The outlets and switches are different styles than the States, but the voltage is the same (110/120) and the prong configuration is the same.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Bring a 3-Way Plug
Raquel anticipated that we might need 3-way plugs, and she was correct. We brought 2, but could have brought more. The house is older and most of the receptacles are only two-prong, so plugging in any sort of grounded device requires a 3-way adapter.
The outlets and switches are different styles than the States, but the voltage is the same (110/120) and the prong configuration is the same.
The outlets and switches are different styles than the States, but the voltage is the same (110/120) and the prong configuration is the same.
Daylight Savings Time
We got up for our 10 AM meeting yesterday and had to rush because we were running late. Got to the Kingdom Hall with 5 minutes to spare. The Spanish Brothers were just leaving, and only one Brother was there for the English meeting. Where is everybody? Daylight savings time!
Guatemala does not do daylight savings time! But all of our devices did, even though they were supposed to be following local time. So we were all an hour early yesterday. And they want to call this a third world backwards country!
Guatemala does not do daylight savings time! But all of our devices did, even though they were supposed to be following local time. So we were all an hour early yesterday. And they want to call this a third world backwards country!
Santa Cruz
We haven't posted now for several days...sort of worn down. Friday took the boat to Santa Cruz with the service group, a shorter 10Q ride. This was the most arduous territory since San Antonio, probably more so. San Antonio is very steep stairs and walks, but Santa Cruz adds in trails and riverbeds. You can hike up a veritable goat trail for twenty to thirty minutes just to get to one house, and then the same to get back down.
How does one live in such a place?! Just to get there is a challenge, and then to bring in food, drinking water, and other supplies? I just can't imagine. And many of these houses aren't just shacks, they are relatively beautiful homes by any standards. Labor is cheap in Guatemala, so much of the carrying and carting has to be hired out.
I was paired with Drew, and he had us hiking a dry riverbed to get to a house at the bottom of a valley. That was the roughest yet. I had to stop and rest often. The thinner air and intenser sun at this altitude really makes every effort that much more difficult.
We had started the territory from the boat dock and worked our way up the paved street to the town. The street is concrete pavers as many are here, very steep with multiple switchbacks as it meanders up the mountain to the town. About two thirds of the way up, our territory went off to the left, a twisting, turning walkway between the houses. To reach many of the houses in the city requires going up or down a stone or dirt path that can be a challenge in itself.
The path we followed became a newly concrete paved walk that led down into a valley. This apparently is a federal government infrastructure project, nicely done but still in places treacherous because of its steepness. (Cats fighting outside on the veranda as I'm writing this!) The pavement has thick crosswise grooves to slow down water and to prevent slipping. Every so often there is a turnout to channel water into an uncovered catchbasin. This walk ended abruptly at some steep steps. Although this is some of the best walk construction that I've seen here, it would never pass Code or OSHA in the States because it would be considered too unsafe.
After finishing the territory (i.e. too exhausted to continue and no clear boundaries) we miraculously found the rest of our group and hiked back to the main road. We came out about midway between the dock and the town. Raquel and I, with Lydia, were too worn out to go any further, so waited until the others climbed up to a cafe and sent a tuk-tuk to get us.
I have some photos on my phone, but have had trouble transferring them to my tablet. I will see if it's easier with our laptop.
How does one live in such a place?! Just to get there is a challenge, and then to bring in food, drinking water, and other supplies? I just can't imagine. And many of these houses aren't just shacks, they are relatively beautiful homes by any standards. Labor is cheap in Guatemala, so much of the carrying and carting has to be hired out.
I was paired with Drew, and he had us hiking a dry riverbed to get to a house at the bottom of a valley. That was the roughest yet. I had to stop and rest often. The thinner air and intenser sun at this altitude really makes every effort that much more difficult.
We had started the territory from the boat dock and worked our way up the paved street to the town. The street is concrete pavers as many are here, very steep with multiple switchbacks as it meanders up the mountain to the town. About two thirds of the way up, our territory went off to the left, a twisting, turning walkway between the houses. To reach many of the houses in the city requires going up or down a stone or dirt path that can be a challenge in itself.
The path we followed became a newly concrete paved walk that led down into a valley. This apparently is a federal government infrastructure project, nicely done but still in places treacherous because of its steepness. (Cats fighting outside on the veranda as I'm writing this!) The pavement has thick crosswise grooves to slow down water and to prevent slipping. Every so often there is a turnout to channel water into an uncovered catchbasin. This walk ended abruptly at some steep steps. Although this is some of the best walk construction that I've seen here, it would never pass Code or OSHA in the States because it would be considered too unsafe.
After finishing the territory (i.e. too exhausted to continue and no clear boundaries) we miraculously found the rest of our group and hiked back to the main road. We came out about midway between the dock and the town. Raquel and I, with Lydia, were too worn out to go any further, so waited until the others climbed up to a cafe and sent a tuk-tuk to get us.
I have some photos on my phone, but have had trouble transferring them to my tablet. I will see if it's easier with our laptop.
