This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

“Patience pays, but pains,” said the man who earnestly tried, with no success, to fix the generator.

Day 16 without power.

The power company has reported that there isn't a transformer in the country to fix the problem. I don't know what that means as far as ever having power again. Here is a picture of where the previous transformer was located:



Many things about not having power make life simpler. My nights end much earlier because there isn’t a whole lot to do in a pitch black house. I enjoy reading or writing by lantern light, but even after a couple hours of that it’s only 8:30 pm. My cooking skills have also been put to the challenge to see what you can whip up without having any refrigerated items in the house. Yesterday, I was quite delighted in the muffins I whipped up! However, I’m not too prideful to admit that I miss having a charged computer at my house. That being said, my selfish and number one prayer request for the week is that someday very soon either the power will be fixed or the generator will start working.

Every day I am learning, growing and being stretched. I’ve even unconsciously added a few Ugandan mannerisms to my behavior. I don’t know how to describe it, but there is an “Ah!” response you can give in specific situations. Today, I was talking with a young woman and without noticing responded with it. She said, “That was very African of you!” The other day I signaled a boda boda by raising my eyebrows. He looked at me, I raised my eyebrows and he stopped. Absolutely amazing! The use of these little signals helps me to feel a little bit more African, which helps me to feel like I fit in a little more. It is very refreshing to not always stick out like a sore thumb. Now, if only I could master a little more of the language learning, that would help dramatically. It’s very interesting how passionate I am about education, and yet, how poor of a student I am. Something has to change!

Lately, I’ve been challenged to trust God. To trust that He is not only working in me, but using me here. To trust that there will be a day when power lights up the house again. To trust that God's purpose for my life is good. It is a very interesting concept to me because for so many of us it seems so self-explanatory. Duh, why wouldn’t I trust the God of the universe? It’s on American money, “In God we trust.” So basic, and yet so difficult at times. I believe that God is sovereign. He is over all things and in complete control. Because I believe that, that means that everything in my life is at the disposal of His will. Do I trust in God’s goodness? Do I believe that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28)? I think that God’s “good” and my “good” might look different at times. Can I trust that He wants what is good for me? It’s a hard thing to swallow. Especially in the face of adversity. Especially when you see things in the world that break and claw at your heart. God, are you in control? What a silly question. Yes. He is. And, for whatever that means, I’m willing to make a sincere effort to trust in that.

“If God is for us, then who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

If the God of the universe, the all-powerful and all-knowing God, who is in control of everything is for me, then nothing in all of creation can be against me because it is all working “according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will …” (Ephesians 1:11). How dare I doubt that?!

Last week I was challenged to hold the things entrusted to me with an open hand. After all, they are God’s to give and take away. I pray for peace in entrusting all the things in my hand to God.

And, I also pray for peace that though I do not understand why power is still refusing to enter into our home, that the God of the universe has it under control, and is working in even the tiniest of details out to the conformity of His will.