Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
Hi
Long time no entry.
On Tuesday, I took a tumble in the dark. My right ankle gave way on the edge of a sidewalk. I wish it could have been caught on video. I gyrated in many directions. I had a bag with a few things including some peanut butter which was in a glass container. I figured it would break, so I bent one way, then another on the way down. My phone flew 20 feet ahead of me on the street, and I did not even know it had left my person. The peanut butter rolled out of the bag undamaged and I looked around hoping no one had seen the fiasco.
I have one of the worlds largest blisters on my right heel and can`t wear shoes, only my crocs. Hm hope this clears up soon.
We did manage to pick up a 2004 Kia with 57000 km and a diesel engine, 2.5 litre. It works for us and should be ok for touring up to 3 individuals plus ourselves.
It has been interesting thinking about systems. In this country many items and services are cheaper than in Canada and the selection here is much greater (Sheila disagrees. When I think about the kinds of vehicles available they are ahead here and I am sure sheila can give many examples of where they are behind) however the system of payment for staff is not fair, but to change it is near impossible short of going political and military. If one works hard 6 days of the week they should be able to pay for a home and food. Working all day for 10 dollars american is not acceptable, however is common.
Language training is interesting and my emotions run the ladder from depression to excitement. I have grown very quiet and now seldom say anything in stores. This is not uncommon. I have noted that I can read more signs and know the words being said on the radio however full comprehension is not there because they speak tooooo fast for me at this time. Sheila is doing wonderful in Spanish (so says Tim, I am not so sure).More next week....
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
So, now it's my turn. Tim brought home the van(?) last night, a KIA Sorrento. It's just what we need to get around on weekends, when language shool gets to be too much. We received two blessings today. The first? No homework!!! The second, something we were told could not be found. Foamies! Tim found a nice, 2" topper for the bed, so now we can REALLY sleep.
We are slowly getting into the school routine. Four hours in the morning with our teacher, Julio, then 'dinner' at the homestay, followed by a half hour siesta. The rest of the day is consumed with reviewing the day's lesson, homework, and WALKING! We walk everywhere, and it's at least 4 blocks to the nearest errand, so we should be in some kind of shape by the time June rolls around. We rarely go out after dark (6:30), and there's no TV here, so we read, play crib, or Tim serenades everyone on the guitar, and I work on a quilt top I'm piecing by hand. No room for sewing machines in our limited space!
We have figured out how to do some banking here. We can't access our bank accounts in Canada from an ATM, so do cash advances on our credit card at the bank that handles that card, which we can immediately pay online. WE've also figured out how to avoid the lineups. Go at 2 pm! everyone is at work!
We'll try to post some photos later in the week.
Blessings from the Land of Eternal Spring!
We are slowly getting into the school routine. Four hours in the morning with our teacher, Julio, then 'dinner' at the homestay, followed by a half hour siesta. The rest of the day is consumed with reviewing the day's lesson, homework, and WALKING! We walk everywhere, and it's at least 4 blocks to the nearest errand, so we should be in some kind of shape by the time June rolls around. We rarely go out after dark (6:30), and there's no TV here, so we read, play crib, or Tim serenades everyone on the guitar, and I work on a quilt top I'm piecing by hand. No room for sewing machines in our limited space!
We have figured out how to do some banking here. We can't access our bank accounts in Canada from an ATM, so do cash advances on our credit card at the bank that handles that card, which we can immediately pay online. WE've also figured out how to avoid the lineups. Go at 2 pm! everyone is at work!
We'll try to post some photos later in the week.
Blessings from the Land of Eternal Spring!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
It has been a day or 2 since I wrote anything. All is well, we completed a short video clip for head office today. I will be in the big city on monday afternoon to finish a deal on a dependable used vehicle, then paperwork, insurance, and anti theft devices.
I saw an unusual bee this morning, a lizard yesterday and we bought some nuts on wednesday which leads me to a story. I decided to have some yesterday. Sheila threw me the zip lock with the pack inside. Some fell out into the zip lock so I just lay down and started reading my spanish lesson. 2 nuts left, ummmm then I looked at the zip lock to see it crawling with little ants. I think they are good. I should not have looked. Anyway I jumped from the bed ready to hork the works and chuck the nuts. Ñow get this, my beloved said I should just wash the rest. So I washed them twice and dried them in the sun and they taste ok short the salts and ants. Small bear has learned to look close before eating anything.
