We all scream for ice cream! People have been making ice cream in Salcedo, Ecuador, for decades. But power outages are melting away some businesses.

Around the 1950s, locals starting making popsicles. They used milk from nearby dairy farms. Ice cream makers tried new flavors and recipes. The small town became famous among dessert lovers.

But daily power outages began earlier this year. They got worse in September. They can last up to 14 hours. Without electricity to run freezers, that delicious ice cream melts. 

What’s causing the power problems? The weather is drier than usual in Ecuador. Most of the country’s electricity comes from hydroelectric plants. Those plants use water to push turbines. The turbines produce electricity. 

But the water in Ecuador’s dams is drying up. The plants can’t produce the same amount of power. 

Salcedo used to have 80 small- and medium-sized ice cream plants. There were three large factories too. Now 30 of the smaller plants have closed. 

Maria Juliette López owns a small shop. Tourists and truck drivers stop to buy snacks. “Before [the power cuts] we would buy up to 150 popsicles a day,” she says. “Now we can only take up to 40 popsicles a day, because any product that is left over will melt” when her freezer stops working. 

The Ecuadorian government bought and rented dozens of large electric generators. They run on fuels such as gasoline. The machines will arrive in the next few weeks. But the power they create won’t be enough to make up for the current shortage. 

Pray that God will provide for ice cream makers and their families. Ask Him to give wisdom to lawmakers and business owners who are looking for ways to help.