It's who you know

The power went out late Friday afternoon.  Power rationing has started all over Dar so this was  somewhat expected.  After 12 hours, however, the normal time for power cuts the electricity did not come back on.  A full day went by.  Then 36 hours.  As I talked with people in the neighborhood, I heard the full story. 

 Thieves came to steal the oil inside the transformer supplying power to our area during the scheduled power rationing time.  They drilled a hole inside the side of the steel transformer 10 feet off the ground without anyone hearing anything despite the fact that the transformer is only 15 feet away from the neighbor's front gate.  

TANESCO, the Tanzanian power company came to investigate the problem.  Maximizing their service ethic to the fullest, they promptly refused to repair the problem and drove off.   The next day they returned to collect money from the inhabitants in our area to hire a night watchman to "protect" the transformer- 10 feet off the ground with visibility from any direction.   The whole situation seemed very fishy.  

We were told or maybe threatened would be a more adequate description of the communication that without money for a watchman and money for a new transformer there would be no more power. 

The house I currently rent belongs to a certain businessman known even to the president of Tanzania.  I called him on the phone.  "What do you think?" I asked him.  "Oh...this is a common scam that the TANESCO people try to earn some extra money" he replied.  "I will call the top manager and take care of it".  

3 hours later a TANESCO truck appeared with a brand new transformer.  After 80 some hours without power it was restored! Thank you to those who prayed.  God gave me great favor with this business man. He was able to accomplish in a few minutes what I couldn't get done in days. 

 It seems that the old saying is true: it's really who you know.  This businessman goes right to the top. He knows the most influential people in all of Tanzania.  He's on a first name basis with the power-brokers of Dar.  Yet, in Christ we have access to ONE way more influential and much more powerful than anyone in Dar or even in all of Tanzania for that matter! We know the Most High God.