Sheila´s years of trying to understand
We have purchased a plastic chair and bucket and a small iron.
Between the huge amounts of fireworks and crackers blasted off every day and the dogs barking, rooster´s crowing,trucks tooting and emergency vehicles whining it is sometimes difficult to sleep. Other than that, the evenings are quiet.
We have learned to quickly say no gracias, and we have the special finger movement down that will stop the salespeople in their tracks. If they still ask we claim student poverty and they leave us alone.
Todays devotions were in Romans ch 3 and 4. SAVED BY GRACE APART FROM OUR WORKS! A favorite theme of mine however as I study scripture I see the importance of obedience, therfore our works count. Just keep this straight: What we believe determines our destination and what we do determines our rewards.
We have several hundred verbs to learn and each has 5 variations. I think in retrospect that in terms of acquiring languages this is easier than some. At least the vowels have only one sound and there are only a couple of extra letters. We are learning a lot and it seems to me that we should be in good shape in 5 months as far as language is concerned. We are getting the basics.
We have a new boarder in the house, she is from ATLANTA georgia and is a JW. I shared COLOSSIANS 2:9 With her yesterday before she left for her bible study.¨For in Him dwells all the fullness of the GODHEAD or Godship bodily. The JW bible replaces GODHEAD with divine quality, which is not correct. Since this verse is one of the best on the deity of Christ it is too bad they have it wrong and walk in the darkness of deception.
Living in close quarters is a challenge so please pray for us, perhaps for Sheila more since she has to live with me haha hahahaha.
Off to look for a parking lot at a good price.
By and May the Lord BLESS YOU
I saw an unusual bee this morning, a lizard yesterday and we bought some nuts on wednesday which leads me to a story. I decided to have some yesterday. Sheila threw me the zip lock with the pack inside. Some fell out into the zip lock so I just lay down and started reading my spanish lesson. 2 nuts left, ummmm then I looked at the zip lock to see it crawling with little ants. I think they are good. I should not have looked. Anyway I jumped from the bed ready to hork the works and chuck the nuts. Ñow get this, my beloved said I should just wash the rest. So I washed them twice and dried them in the sun and they taste ok short the salts and ants. Small bear has learned to look close before eating anything.
Sheila´s years of trying to understand
We have purchased a plastic chair and bucket and a small iron.
Between the huge amounts of fireworks and crackers blasted off every day and the dogs barking, rooster´s crowing,trucks tooting and emergency vehicles whining it is sometimes difficult to sleep. Other than that, the evenings are quiet.
We have learned to quickly say no gracias, and we have the special finger movement down that will stop the salespeople in their tracks. If they still ask we claim student poverty and they leave us alone.
Todays devotions were in Romans ch 3 and 4. SAVED BY GRACE APART FROM OUR WORKS! A favorite theme of mine however as I study scripture I see the importance of obedience, therfore our works count. Just keep this straight: What we believe determines our destination and what we do determines our rewards.
We have several hundred verbs to learn and each has 5 variations. I think in retrospect that in terms of acquiring languages this is easier than some. At least the vowels have only one sound and there are only a couple of extra letters. We are learning a lot and it seems to me that we should be in good shape in 5 months as far as language is concerned. We are getting the basics.
We have a new boarder in the house, she is from ATLANTA georgia and is a JW. I shared COLOSSIANS 2:9 With her yesterday before she left for her bible study.¨For in Him dwells all the fullness of the GODHEAD or Godship bodily. The JW bible replaces GODHEAD with divine quality, which is not correct. Since this verse is one of the best on the deity of Christ it is too bad they have it wrong and walk in the darkness of deception.
Living in close quarters is a challenge so please pray for us, perhaps for Sheila more since she has to live with me haha hahahaha.
Off to look for a parking lot at a good price.
By and May the Lord BLESS YOU
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
DAY 4 of language training.
In Canada we walk to find the sun. Here everyone is walking the shadows and I can see why. It is plenty warm here even on a cloudy day you do not need a coat mid day.
