Most people are familiar with the Kenyan elections that went sour back in 2007. Massive unrest. Tribal cleansing. Thousands killed. What most people don't know is the effect it had on the greater East African community. Mombasa, Kenya is the main port of entry for just about everything and anything imported to this part of the world. It is then trucked hundreds of miles westward towards Uganda, rwanda, Burundi, and Eastern Congo. The Mombasa highway is the one and only road that connects this part of Africa to many essentials, most notably fuel.
During the political trouble the highway was closed for weeks. The end result? Scarce fuel or no fuel. In Rwanda during this time fuel sold between 25 and 35 dollars a gallon. In the country just to south, fuel was virtually non-existent. We had several trips scheduled with construction teams during this time. Obviously, no fuel presented quite the logistical challenge.
I drove from station to station around the greater Bujumbura area.
"Sorry."
"None here."
"We haven't had a shipment in over a week."
"The government has ordered us to restrict what little remains."
Getting nowhere fast, I decided to contact one of my dear friends, Mr. Albert N., a most resourceful Burundian entrepreneur with great connections in the city of Bujumbura. "Can you help me?" I asked.
"Maybe, give me a few hours." He responded.
Several hours later my phone rang. "Can you meet me at such and such gas station....after dark."
"After dark?" I asked intrigued.
"Yes. No more questions."
"Okay."
That night I pulled into the gas station under the cover of darkness. I had already been to this spot at least once in my fuel quest the previous days. My friend asked me to jump in his car as he edged up to the pump. He, then, disappeared into the interior of the gas station.
A few moments later he reemerged. "It's going to be pricey and you can only have 20 liters."
"No problem." I responded.
"And we're going to have to fill up with the jerry can, not your tank."
"Umm....okay." This felt like a really good spy movie in the making.
"In the dark."
"Fine."
"Inside the car."
"Okay."
"And very quickly."
I nodded.
"Only cash."
I nodded again.
"Don't make any noise to attract attention."
By this point, I was wondering if I needed to hire body guards to protect me. The whole scenario seemed unreal.
The gas attendant came over to my friend's vehicle and sat down in the back seat. Fumbling in the dark he unscrewed the top of the jerry can before stealthily sliding his
hand through the window to the gas pump. He grabbed the nozzle and inched it into the interior of the vehicle.
Chug. Chug. Chug. No one said a word as he kept an eye on the meter.
The smell of fumes in the car was almost too much to bear, but I wasn't about to say anything. I paid the money requested as the gas station attendant warned us, " you must tell no one or we will all be in danger of being arrested."
Twenty liters isn't very much fuel and later that week we had an appointment with the Minister of Energy to get a notarized purchase slip for an additional 200 liters from the central reserve. If I remember right it ended up being about 9 dollars a gallon.
I learned two really great words from this experience: Shortage in French: la penurie. And fuel in Kirundi: ibitoro.
Both will assist you greatly if you ever find yourself in such a situation.
Yes, fuel is an essential part of modern life. Transportation, industry, manufacturing, just to name a few. Fuel makes the wheels turn. Without fuel generating energy becomes nearly impossible. The same is truly spiritually. We need continual fuel for our hearts. Where does this fuel come from?
Two places. The Word of God made alive to our hearts by faith. And the Presence and power of God a reality in our lives. Both are a function of the reality of having a friend named Mr. Holy Spirit.
How do I know when He is refueling me? I feel my heart burn with the holy love of God as the promises come alive. And I sense God's nearness filling my heart. This fuel is free for those willing to discipline themselves to receive it. The danger is far too many Christians attempt to live the Christian life on empty. At some point the spiritual engine sputters and falters. Do you need fresh fuel? Cry out for Holy Spirit to come in a fresh way.
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