Here in Bundibugyo, power has always been less than stable. The electricity returning creates a certain yell among the missionaries here--of surprise and joy. Some even have a special dance that accompanies it. For the last three weeks our power has been especially unreliable. With the arrival of "THE road" in Bundibugyo Town and beyond, it will make its triumphal, slightly destructive entry in Nyahuka soon. Extreme widening of the road will take place as Nyahuka will soon house the African equivalent of a super highway. This road will roll from Mombasa all the way to Lagos, cutting straight through Uganda into the Congo. In preparation for its arrival, our electricity poles have been slowly shifted further from the current road, resulting in sun up to sun down power cuts. While this isn't highly disruptive and I've almost enjoyed the regularity at which the power comes off and on, our voltage stabilizer exploding a week ago was less appreciated. In smoke and flames, the magical box meant to control fluctuations in voltage, gave up the fight and plunged our house into darkness.
Added to the frustration of limited power, followed by no power, I reached the end of my rope upon realizing we had one propane tank, which was already in use. Propane runs our gas stove, which we use many times a day. But it also runs our "back up" fridge in cases when the power is off for many hours and we'd rather not lose all the meat in our freezer to green mold and other bacteria with long names. We couldn't run both appliances and for various reasons it seemed there wasn't a single propane tank available on all of World Harvest Mission property for our borrowing.
Less than 24 hours later, many of our problems were solved as a propane tank was scrounged up. And luckily the team engineer was in Kampala at the time and able to buy a replacement for our voltage stabilizer, and install in 2 days later upon his return. Thankfully we also had solar light bulbs and outlets available for use during the day which was great.
The point of this story is not how our power was fixed or even my lamenting unreliable electricity. Rather, as I thought about my many "power issues" I realized it isn't limited to electricity.
So many of the things that are challenging to me in Bundibugyo have to do with my lack of power in life here. I am powerless against the electricity going off, rats deciding my pantry is their new home, and sweat dripping down my back. But these are all mere annoyances when compared with the need surrounding me and my seeming powerlessness to help or change anything. Trying to tackle the many needs here is like trying to empty the ocean armed only with a thimble. I may be inconvenienced by my lack of power and propane for my second fridge (a reminder of the excess I continue to have despite leaving America's excess). But it is nothing compared to the powerlessness I feel when I see starving children at the health center or meet yet another student at my door hoping I can pay their school fees.
And even that is nothing in comparison with what I imagine so many people in Bundibugyo may feel on any given day. Powerlessness in the face of corruption as they are asked for a "gift" to accompany their job application. As they hear that their husband has taken a second wife. As they battle with alcoholism. As they watch their child waste away with HIV or as their child cringes in pain during a sickle cell crisis. As they sweat and work in their gardens and the fruit of their labor is stolen. As they lose yet another loved one to malaria. As they freeze in fear, hearing someone has cursed them and visited the local witch doctor with plans to torment them.
Feeling powerless leads to a state of hopelessness and despair. How many times can one be beaten down and still get back up again? I don't know exactly how many times but the resilience and perseverance of so many here amazes me. And ultimately, how does one receive power? The answer is found in Acts 1:8—“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The only true, staying power we can find is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Rescuer and All Powerful God.
The more time I spend in Bundibugyo, the more I believe that change can only come through our great God's power. He has the power to free the bonds and break the chains of the captive. Only he can provide power over evil spirits, addictions, dependency, poverty, and death. His love is more powerful than any force and his grace empowers us to bring a preview of his coming complete Redemption to this earth.
I may whine about a lack of electricity or struggle over my inability to meet every need presented to me here. But I am delighted to know the one who is ultimately the most Powerful, "the holder of the keys" as they say here, the one with the Strength and ultimate plan to glorify this place and these people (myself included) in the days to come.
Good stuff Chrissy
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