We are sure feeling alone here. We mostly maintain devotions at 6.45 AND EAT AT 7.10. <
D ays are interesting. We start class at 8 work hard to 10.
there is a parrot and a turtle living at our home stay, and we are getting used to living close to each other. I am having some stomach difficulties which could use prayer.
ALL THE BEST
TIM
DAY 4 of language training.
In Canada we walk to find the sun. Here everyone is walking the shadows and I can see why. It is plenty warm here even on a cloudy day you do not need a coat mid day.
We are sure feeling alone here. We mostly maintain devotions at 6.45 AND EAT AT 7.10. <
D ays are interesting. We start class at 8 work hard to 10.
there is a parrot and a turtle living at our home stay, and we are getting used to living close to each other. I am having some stomach difficulties which could use prayer.
ALL THE BEST
TIM
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
Problems with banks, all are busy with hundreds of people in line. We decided to take in the group event. What an experience. The bus ride there was dangerous looking but nothing was like the chicken run back into town. We had to stand and there were 3 to 5 people on every seat. And they just kept stopping for more! At one point 2 girls wanted to get out. The aisle is less than 10 inches wide. I was told to move futher back on the bus so I basically sat on someone to let the first girl by. Passing the second girl was a virtually intimate act. When I finally made it past her I was more or less hanging from the rails, had one foot on the floor and the other lost back where I had started from. Boy pulling that leg back home was funny.
We visited a rich coffee plantation that had a building and approach similiar to the taj hall. Three levels with 6 to 8 tables on each side. Lots of grass between tables also. Third level had a nice pool, 4th level a childrens pool and the 5th level was a huge castle like building with change rooms. This was a resort within a coffee plantation but it had no tourists except us. Roads were 25 meters wide, great rock work. Some laborers were cutting grass and cleaning shrubs under the coffee and banana trees.
Must run this is costing us! More next time.
TIm & Sheila
Problems with banks, all are busy with hundreds of people in line. We decided to take in the group event. What an experience. The bus ride there was dangerous looking but nothing was like the chicken run back into town. We had to stand and there were 3 to 5 people on every seat. And they just kept stopping for more! At one point 2 girls wanted to get out. The aisle is less than 10 inches wide. I was told to move futher back on the bus so I basically sat on someone to let the first girl by. Passing the second girl was a virtually intimate act. When I finally made it past her I was more or less hanging from the rails, had one foot on the floor and the other lost back where I had started from. Boy pulling that leg back home was funny.
We visited a rich coffee plantation that had a building and approach similiar to the taj hall. Three levels with 6 to 8 tables on each side. Lots of grass between tables also. Third level had a nice pool, 4th level a childrens pool and the 5th level was a huge castle like building with change rooms. This was a resort within a coffee plantation but it had no tourists except us. Roads were 25 meters wide, great rock work. Some laborers were cutting grass and cleaning shrubs under the coffee and banana trees.
Must run this is costing us! More next time.
TIm & Sheila
Monday, January 15, 2007
Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
Hi All
We are now into our first day at language school. Yesterday we drove to Antiqua and were introduced to our home stay. We were shocked at the room and home we were put into. We are on the top level , in an obviously new room. We did not speak much for half an hour as we thought about whether we could live in the house. They are a very poor family. Breakfast was good so we are going to stay for a time. They installed a small light outside our 10 by 10 foot room. The patio is where they dry clothes. A room behind us is half constructed and I am sure that people can jump into the building from the trail above. We have one chair no closet an old 4 drawer dresser. No shelves no where to hang clothes, hats etc. One small window and the building faces south so gets very hot. Speaking of hot we have already had the 10 greatest days that would make up the best of summer in Canada. Weather is hard to take but the only compensation in a country very different from our own. Everything seems a little backwards and we can feel the frustration levels climbing. Spanish is simple until you study it and find they have 14 tenses ( English has 3) and you begin conjugating verbs. Not easy at all!!.
Our wireless cannot find a connection so all correspondence is from our computer hooked into a coffee shop port.
Must go looking for chairs shelves and corn oil to replace the soy oil being used at the house.
I will try to get back on this site by Friday.
