no problem. Machine is started again and everything seems to be working fine..until the spin cycle, at which time the Missionary has to sit on top of the machine to keep it from jumping all over the tiny kitchen and thus, shutting itself off. Five minutes of constant
vibration made the Missionary a little weazy...

The machine works and the Missionary now can wash clothes in the privacy of her own abode. It's a small machine -- this morning's load was a hand towel, pillow case, twin sheet and 8 wash cloths. It washes half the clothes as the other machine she used, but it finishes in 2/3 of the time -- 60 minutes vs. 90 minutes.

Jim Barnhart: if Becky's new washing machine washes half the amount of clothes in 2/3 the amount of time, and Frank and Joe leave Cleveland at 6:30 a.m., driving 60 mph, what time will Frank arrive in Peoria and Joe in Owensboro?

The adventure continues....