Power Outages: Limitations are challenges that bring about new ideas.
Since September, Ecuador has started limiting power for its residents in extreme ways. Initially, we would experience only two hours without power. It is common for cuts to last 10 hours daily, broken up into morning and night sessions. This has become our way of life as Ecuador’s electricity operates on 75% hydroelectricity, and there has been little rain. I was confused at first with how rain can affect electricity. Hydroelectricity relies on water turbines that use the flow of water to generate kinetic energy, which is then converted into electricity. When reservoir levels are low, it can create significant strain on the power supply, which has led to an energy crisis for the country.
We are generally well throughout the outages. The centers we visit continue to run as normal. Sunny days are bright, gray days are dim, but we carry on. At home, we can cook and shower without a problem, due to the gas tank set up.
We can plan around the outage schedule, though it changes often, sometimes without sufficient warning. We use candles, flashlights, solar-powered garden lights, etc. to help us see where we are going. We laugh at times when we catch ourselves doing things in the dark, forgetting when we have power, and can just turn the switch on. We are gradually becoming less dependent on wifi, though we miss streaming music at home. It’s nice when we decide that we are tired enough to go to bed at 8 or 9 pm because our eyes get tired of straining. But we still wake up early before the cuts to check news and emails. We spend our nights reading out loud or drawing on the iPad. Kayla points a big flashlight toward the white wall to create enough light to work on her fabulous earring designs by the way.
What is hard at times is not being able to have enough data on our phones to call our boys in the States. We have to schedule calls with our parents and stand by the front window in order to have a decent conversation without a bad connection. The one very difficult day was when we had about 16 hours straight of no power. It finally came on at midnight, when we didn’t need it. Gradually, though, we see things improving.
Overall, I would say that it has been a blessing to separate ourselves from the need to be plugged in. I encourage you to set aside some time to be completely unplugged and do something that will energize your spirit, old school. Or perhaps, you can join us in the outage for a few minutes each day, turning off lights and devices, turning on a candle, and praying for the light of Christ to reach more hearts.
Even though many people have just adjusted to the ever-changing light schedules, we don’t want to forget that many people are experiencing hardship in their businesses due to this problem. We don’t want to underestimate the fact that driving, which was already chaotic, is all the more dangerous when traffic lights are out and officers aren’t directing. These limitations are very difficult for many.
Did you know that limitations, however challenging, can also help create new ideas? In art, teachers will limit the students on purpose to refine a certain attribute of the creative process. For example, I might say, “We will draw without looking at our paper.” This causes the artist to feel the paper, sense the lines being made, accept the outcome, and observe the object of study more intently to train the brain to tell the hand what to do.
Crazy, huh? It’s an interesting perspective since limitations are often seen as negative but they can also change the way we do things in positive strengthening ways.
Ministry and Life:
I heard that laughter in the next room. My group was bowing their heads to pray at the start of our study. Pretty soon, we were laughing and I’m sure the other group was in a more quiet moment. I marveled at the opportunity Freedom and I have to share scripture and disciple kids. We have several groups at a variety of levels spiritually. In some places, we know that we are reaching the kids to send the Gospel with them into their homes. But this particular night, as Freedom shared with the homeschool teens in English and I in Spanish, we just soaked it all in. These kids have grown up in homes where God is center. And so we forge ahead toward maturity and ownership in their relationship with Christ.
We have seen such growth. I took a small moment to enjoy the sight of my group of about 15 teens, sitting on plastic chairs, knee to knee, just leaning in to listen. I don’t think they noticed it. It was glorious. I have had so many times where they could barely make a circle with the chairs because they didn’t want to be close to anyone. I also recall the days when they listened politely but there was not much life. Now I can say, that both of our groups genuinely love being a part of the study and, yes, they come for the food and games, but I think they also look forward to the Bible study.
I have often heard kids say, “I love how Mr. Freedom listens to us and we can understand what it’s all about.”
I have also had kids in my group be honest enough to say, “I am angry at everything, including God,” or “I just can’t forgive,” and also, “Miss Nancy, do you believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Because I have experienced them.” This means they feel safe to say what they’re thinking.
Times like this make other situations more manageable. In case you think I paint a pretty picture, and I like to paint pretty pictures, there are also very dry times. There are times when the Word feels like it floats out of us and onto the floor. There are times when we ask young adults about the meaning of a verse and we get nothing. When connections are missing, and the kids are just distracted. We also have times when we spend most of the time managing the class behavior and forget to share our devotional. We have times when we struggle to form relationships because there are so many of them. And yet, it makes it all worthwhile when we enter a ministry site, and the little kids who gave us such a trial the week before run up and hug us freely.
Freedom Goes To The Coast
This month Freedom had a happy thing happen. He was invited to join a team heading to Guayaquil. It was a nice time for him to reconnect with the church of our origins, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. They were a small team that went to a variety of sectors. We’ve seen nice pictures of Guayaquil, but Freedom didn’t even glimpse those places. Guayaquil is one of the most dangerous places in Ecuador at this time. Thankfully, all went well, though there was one scary and dangerous moment. It’s just great to note that even though in the streets, you feel the roughness in people's glances and gait, within the church you experience love, joy, peace, and prayer. The two elderly sisters that hosted Freedom seemed to “pray without ceasing” as part of their common conversation.
They washed the feet of those who served them, distributed medical supplies, shared dramas, prayed with people, baptized people, and testified to God's faithfulness. It was nice to go a little further in Ecuador, and we look forward to making further connections with this vibrant community of believers.
Prayer Requests
… for rain in Ecuador and in the regions that need it the most, like the Amazon
… for the 100+ kids, teens, and young adults we serve weekly to hear the Word, desire it more, and grow in their relationship with Christ.
… for connections and favor at our new site, La Comuna
… for the holidays. It can be a little sad and feel homesick.
… for our boys Joshua and Jonathan, that they continue putting God first as they trust Him in new places.