In Deep here in Guatemala
Tim & Sheila
Hi All
We are now into our first day at language school. Yesterday we drove to Antiqua and were introduced to our home stay. We were shocked at the room and home we were put into. We are on the top level , in an obviously new room. We did not speak much for half an hour as we thought about whether we could live in the house. They are a very poor family. Breakfast was good so we are going to stay for a time. They installed a small light outside our 10 by 10 foot room. The patio is where they dry clothes. A room behind us is half constructed and I am sure that people can jump into the building from the trail above. We have one chair no closet an old 4 drawer dresser. No shelves no where to hang clothes, hats etc. One small window and the building faces south so gets very hot. Speaking of hot we have already had the 10 greatest days that would make up the best of summer in Canada. Weather is hard to take but the only compensation in a country very different from our own. Everything seems a little backwards and we can feel the frustration levels climbing. Spanish is simple until you study it and find they have 14 tenses ( English has 3) and you begin conjugating verbs. Not easy at all!!.
Our wireless cannot find a connection so all correspondence is from our computer hooked into a coffee shop port.
Must go looking for chairs shelves and corn oil to replace the soy oil being used at the house.
I will try to get back on this site by Friday.
In Deep here in Guatemala
Tim & Sheila
Friday, January 12, 2007
Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
The whole banking scene here is interesting. It may cost us $50 American to process a Canadian cheque in American Funds. So we have no need for an American Funds account from a Canadian Bank. It seems the main way to access money will be through a bank card taking out small amounts over time. Visa will become important for us because we have online banking.
We dressed for work yesterday at the WCVTC, however repairs were needed to our vehicle so we could not make it to the site. Many visitors have been coming at different hours so our hosts are run off their feet. They.ve had to do pickups from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On Wednesday, we worked at the site, painting and planting. Yesterday I said to Sheila "look at all the bite marks on my arms, I wonder what that is from? Sheila looked at hers and had 2 bites. Well actually, they were not bites . We had potted 4 palm trees the day before and discovered that they have a needle like component around the base of the leaves/branches which did a number on our arms.
One good thing is the dental system here. It's all pay as you go, but it's not as expensive as in Canada. When I had to get a tooth capped in Canada, we had coverage, and still had to pay over $400. Here, when Sheila got her broken tooth capped, the total cost was $385, and some of that will be repaid through our dental plan at head office. AND they take Visa! The dental office and equipment was as modern as anything up north, and the doctor was American trained, so spoke excellent English. We've heard that Guatemalans living in Canada/USA will often get their teeth fixed while home for a visit, because it's so much cheaper.
Today (Friday) we are going to Antigua with the visitors from Canada. We'll check out our language school and pay our deposit and find out where our homestay will be. Then on Sunday, we'll make the move to start school on Monday.
The whole banking scene here is interesting. It may cost us $50 American to process a Canadian cheque in American Funds. So we have no need for an American Funds account from a Canadian Bank. It seems the main way to access money will be through a bank card taking out small amounts over time. Visa will become important for us because we have online banking.
We dressed for work yesterday at the WCVTC, however repairs were needed to our vehicle so we could not make it to the site. Many visitors have been coming at different hours so our hosts are run off their feet. They.ve had to do pickups from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On Wednesday, we worked at the site, painting and planting. Yesterday I said to Sheila "look at all the bite marks on my arms, I wonder what that is from? Sheila looked at hers and had 2 bites. Well actually, they were not bites . We had potted 4 palm trees the day before and discovered that they have a needle like component around the base of the leaves/branches which did a number on our arms.
One good thing is the dental system here. It's all pay as you go, but it's not as expensive as in Canada. When I had to get a tooth capped in Canada, we had coverage, and still had to pay over $400. Here, when Sheila got her broken tooth capped, the total cost was $385, and some of that will be repaid through our dental plan at head office. AND they take Visa! The dental office and equipment was as modern as anything up north, and the doctor was American trained, so spoke excellent English. We've heard that Guatemalans living in Canada/USA will often get their teeth fixed while home for a visit, because it's so much cheaper.
Today (Friday) we are going to Antigua with the visitors from Canada. We'll check out our language school and pay our deposit and find out where our homestay will be. Then on Sunday, we'll make the move to start school on Monday.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Juhlin Missionaries to Guatemala
On Monday morning I could not sleep so began my devotional and listening to Spanish tapes. Had opportunity to listen to the morning and this is what happen.
