Cuba's power grid came crashing down on Monday as the island starves for the Venezuelan oil that fueled its power plants. As Fox News reports, around 10 million people are now living in darkness.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba said the outage came from a disconnection in the national electrical grid, which happened at 1:54 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cuba announced later that afternoon that the incident is being investigated as protocols to restore power begin.
Power outages have been common on the island country as it’s electrical system had become more unstable over the years due in part to fuel shortages and economics restrictions to accessing energy resources.
Besides the long-standing oil embargo from Washington, the U.S. has hinder shipments of Venezuelan oil to the country, and the Cuban president recently said no fuel has entered the country in three months.
Todd Nettleton, vice president of message at Voice of the Martyrs, says that the currency is currently trading at 4 pesos to the dollar and that gas is through the roof.
“Right now, gas is $40 a gallon, if you can even find somebody who has gas for sale,” Nettleton says.
And while Cuban Christians have no immunity from the troubles their country is enduring, Nettleton says Christ has answers to problems no government can address.
“The kingdom can advance. The light is the answer to the darkness,” Nettleton states.
He says that like all communist countries, Cuba is closed to the gospel. But also, like all communist countries, if there is a will, there is a way.
“It's one of those places where everything is illegal, but everything is possible. It is a closed nation, but there is also a very vibrant church there,” Nettleton informs.
Nettleton says the Cuban people are hungry for the gospel.
“The desperation that communism has brought about has created openness to the gospel. It has created people who are hungry for something different. They are hungry for spiritual freedom. They are hungry for hope,” Nettleton says.
Because of this, Cuban Christians aren't overly concerned about regime change.
“If it continues to be a communist nation, then they will advance the gospel in a communist nation. If it changes and there is more freedom, then they will advance the gospel with more freedom,” Nettleton states.
