The small kerosene generator housed in the electrical shed at Miracle Garden is in sad need of repair again. With energy costs soaring around the world, the government of Tamil Nadu has been shutting off the power on a regular basis to outlying villages. At least 3 days in a week the power is cut to MG. The children eat their dinner during the dusk hour by moonlight (it gets dark in India by 6pm year-round) and get ready for bed in the dark. Even though our little Honda generator was only sufficient to power a handful of lights on campus, it was better than nothing. Ideally, Miracle Garden needs an industrial strength generator - one capable of powering the building lights & fans, and several lights along the compound wall. The small generator has been broken for about one month now and no one from the repair shop in Coimbatore has come to fix it, even though they have been called several times. The machine is also difficult to bring to the shop because of its weight and because the shop has been closed several times when John arrived with the generator - a particularly frustrating scenario. Cleaning and repairs are estimated to be about $100 for this unit. John is researching prices and features of a new or refurbished, larger unit. He estimates an industrial strength generator may cost about $3000. This is now the top item on the MG "Wish List."