6:07 First bird starts singing and it sounds like a shrill hear meeeee hear meeeee hear meeee.
Dogs start Barking
At 6 :12 a noisey volloy of fire crackers lets loose for about 30 seconds. It seems like an eternity. Letting off firecrackers is how they celebrate birthdays down here.
A few more single fire crackers go off.
SOund of big trucks
owe eeee oweeee oweeee
then the pigeons are cooing in the background.
a group of birds show up in the big tree and they sound like a bunch of bamboo sticks being smartly snapped together.
Horns are interspered
eeah eeah ee aa
Well that is my rendition of waking up here.
We looked at vehicles today.
Money movement is a problem. Seems the GOv. burned the old money and the new money has not arrived from canada yet so banking is difficult. For example if we want cash for say 806 canadian dollars (5000Quetsels) We could go to a money exchange write a cheque from an account here in guatemala ( say from a close friend) The go to a bank to get the actual cash. INstead of receiving 5000 Q we might get 2000Q and get this an IOU for the other 3000Q. It's a banking crisis.
Caught myself saying the security systems here are stupid since there is no way anything is secure! Have to watch my thought life on several fronts!
This place is much more dangerous than one thinks and the vigilence required to move around the city is significant. For example before we open the gate we have to peek aroung the corner to see if there are any suspicious characters. Many stories of assults robberies and theft.
We are off now to try and secure a vehicle and set up plans for all the guests arriving for the open ceremonies on Saturday.
I meet Luis my friend who now works for the protected areas program. He will be assisting in the Trees for Global Renewal Program.
Salut
On Monday morning I could not sleep so began my devotional and listening to Spanish tapes. Had opportunity to listen to the morning and this is what happen.
6:07 First bird starts singing and it sounds like a shrill hear meeeee hear meeeee hear meeee.
Dogs start Barking
At 6 :12 a noisey volloy of fire crackers lets loose for about 30 seconds. It seems like an eternity. Letting off firecrackers is how they celebrate birthdays down here.
A few more single fire crackers go off.
SOund of big trucks
owe eeee oweeee oweeee
then the pigeons are cooing in the background.
a group of birds show up in the big tree and they sound like a bunch of bamboo sticks being smartly snapped together.
Horns are interspered
eeah eeah ee aa
Well that is my rendition of waking up here.
We looked at vehicles today.
Money movement is a problem. Seems the GOv. burned the old money and the new money has not arrived from canada yet so banking is difficult. For example if we want cash for say 806 canadian dollars (5000Quetsels) We could go to a money exchange write a cheque from an account here in guatemala ( say from a close friend) The go to a bank to get the actual cash. INstead of receiving 5000 Q we might get 2000Q and get this an IOU for the other 3000Q. It's a banking crisis.
Caught myself saying the security systems here are stupid since there is no way anything is secure! Have to watch my thought life on several fronts!
This place is much more dangerous than one thinks and the vigilence required to move around the city is significant. For example before we open the gate we have to peek aroung the corner to see if there are any suspicious characters. Many stories of assults robberies and theft.
We are off now to try and secure a vehicle and set up plans for all the guests arriving for the open ceremonies on Saturday.
I meet Luis my friend who now works for the protected areas program. He will be assisting in the Trees for Global Renewal Program.
Salut
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Hi
We attended the Union Church today. It is one of two churches that are held in English. Many good points in the sermon , the two I remember are:
When the 3000 people were saved in one day they all stayed in the community and needed jobs and food to get established. What I seemed to surmize was that the selling of all possessions was a result of the need of the moment and therefore should not be accepted as standard practice for all christians everywhere. Good thing eh. Who wants to depart with their stuff!
The second point was an interesting quote which I cannot quote correctly but went someting like this. Eating is fundamental to building good fellowship. If you are with a group of people that never want to eat a meal with you you probably have shallow relations. Well all I can say is this is probably correct but if the Pastor who spoke could read this he would probably cry at my take on the matter. We all hear the words but we ourselves get different messages, some of which are intended and some that are not.