Monday, March 6, 2017
The time has really flown by.. we leave Monday. So we are packing everything into this week. Today we took a Chicken Bus to Sololá this morning. Elevation here is 2,100 m, whereas Panajachel is 1,600 m, doesn't seem like a lot but when you are carrying 25 lbs and walking up, wow it really takes a toll. I was glad Lydia at times worked with a sister named Olivia. We worked about 5 blocks or so then a few headed back and we did a bit more then walked up, straight up to go have a break. What a view, it was so worth the trek. Josh worked with a 23 year old brother named Drew. We were able to hear how he came in the truth Sunday at lunch. Drew was witnessed to by a classmate in high-school, started studying and received major opposition from his parents. They took his car away, he could only go to school and work. So they said he couldn't go to meetings but they never said he couldn't study. So he continued his study and at 18 took a stand for the truth and got baptized. After high-school he went to college but dropped out and took a technical course instead. His parents kicked him out of the house for making that decision. He has been here 9 months and isn't planning on leaving. He pioneers and supports himself by teaching English online. He said his parents are very proud of him now. What a wonderful example of a young one giving his best to Jehovah, and very encouraging.
Tomorrow Josh and are going on a breakfast date to Crossroads Cafe for hot chocolate, coffee and cinnamon rolls. Then some wholesale shopping and finish with a trip to open air food market. I know now to just have my phone out and have them type the price in my calculator if I don't understand the price in Spanish. Then the meeting at 3 pm.
Wednesday/Friday we are going in service in a boat across the lake.
Thursday we are going to the Nature Reserve. They have monkeys and I was told you MUST bring bananas to see them. They also have a butterfly garden. Thursday night we're having our first gathering at our house.
Saturday service. Sunday meeting. Monday we get packed up and are going to a Mayan ruins and then to Guatemala City.
Tuesday home again home again.... until the next adventure😃
Tomorrow Josh and are going on a breakfast date to Crossroads Cafe for hot chocolate, coffee and cinnamon rolls. Then some wholesale shopping and finish with a trip to open air food market. I know now to just have my phone out and have them type the price in my calculator if I don't understand the price in Spanish. Then the meeting at 3 pm.
Wednesday/Friday we are going in service in a boat across the lake.
Thursday we are going to the Nature Reserve. They have monkeys and I was told you MUST bring bananas to see them. They also have a butterfly garden. Thursday night we're having our first gathering at our house.
Saturday service. Sunday meeting. Monday we get packed up and are going to a Mayan ruins and then to Guatemala City.
Tuesday home again home again.... until the next adventure😃
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Lydia Up Stairs.
You can't keep a monkey from climbing!
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| Lydia upstairs where she is not supposed to be! |
Water.
We were cautioned about not drinking the water by Everyone. Tap water, bottled water (five gallon type), Lake water, river water, ice water.
We started obediently drinking only from our Lifestraw filtered water bottles. We rinsed our dishes with boiled water. We didn't have ice in our drinks. Then we got tired of living like Howard Hughes. We can't live in a bubble!
We still take some precautions, definitely do NOT drink the tap water. But do have ice in our drinks. Eat lettuce. Drink ice water at home (both from bottled). Rinse dishes with tap water and let air dry (most water baddies don't survive). It's good to be cautious, but not over cautious. One still has to live.
Haven't had cart food. Yet. Ate at a roadside restaurant in Santiago. Had homemade tacos. What was the difference to cart food? About three steps out into the street. Sometimes there isn't a whole lot of difference in quality or reliability.
We were also warned about toilet facilities. We have flush toilets with running water. We have showers with hot water (mostly! Ours is solar and electric and hasn't always delivered hot water; Josh's is tankless gas and once ignition batteries were replaced has worked fine).
Many restaurants have restroom facilities of one sort or another. Usually toilet paper. Usually running water. Sometimes can't flush the paper. Sometimes need a bucket to flush. La Palapo has a trough, unfortunately no door and the women's is past the men's, so pee fast and keep your back turned. All in all it's been different but tolerable.
The Town provides water every morning to private reservoirs. Ours is powered by pumps, others have rooftop "rotoplast " plastic tanks that are gravity fed. I don't understand all of the nuances, but somehow we have water.
We started obediently drinking only from our Lifestraw filtered water bottles. We rinsed our dishes with boiled water. We didn't have ice in our drinks. Then we got tired of living like Howard Hughes. We can't live in a bubble!
We still take some precautions, definitely do NOT drink the tap water. But do have ice in our drinks. Eat lettuce. Drink ice water at home (both from bottled). Rinse dishes with tap water and let air dry (most water baddies don't survive). It's good to be cautious, but not over cautious. One still has to live.
Haven't had cart food. Yet. Ate at a roadside restaurant in Santiago. Had homemade tacos. What was the difference to cart food? About three steps out into the street. Sometimes there isn't a whole lot of difference in quality or reliability.
