The Generator Dilemma (or lack thereof)

In many years of camping, the flashlight (or torch as they call them here) has gone from being a must-have for me to being something of a pest. I once believed it gave light and allowed me to see, but over time I realized that its artificial light only allowed me to see a very small circle and actually made the much more powerful light of nature dim in the greater area around me. So for several years I have hiked sans torch, with one notable exception being a foolhardy night trip out of the Grand Canyon that I may tell you about someday. ;)

And so it has gone with air conditioning here in Africa. Power cuts, or rationing, are the topic of many a mzungu conversation lately. Our first two months in Dar were rich with rain, occasional flash flooding and fun critters like giant snails and beetles that accompany dampness.

The next several months were marked by an occasional, maybe monthly or every fortnight, power cut lasting no more than four or five hours. They seemed almost idyllic - eating dinner by candlelight and doing puzzles afterward with the kids wearing headlamps. Or a few hours without power in the middle of the day - we barely noticed, as we don't run our air conditioners during the day, relying instead on occasional breezes that come through when the windows are all open.

The last two months, however, have seen power outages increasing almost weekly. With the exception of the two weeks Len's parents visited, which featured all-night and completely random and long outages, the power cuts have been recognizable as being either all day (up to 12 hours) or evening (from around 6 to around 11 at night).

When we moved here, we had money budgeted for a generator, which we thought we would purchase immediately. However, since we didn't really need it at the beginning, we waited. It is too easy to stay in an air conditioned room, and honestly I was worried that if I got into the habit of using the A/C except on hot nights, I would be tempted to stay inside instead of enjoying what living in Africa has to offer.

When it began to heat up in October, we were ready to buy a huge generator that was within our budget and would have operated everything in the house, including the A/C. But we didn't feel at peace with the purchase. It was a lot of money and would have provided much convenience, but we were doing fine without it.

As the weeks of power cuts continue (we had six power cuts last week alone) with increasing frequency, it is still tempting to get a generator - even one just to power the freezer if a longer outage emerges (theives are known to target transformers and copper wiring from electric plants) - but the longer we don't have one, the more we question if we really do need one.

It would be easy to complain about the heat - it is wet and hot and if mind is allowed to wallow in its misery, it could remain there most of the day. However, another spiritual benefit to living in Africa is that thankfulness requires only to look outward from ME, my fickle feelings and desires, and see how blessed we are. We live in a neighborhood of very mixed means. Some neighbors have nice concrete houses with tile roofs similar to ours, with walls and gates and guards, yet most live in the open or in single, stick and mud rooms with tin roofs without running water or ANY power at all. It is humbling to remember when I am inwardly moaning over the click of the power going off that it means nothing for those who never have power. They wash their laundry by hand, carry (dirty) water in buckets for drinking and cooking and cleaning, and have no way to get around except by foot. Even 200 shillings for a daladala (bus) ride is impossible for many here. And it is a two mile walk to get to the nearest bus stand anyway.

Yes, we are blessed. I would be blind not to see it in Africa or anywhere we live. I am thankful to God for challenges that grow us and allow us to embrace the gifts therein. Every cooling breeze is as if the Holy Spirit himself is coming to remind us of his goodness and faithfulness and with-us-ness. The air conditioning we enjoy on these hot nights reminds us as well. But in searching, we are finding answers to the heat that are in step with our worldview as stewards of natural and financial resources entrusted to us. We are seeing parts of ourselves we didn't want to see, such as finding undue comfort in things of the world, and are able to work on trusting God more. We are able to feel connected with our African neighbors even as we realize how deep the socioeconomic valley goes.

Ah, contentedness. Joy in embracing where God has me, right now.

Postscript: We are looking into a system of rechargable batteries, possibly with solar panels, that would allow us a few lights and maybe freezer power in the darkness. The noisy, smelly diesel-powered generator is not for us, and I am thankful as we continue to wait for God to order our steps in this matter, in His time and as he teaches us patience.