When Simple Isn’t Simple ~ Part 2: God’s Redemption

* I wrote a blog recently about living life on generator power. Here is the story of how God is bringing His redemption within this community.

    We have been working for months to find a solution to our power problem. Tommy and Linda have been meeting with anyone and everyone who might be able to help restore power to the village. Searching for a solution has led to many frustrating deals. We had one meeting with someone from the power company and they agreed to replace the transformer if New Song would pay all of the debts owed, take responsibility to collecting payments from the other power clients for the next year, and be responsible for the coming year’s debt if the other clients refused to pay. Needless to say, we refused this offer. We have been running into one brick wall after another.
    Finally the Lord opened a door to not only restore power, but to bring redemption to Candelaria. One of the biggest problems within this community is that the people of Candelaria used to live on the sugar cane plantation where all of their rent, utilities, and living expenses were paid in exchange for cheap labor. The owners of the sugar cane plantation later moved all the people to what is now Candelaria, gave them land, but the people were suddenly responsible to build their own houses and pay their own bills. This is a community where people are used having things handed them. It’s been very difficult to change that mindset and teach people to take responsibility. For years now the people of Candelaria have been receiving power, but refusing to pay their bills. Everyone lives entirely on debt and credit. It makes it impossible for anyone to rise above poverty.
    The power company has not been monitoring the transformers in Candelaria. People have continued to receive power although some of them haven’t paid their bills for years. Also, there are thousands of people pirating power from the transformers. This is what caused the transformer to blow to begin with and has now caused four more transformers in Candelaria to blow. Once one transformer blows everyone connected to that transformer immediately cuts their lines and reconnects to the next closest one until the overload causes this transformer to blow and the process continues. There is now only one transformer servicing all of Candelaria.
    After a series of frustrating deals and downfalls, we are finally seeing God bring redemption to this situation. We had a community-wide meeting with the people of Candelaria and the power company. The power company is extending an amazing deal to the people of Candelaria. Many people have up to two years worth of debt. The company is agreeing to replace the transformer if people will pay the last three months of debt. They are also agreeing to forgive the remaining debt for anyone who will pay their bills consistently over the next year. This is an amazing opportunity for the people of Candelaria to rise above a lifetime of poverty and debt.
    The community is being asked to take responsibility for their debts, for managing their finances and paying their bills, and for stopping their neighbors from pirating electricity. This situation has been frustrating, but it has been amazing to see how God wanted to bring redemption to this community. We may have power as early as Friday. Please join me in praying that our new transformer will be put in place on Friday because if not we will be waiting until after Easter. Everything closes down here for Semana Santa (Holy Week).