We were also warned about toilet facilities. We have flush toilets with running water. We have showers with hot water (mostly! Ours is solar and electric and hasn't always delivered hot water; Josh's is tankless gas and once ignition batteries were replaced has worked fine).
Many restaurants have restroom facilities of one sort or another. Usually toilet paper. Usually running water. Sometimes can't flush the paper. Sometimes need a bucket to flush. La Palapo has a trough, unfortunately no door and the women's is past the men's, so pee fast and keep your back turned. All in all it's been different but tolerable.
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| Our toilet. |
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| Our shower (and whirlpool tub). |
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| Our solar water heater. |
View From the Booth.
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| View of mountain to the northeast. |
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| Looking over top of the veranda where we spend a lot of time. |
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| Towards Lago Atitlan past the guest house roof. |
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| Front yard. |
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| Lime tree offering its fruit at roof level. |
Lazy Saturday Afternoon.
We rode the pickup truck up to Sololà this morning and did about six or more blocks of territory. Mainly businesses, a lot of Moto dealers (few stores sell only one thing, besides motorcycles and scooters these dealers also sell furniture, appliances, and other things). Placed an English tract with one of the Moto salesmen.
Rode another pickup back to Panajachel. Had lunch at La Palapo, a bar that features barbecue every Saturday. Now taking a lazy afternoon.
Was very windy yesterday and last night. During one strong gust last night I heard a pop and the power went out for 3-5 minutes. Still windy today. Our "booth" upstairs started losing its plastic corrugated roof. Luis our Gardner fixed it this morning while we were in service.
Rode another pickup back to Panajachel. Had lunch at La Palapo, a bar that features barbecue every Saturday. Now taking a lazy afternoon.
Was very windy yesterday and last night. During one strong gust last night I heard a pop and the power went out for 3-5 minutes. Still windy today. Our "booth" upstairs started losing its plastic corrugated roof. Luis our Gardner fixed it this morning while we were in service.
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| Our "booth " on the roof. The covering is corrugated translucent plastic. |
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| Narrow spiral stairs up to the roof. Lydia likes to sneak up and down by herself. She's not supposed to! |
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| My lazy hamock. |
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| Hammock at the guest house. I got out to take this picture. |
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Santiago.
Largest of the lake towns with a population of 50k or so. Many Mayan, and Spanish, few English.
Young Brother Loren Eisenhauer met us at the dock and paired up with Josh. I was very appreciative of that. The Eisenhauer's live in Santiago, but may be moving because the long boat ride is expensive and not always timely.
Josh did his espanol presentation at the door. First Time! Raquel and I were also paired for the first time, but with Sister Michaela, who speaks some Español, so we both got to hear him. We are so proud of the progress he is making and his positive attitude.
Lydia was somewhat of a bear in service today, and got worse as the day wore on. We didn't eat lunch until one-ish because of the delay getting to Santiago. She eats sparingly at meal times and wants to snack throughout the day, which is difficult to do in service. We have to figure out how to cope with her need to eat using local foods. Things we brought - astronaut food pouches, trail mix, raisins - have run out. Still haven't done a full scale market run yet.
Further up the same street pictured above was a Moto dealer. He had a 590 sign on a 110 bike. I had that many Q's in my wallet! Too bad, that was the monthly payment. Full price was about $1100.
Young Brother Loren Eisenhauer met us at the dock and paired up with Josh. I was very appreciative of that. The Eisenhauer's live in Santiago, but may be moving because the long boat ride is expensive and not always timely.
Josh did his espanol presentation at the door. First Time! Raquel and I were also paired for the first time, but with Sister Michaela, who speaks some Español, so we both got to hear him. We are so proud of the progress he is making and his positive attitude.
Lydia was somewhat of a bear in service today, and got worse as the day wore on. We didn't eat lunch until one-ish because of the delay getting to Santiago. She eats sparingly at meal times and wants to snack throughout the day, which is difficult to do in service. We have to figure out how to cope with her need to eat using local foods. Things we brought - astronaut food pouches, trail mix, raisins - have run out. Still haven't done a full scale market run yet.
One of Santiago's streets. Notice the tree growing out of the building in the background. Trees and rocks are often found in the middle of buildings. Inside is outside, and outside is inside. The yard is the house.
This model of Lake Atitlan is the center of Santiago's center Plaza. Government building Southside of Plaza has many federal police.
Went down a narrow alley in territory here. At the end of the alley was a bakery. Had a wonderful conversation with one of the bakers. Boy, how I wish I knew Spanish! He gave us warm rolls fresh out of the oven. I truly enjoy the local people here. However, the jury is still out on the expats.
Further up the same street pictured above was a Moto dealer. He had a 590 sign on a 110 bike. I had that many Q's in my wallet! Too bad, that was the monthly payment. Full price was about $1100.
Santiago Boat Ride.
Josh at the bow waiting to leave for Santiago.
Josh at the bow heading for Santiago.
Passage: Q20 per person.
Waiting: 1 hour.
Josh having fun at the bow: Priceless!
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