Tonight the little group of PAOC Missionaries here are meeting to have a welcoming party for us so I am looking forward to a new audience for my poetry. ha ha ha ha ha
Have been watching some TV (idiot box) with english words and Spanish sub titles. Might help in learning sentence structure!
Tomorrow Sheila will have to find a Dentist since a tooth fell apart on her while eating dried out ribs at the Dallas airport.
We will also be going to the Canadian Embassy and pick up other needed forms so we can stay for a time.
Vehicle search is still on. If anyone wants to buy our Ford Sable give our son Adam a call for details.
Well time to prepare for fellowship over a meal.
Have a good evening.
Tim
We attended the Union Church today. It is one of two churches that are held in English. Many good points in the sermon , the two I remember are:
When the 3000 people were saved in one day they all stayed in the community and needed jobs and food to get established. What I seemed to surmize was that the selling of all possessions was a result of the need of the moment and therefore should not be accepted as standard practice for all christians everywhere. Good thing eh. Who wants to depart with their stuff!
The second point was an interesting quote which I cannot quote correctly but went someting like this. Eating is fundamental to building good fellowship. If you are with a group of people that never want to eat a meal with you you probably have shallow relations. Well all I can say is this is probably correct but if the Pastor who spoke could read this he would probably cry at my take on the matter. We all hear the words but we ourselves get different messages, some of which are intended and some that are not.
Tonight the little group of PAOC Missionaries here are meeting to have a welcoming party for us so I am looking forward to a new audience for my poetry. ha ha ha ha ha
Have been watching some TV (idiot box) with english words and Spanish sub titles. Might help in learning sentence structure!
Tomorrow Sheila will have to find a Dentist since a tooth fell apart on her while eating dried out ribs at the Dallas airport.
We will also be going to the Canadian Embassy and pick up other needed forms so we can stay for a time.
Vehicle search is still on. If anyone wants to buy our Ford Sable give our son Adam a call for details.
Well time to prepare for fellowship over a meal.
Have a good evening.
Tim
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Good Evening
Just had some corn bread to die for. I always wondered why people like that, now I know. The receipe used is different than Sheila's.
Today we ventured onto the streets with the Ford Expedition a rather large vehicle. Seems big but with all the crazy drivers I like having the mass! I will tell you one thing the motorbike operators are suicidal!
Anyway we headed out with good directions made an early wrong turn and quickly arrived at a sign saying we were leaving Guatemala City. Looking down I realized that the vehicle had 1/8 tank of gas so drove until finding a station , picked up 200 Q of gas 21.66 for regular per gal. then started back for home. We started over found our mistake and arrive at the William Cornelius in a mere 1.5 hours . Not bad for a 20 minute trip!! Boys I think you might like driving here, vehicles have the right of way and everyone looks at you funny if you stop to let them cross. I did this for 3 pedestrians on my right and 8 heavily armed soldiers on my left. Big guns and little people!! You can ride a little on the wild side and it is normal.
The William Cornelius Vocational Training Center will be open for business on Jan. 15. and they will start with 30 students. The place is a buzz of activity in preparation for the big service to be held next Saturday. We will post pictures before heading off to language training.
Saw an old man walking. He had sewn the back end of his pants so many times I was amazed. He picked up some sort of a large bag with a harness and walked off with the load on his back.
Some people are paid by missionaries a wage equivalent to $10 per day, and they work 6 days per week. They are happy??? I ask it as a question because it seems to me that they accept it because it has always been that way. Me a big gringo would like to change the wage so that a better standard of living is available to all however the problem is systemic. If we were to start tomorrow paying someone say the equivalent of $5.50 per hour guess what would happen? Word would get out and that individual's family would be in jeopardy (I am not talking the game) with someone assaulting them or holding them for ransom. Systemic problems such as this do not go away easily and it is my belief must be dealt with by changing the culture one person at a time. It is our hope that we can improve lives and begin the needed changes.
It is surprising that when required to speak spanish I am almost unable to speak what I do know. Like learning the guitar I could for a long time strum the strings on cord but as soon as called upon to do so in public I became a fumbling ninnie. Well I am looking for breakthroughs and am keeping up my language cd learning.
Have a great Sunday and I will try to connect tomorrow night.
