Gas Bomb Project Turned Evangelistic

In the bush of Congo, electricity is not automatic. In order to have lights, one needs a gas or diesel generator plus fuel for the generator, either gas or diesel. The price for a 55 gallon drum of diesel fuel can cost as much as $365. Currently, the price is about $250. For home use, we have a gas generator. A barrel of gas provides one week of electricity for about eight hours a day. It's obviously expensive. Who in America has to pay $250 a week for their lights that come on for such a short duration each day? But there are no other options, and eight hours provides the ability to use tools, wash clothes, read books, entertain, run the DVD player, enjoy light, and keep us from going insane in the dark.

However, eight hours a day is not long enough to run appliances, such as our fridge and freezer, so we must purchase a propane tank for those. These tall gas "bombs" as we call them weigh 190 lbs. each filled. Each provides us with six weeks of use for one appliance. Four appliances run off these bombs, including our hot water heater, stove, fridge, and freezer, and each bomb costs $175 to fill. So for six weeks, that total is $700. This doesn't include the price of transporting them on MAF planes into the interior. Next time you look at your utility bill, thank God you do not have to pay what we do.

The gas bombs are available only in the capital city of Kinshasa, 450 miles from our mission campus. Last week, Jim went with a few of our staff to pay for and arrange for the bombs to be delivered to the MAF hanger to be transported. After the men had loaded the bombs, Jim asked the men if there were to be an accident on the way to the airport, where would these men go if they died? Some said they would go to hell; others didn't know. By the end of the conversation Jim and Pastor Mboma had with them, all six of them asked Jesus Christ into their lives. Then they clapped their hands and gave a thumbs up. To Pastor Mboma, the clapping of the hands showed that the men were sincere.

Ministry opportunities abound out here. We are now living at our mission campus of Nkara-Ewa. Last night we called America on the hill up near the hill by the dispensary on our cell phones. What a beautiful sight as we rode the Artic Cat again back down to our mission to see our home all lit up. It was such a stark contrast to the pitch black darkness all around us. No denying that life resides in this home. May there be no denying that the light of Christ resides in our minds, souls, and bodies as well.

Thank You , Lord, for electricity in the bush!