We are getting a bit nervous about not having a house to go to after we check out on Friday.  The house Rob posted about before fell thorough.   We went in service this morning for the CO visit. After lunch with the group,  we took a boat back to Pana; Rob, John and the kids were going home.  Alana and I were going to do some return visits with a local sister,  Georgina.   She also took us to a landlord that rents apartments.  The apartments ended up being to expensive for the size of the apartment.   We did a couple return visits and then Georgina said she had one more but since we were right by our house did we want to quit?  I said no let's stay with you and finish the afternoon.   On the way to the call we ran into Jason and Shannon, need greaters who were in English,  switched to Spanish and rode the shuttle back with us from the CA on Saturday.   They knew we were looking for a house and they had 2 numbers for us to check out.  They didn't have our number so they were going to stop by the cart and let the friends know.   Glad we stayed out.  Georgina did her rv which is now a door step study, then went to Cafe Mocha with us, called the number and made an appointment for 5:15 pm, we called the guys to meet us at the cafe, Alana and John took the kids shopping and Georgina took Rob and I to

the house (the man only spoke Spanish and she's a native Guatemalan).  I wasn't sure what to expect.   It was down an alleyway a bit, bamboo fencing all around,  cute small yard with orange tree,  2 bedroom, 2 beds, concrete floor, no ceiling with a tin roof.  Rob could see I was disappointed but I knew it was doable.  I realized I needed to be more appreciative of what Jehovah was giving me.   We took it for one month.   I will post pictures when we move in tomorrow.  Georgina gave me suggestions for covering the furniture and Alana told me how to clean the mattresses.  I have what is needed: a roof, food, my family and my spiritual family here and back in the States.  We thank Jehovah we aren't homeless anymore😀

First Asembly in Antigua

Don't Give Up In Doing What Is Fine!
Assembly held at Antigua  Kingdom Hall, 155 in attendance morning session. 4 English  congregations in Guatemala,  Xela [newest], Panajachel,  Guatemala City,  and Antigua. Many English speakers come from Spanish and Mayan  congregations to hear in their native tongue. 2 were baptized, husband and wife. First baptisms for English in Guatemala.

We are thankful that assemblies are only one day. We came on a private shuttle the day before, but the ride was brutal, roughest we've experienced yet. Don't know if it was the driver, the traffic, or what, but many of us felt motionsick by the end of the trip. The trip back was less physically demanding, but exhausting nevertheless. Travel here just  really takes it out of a body.

The Assembly was good, encouraging.  A variety of both expat and native English speakers.  There are so few publishers, it seems as if everyone has a part. The interviews are encouraging, since everyone here is a need-greater and has a story. Because there are so few, I suspect we may be interviewed within the next few assemblies.

The comment that most remains with me was from the C.O., who said, 'don't be quick to give up and leave, the congregations need to be stable in order to grow.' We need endurance. It's still stressful for us, the house we were considering is seeming less and less likely.  Raquel has been busy making more contacts and putting out more feelers, casting our bread on the water. Pray to Jehovah for results.

We stopped at Burger King on the way home from the assembly.  Old habits die hard.🍔🍟🍧

Why is the bed shaking?

Our first earthquake!

Raquel woke me around 11PM and asked "why is the bed shaking?" It had been raining all evening, so my first thought was that somehow a stream of water had found the house.  But that didn't fit, then I realized it had to be an earthquake. The sensation was as if the entire house was sitting on a huge bowl of jello.  The shaking wasn't violent,  but rather languid.

Josh knocked on our door,  and said he thought at first there was a monster under his bed. He wasn't scared or panicked,  took it in stride quite calmly. We got up to check the house and John and  Alana [Dida is calling her Balana]. The house was fine as were the Flemings. They've been staying in the guesthouse. We told them that we wanted to make sure they got the full Guatemala experience.

Another day at Casa Tranquilo [the name our landlord Matthew McLeod has given the house]. Dida was oblivious to the whole affair.🙂🤔

Time to get ready to leave for Antigua for our assembly tomorrow.  We meet at  a sister's house across town at 10AM. [Time is still a bit of a confusion because we're 1 hour different - behind - right now and our devices are handling it differently -- some are changing,  some are not -- and we're not always sure which is which.]🤐🙃

First day back in Ministry.