Oh I bet your wondering what a Quetzel is worth? 7.75Q = 1 USA dollar. and 1.21 canadian dollars = 1 us dollar(6.61Q=1 Canadian $). Have fun converting the prices.
Tim Juhlin
Just had some corn bread to die for. I always wondered why people like that, now I know. The receipe used is different than Sheila's.
Today we ventured onto the streets with the Ford Expedition a rather large vehicle. Seems big but with all the crazy drivers I like having the mass! I will tell you one thing the motorbike operators are suicidal!
Anyway we headed out with good directions made an early wrong turn and quickly arrived at a sign saying we were leaving Guatemala City. Looking down I realized that the vehicle had 1/8 tank of gas so drove until finding a station , picked up 200 Q of gas 21.66 for regular per gal. then started back for home. We started over found our mistake and arrive at the William Cornelius in a mere 1.5 hours . Not bad for a 20 minute trip!! Boys I think you might like driving here, vehicles have the right of way and everyone looks at you funny if you stop to let them cross. I did this for 3 pedestrians on my right and 8 heavily armed soldiers on my left. Big guns and little people!! You can ride a little on the wild side and it is normal.
The William Cornelius Vocational Training Center will be open for business on Jan. 15. and they will start with 30 students. The place is a buzz of activity in preparation for the big service to be held next Saturday. We will post pictures before heading off to language training.
Saw an old man walking. He had sewn the back end of his pants so many times I was amazed. He picked up some sort of a large bag with a harness and walked off with the load on his back.
Some people are paid by missionaries a wage equivalent to $10 per day, and they work 6 days per week. They are happy??? I ask it as a question because it seems to me that they accept it because it has always been that way. Me a big gringo would like to change the wage so that a better standard of living is available to all however the problem is systemic. If we were to start tomorrow paying someone say the equivalent of $5.50 per hour guess what would happen? Word would get out and that individual's family would be in jeopardy (I am not talking the game) with someone assaulting them or holding them for ransom. Systemic problems such as this do not go away easily and it is my belief must be dealt with by changing the culture one person at a time. It is our hope that we can improve lives and begin the needed changes.
It is surprising that when required to speak spanish I am almost unable to speak what I do know. Like learning the guitar I could for a long time strum the strings on cord but as soon as called upon to do so in public I became a fumbling ninnie. Well I am looking for breakthroughs and am keeping up my language cd learning.
Have a great Sunday and I will try to connect tomorrow night.
Oh I bet your wondering what a Quetzel is worth? 7.75Q = 1 USA dollar. and 1.21 canadian dollars = 1 us dollar(6.61Q=1 Canadian $). Have fun converting the prices.
Tim Juhlin
Friday, January 05, 2007
It is one oclock and we are back from purchase of phones. Both bought for 850Q. Goshinmons just has a couple of phones stolen and apparently they are the most desired theaft item down here. Oh that price also included 100 minutes of time on each phone.
Now shopping for food. We went to a huge store called Hiper Paiz which is now owned by walmart! All the workers have walmart name tags. Things look similiar until you read closer.... oh there is the oat meal quaker man, I recognize that. Wow look at the shrimp at 23.50 Quetsel per libra(pound). Some are huge.
Pert Shampoo 400 ml at 31.45 Q
We are told not to shop for bargins in markets because the chance of being robbed is too great. Check out this store at www.hiperpaiz.com.gt
Next we head over to the cosco of Guatemala called Price Smart. Looks the same again. At the little food center near the check out I see a bucket of 15 pieces of cooked chicken (pollo) for 110 Q. and a hot dog 100% corn de Rio at Q 16.
Here are some other shopping prices:
Colgate 6 pk /100ml tooth paste at 107.95 Q
Salmon 57.95 per kg
Cooked roticery( no time to spell this correctly) chicken just like home 2.25 lbs for 39.95Q
Scott toilet paper 16 rolls 55.45Q
tic tacs for 3.95Q
coca cola 4 -3 liter bottles for 53.45Q
Traffic is something and I am not sure that if I leave here I could find my way back. No left turns!
Once back to our home base I listened to Cary talk to a worker about a pepper plant living up on the roof and I had a sickening feeling that I could not learn the language!!! will just have to continue and see how I do. I was feeling good about what I know to date, but the reality of normal conversation here (i.e. moving 5 times faster than I would like) is shocking.
