Too Hot

(Note: this was written when I was still pregnant 🙃)

What’s one of the hardest parts of living overseas? Right now, it’s the heat. Which is crazy to admit, because that is one of the things I loved most about my other trips overseas. I’ll blame it on pregnancy, but my ability to handle the heat is negligible. 

The way they build houses here is different from North America. Everything is very “open concept.” The doors and windows are never completely sealed to the outside and the windows do not have screens. They throw open the windows to allow air flow. Unfortunately, this also allows mosquitoes to come in at will. Despite our best efforts, my son and I ended up covered in bug bites. If I itch them at all (which I do… I know, I shouldn’t) they get super red and swollen. I always react badly to bug bites. So I choose to keep things closed as much as possible, which greatly reduces the number of mosquitoes freely camping out inside. The downside of this, is that it creates a virtual sauna. I normally love being warm. I am the kind of person who wears socks and sweaters all the time. But the combination of constant heat, oppressive humidity and all that comes with pregnancy has completely changed my view of heat, at least temporarily. 

We have two AC units, for the two bedrooms. I usually only run these during the nights or nap time. One night, I woke up feeling very hot. The AC unit was not working. We checked the power and the breakers. Finally, my husband went outside to realize that instead of being billed monthly for power usage, you actually have to pay in advance for the power you use. He had to download an app and transfer money, then punch the number into the meter outside. All in the middle of the night! 

Other times, the AC is working, but I am still too hot at night to sleep. I’ve had to get up and wrap an ice pack around my neck in order to sleep. During the day, I have even stuck my head in the freezer, just so I could cool off enough to continue functioning. 

Sometimes I long to be cold, a desire I had never before had in my life. But then we get in a car where our driver has the AC set to where it is actually frigid. And I realize I don’t like that feeling either. It’s so easy for humans to recognize discomfort and seek to be comfortable. We can so easily complain when we are too hot or too cold. Why can’t we be “just right” all the time? 

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11. 

I have not learned this, obviously. But it is something that I am striving to learn. There will never be a perfect condition this side of eternity, at least not one that will last. But regardless of our circumstances, we can choose to be content.