Boat trip to Santiago. Group of 13 or 14, smaller than high season, but still good. Did several hours of door-to-door territory,  up and down very hilly streets. It was garbage collection day, got caught behind the truck briefly until found time and place to squeeze past it. The ministry here is exhausting [I may be using that word too often, the thinner air and rugged terrain really takes a toll.] Part of it is lack of fitness, part is age, and part is 2 years old. Lydia is a trooper in service,  but tires quickly and wants to be carried.  Raquel ends up taking the brunt of the load, and does relatively well. But once freed of the extra burden, one feels as if you could float away.

The ministry at times seems fruitless searching for English speakers in a predominantly Spanish neighborhood,  but many of the brothers identify us as Testigo de Jehova, providing a good witness throughout the territories.

New Home?

Tuesday went to Guajimbo's for lunch. Saw a flyer pasted on the bano door advertising "Alquilar Casa", house for rent. Our waiter, who remembered us from last February,  asked the cashier, Juandiego [a brother from the Cakchiquel congregation] to call for us. He arranged to meet us back at Guajimbo's when he got off and take us there.

The landlord turned out to be his uncle. He showed us 5 different places.  Two 1-bedroom penthouse suites atop Hotel Los Angeles Panajachel [too small], a casa west of the market [too far down alleyways], a casa east of the market [suspect neighborhood], and a gated-community casa [impressive,  expensive, mildewy], and it's guesthouse again too small]. Most if not all of these houses would not be given a second thought in Sheboygan,  but this is Guatemala and construction and living standards are somewhat lower. Juandiego spent 1-1/2 hours with us, really displaying loving kindness. His uncle, Marvin, was very nice and was trying his best to help us. We thanked them and deferred a decision until later.

Sister Llora had informed us of a casa near their home that was coming available this week,  so we stopped at their place to arrange a tour. The current residents agreed, and showed us the house. It was the nicest of the ones we had seen that day, 3-4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, living, kitchen, and second living/kitchen. It seems to be set up as a 1-story single bedroom house with a 2-story 1-bedroom guesthouse and a third floor maid's room. Not ideal for our family arrangement but manageable,  and very good for hosting guests. We have one more casa to possibly view today or tomorrow,  but more than likely will take this one.

Pictured above is the outside gate at night as we were leaving in the rain. We spent about 6 hours house hunting and were quite exhausted. Raquel observed that although the first 5 didn't really suit our needs or our tastes,  they gave us perspective and brought our expectations back to earth.

A familiar sight,  this was our home for a month last February. A bit of comfort and luxury for our return.  Above our budget, but worth the cost until we get better situated.

New addition! [Not meaning John Fleming, although this is his first time here.] A new couch and chairs, very comfortable, especially compared to the patio type couch and chairs the previous visit.

Yesterday after getting a bit settled in, we walked to Calle [cah yay] Santander, the main tourist street in Panajachel. We hit the ATM for local currency, then Mister Jon's for supper. Afterward went to Saundra's grocery store for bread, peanut butter, honey, milk, popcorn, oil, and cheese. Then walked back down Santander to Calle Febrero 15 [or 14?, they're adjacent streets] and picked up eggs at one of the fiends [small local shop].

 Eggs by the two and a half dozen.  They can be purchased singly or in any quantity up to thirty this way. The shop keeper added the string to carry home. At Dispensa Familia they're sold in 36 egg cartons [that's 3 dozen, Jordan].

30 eggs cost us 25Q, just over 3 dollars. Not exactly cheap, may include the white tax. We'll have to experiment with different tiendas and see where we get better prices, and as we get more used to the currency negotiate better. ["White tax" is the price a tourist or gringo pays as compared to a local. Prices are higher on the touristo streets, and the shop keeper may not hesitate to charge more.]

Exhausted after a hard day of travel. Although travel is mostly sitting nowadays,  it is still exhausting. Partially stress, partially boredom, partially physicality.

Our first morning back in Guatemala.  Guatemala City from 12th floor of Hotel Conquistador. Next, the last leg of our journey, shuttle ride to Panajachel.