I am able to blog this because my laptop to working well here on the goshimons wireless system.
Will blog again tonight if time.
Tim
Now shopping for food. We went to a huge store called Hiper Paiz which is now owned by walmart! All the workers have walmart name tags. Things look similiar until you read closer.... oh there is the oat meal quaker man, I recognize that. Wow look at the shrimp at 23.50 Quetsel per libra(pound). Some are huge.
Pert Shampoo 400 ml at 31.45 Q
We are told not to shop for bargins in markets because the chance of being robbed is too great. Check out this store at www.hiperpaiz.com.gt
Next we head over to the cosco of Guatemala called Price Smart. Looks the same again. At the little food center near the check out I see a bucket of 15 pieces of cooked chicken (pollo) for 110 Q. and a hot dog 100% corn de Rio at Q 16.
Here are some other shopping prices:
Colgate 6 pk /100ml tooth paste at 107.95 Q
Salmon 57.95 per kg
Cooked roticery( no time to spell this correctly) chicken just like home 2.25 lbs for 39.95Q
Scott toilet paper 16 rolls 55.45Q
tic tacs for 3.95Q
coca cola 4 -3 liter bottles for 53.45Q
Traffic is something and I am not sure that if I leave here I could find my way back. No left turns!
Once back to our home base I listened to Cary talk to a worker about a pepper plant living up on the roof and I had a sickening feeling that I could not learn the language!!! will just have to continue and see how I do. I was feeling good about what I know to date, but the reality of normal conversation here (i.e. moving 5 times faster than I would like) is shocking.
I am able to blog this because my laptop to working well here on the goshimons wireless system.
Will blog again tonight if time.
Tim
Hi Well we are in Guatemala!
Before giving current information I want to go back to the night before leaving. I started to make an entry however was too tired to complete it.
What I wanted to say then was that becomming a missionary is a little like dying. And indeed dying to self is mandatory in this process. But anyway it is a little like dying because:
-You review your will
-Deal with banking matters
-last good byes and people cry and you cry with them
-People say nice things about you and stretch the truth emphasising your virtues and ignoring your faults.
Of course when you die you cannot cry with the people. But enough of this.
So it is January 5, 2007 and I wake up just after six and hear pigeons and other strange bird sounds. Sheila awakes and I say: Honey this is not kansis! We are here we did it!
Looked at the devotional in the washroom here and was surprised that the first verse I read was the last verse that I spoke on at the Crowsnest Christian Centre on Dec. 31, 2006. Must be a God moment!
Anyway we may end up at the William Cornelius site today or may begin looking for a vehicle.
It is more humid here and about 66 degrees (19 C). It should be about 21 midday.
Not affected by culture so far although all my walking and language listening is paying off. I understand a fair bit, and suppose that I am a high beginner on the language scale.
Oh, Sheila broke a tooth on the way down so we will be seeking out a dentist. Had not planned on this kind of activity.
Must run . Bye for Now
Tim
Before giving current information I want to go back to the night before leaving. I started to make an entry however was too tired to complete it.
What I wanted to say then was that becomming a missionary is a little like dying. And indeed dying to self is mandatory in this process. But anyway it is a little like dying because:
-You review your will
-Deal with banking matters
-last good byes and people cry and you cry with them
-People say nice things about you and stretch the truth emphasising your virtues and ignoring your faults.
Of course when you die you cannot cry with the people. But enough of this.
So it is January 5, 2007 and I wake up just after six and hear pigeons and other strange bird sounds. Sheila awakes and I say: Honey this is not kansis! We are here we did it!
Looked at the devotional in the washroom here and was surprised that the first verse I read was the last verse that I spoke on at the Crowsnest Christian Centre on Dec. 31, 2006. Must be a God moment!
Anyway we may end up at the William Cornelius site today or may begin looking for a vehicle.
It is more humid here and about 66 degrees (19 C). It should be about 21 midday.
Not affected by culture so far although all my walking and language listening is paying off. I understand a fair bit, and suppose that I am a high beginner on the language scale.
Oh, Sheila broke a tooth on the way down so we will be seeking out a dentist. Had not planned on this kind of activity.
Must run . Bye for Now
Tim
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