Not left in the dark!

Sunday night, while Prdte May was on his cell phone and we were together in his mission office here in the mission home, we were suddenly plunged into COMPLETE darkness. Not a flicker, not some static, or trickle, but ALL of the electricity was cut! We had power from his cell phone, to shine a bit of light, (I mean we were blinded, completely) even though he had no cell signal. We felt our way around the furniture, through the various rooms, calling out to our daughter, Sarah and hoping we could reach her to help.

She had quickly made her way down the stairs, carrying one of the packages we had left on the family room table of the new, mini 'flashlights" /battery op coleman lantern things, we had just bought on Saturday since we knew we needed more. We stood in my office, with cell phones for light, while she unwrapped and assembled the linterna. Then we went back to get more lights we had upstairs and proceeded outside to the PITCH dark. There were a few apt bldgs we could hear had their generators going, but no street lights, no neighbors lit up, etc. It was strange. We decided to get in the mission van we had for the day, and listen to the radio. It was considered a total 'BLACKOUT" as they said in English words. It covered from Antofogasta up north, to south Chiloe. They think it has come from the instablity of the quake that has caused problems in lines, connections, continuity within ALL of Chile. Chilelectra company was working quickly with the new Prdte while he was still working late in the Moneda bldg.on Sunday.

WOW. The people couldn't quite explain it, but again, we felt the power of NOT having power or control.

What is the Lord teaching us here in Chile? We, who like to have things in order, our structure and control, are being shown we are NOT in control of much. The people in Chile are being reminded that we have to look to GOD for our light, in all sense of the word. I believe that because Chile has a culture of earthquakes, they are so used to just picking up where they were, don't lose too much sleep over that last natural disaster, and just get back to work. They are so good at that, and are more resiliant that most people, I believe. However, maybe people are not remembering that this world is not based on our abilities, our hard work, or our desires. We ALL have to be willing to submit to whatever the Lord wants us to experience, and then also be willing to thank Him for what we have, including the trials and challenges that bring us closer to Him.

Elder May in Concepcion Mission tells us he was stranded about 2 hours from his home, doing a baptismal interview, with no buses running, etc. He and his companion, Elder Dalton prayed, and a family car came by, asking where they were heading. "CURICO, and we can pay you," they said to the family. They told them just jump in and of course, they find that the woman was miembro, menos activo! Here in our part of the vineyard, the blackout ended after we had gone to bed, after 11pm, but most of our mission had lights back on much sooner.

We did hear our missionaries report that the stars were even brighter that night, and many felt that they helped them see their way back to their departamentos. Another said that the temple had its generator lights come on immediately, and that they lit up the neighborhood so brightly, and even their own apartment. That had to be symbolic for us, again, the Light that the Lord is, and provides for each of us.