EXCESS AND INSUFFCIENT

A good friend “Judy” asked for another blog.  I replied we will be home in 2 months; it takes a month to write one evidently I underestimated myself because it has taken nearly 2 months  (sometimes the creative ideas are dull.)  I think that “I don’t have sufficient time.”  See I told you this is pretty dull already.

Speaking of dull, maybe I will; describe the sharpening process of a knife - - - that’s it; there isn’t one except to rub it on the cement.  Except for one man I know whose 21 inch machete is always sharper than my pocket knife.  Let me further explain that I know when to sharpen my buck by the bald spot on my arm, when the hair grows back.

I asked the landlord if he would build a covering from the house to the bathroom and pila (sink) about a 10’ X 15’ corrugated tin patio.  That was in October, finally in April; we agreed he will buy the material and I will do the work.  I did some calculation s and put an X on the driveway / parking area.  Busted through the concrete, dug a hole and put in the tree.  The roots and branches were removed.  The rest went uneventful (Thanks Guy) until nailing the last section of roof, now I have no place to lean my ladder.  See picture.  Finally cementing in the tree.  He would do this himself, and did using about a quart of cement.  I thought a bit insufficient but I stay dry.

Apparently the flies are hoping to stay dry also.  I know that some of you will not have any sympany for me because you have to live among the sasquask Mosquito or sabor tooth black fly.  Well, this is my story so I get to do all of the whining for now.  I kill about 50 a day inside the house.  Occasionally I spray in the bathroom and later sweep up 200.  To entertain myself one day I decided not to swat them unless I could get a minimum of 3.  I don’t know what they do but my toothbrush tastes funny.  We have an excessive amount of flies; see picture.

Now that I mention excess; it reminds me a time we used a small town hotel recently.  It cost $7.00 including a private bathroom and secure parking (that is not excess, just in case you were getting ahead of the story.  The excessive part was 2 beds to choose from.  Sue getting there before me, because I was parking the car, tested the beds.  Upon arrival she suggested that we move a mattress to another bed to get a bit softer sleep.  Upon examination we found the mattress and box spring to be one unit.  After further examination we also found the box spring was really only the box and no springs were involved; the other wasn’t really a box but more like a crate with slats.  The mattress on the crate was a bit softer but we opted for the more even box feel.  Just a few words about the mattress are to compare the comfort of adding a page of newspaper or the entire paper before sitting on a rock.  So I guess this is actually about insufficient.

Oh yes, about the private bathroom; first there was no light in the bathroom; no toilet seat on the toilet so be careful sitting down.  The shower was another story, the water was so hot and there was no way to make it cooler.  Dennis scalded his feet. What an adventure!  If I were brave enough; I could have steamed cleaned between my toes / a bit excessive.

If you are typical you have a credit card or 2 and if you have a better than typical credit rating you interest rate maybe below 19%.  A little side note, a few years back 1980, we decided to enjoy a little extra for Christmas.  We found it quite easy to get a credit card, our first credit card.  We also found it quite easy to buy things.  We did not have to trim the bottom branches off the tree in order to fit all the gifts under it.  We just packed them around it.  Anyway, Christmas was filled with joy…the kind you buy.  January through December the next year; we learned the negative side of excessive.  It’s a good thing we had (very typical) a $250.00 limit.  This entire boring story is to prime you for the excessive prime interest rate on a credit card here; it is 46 1/2%.  Ouch I think that is a lot more than excessive.

For a moment I will look at insufficiencies.  Guatemala does have free or low cost national healthcare.  However most diagnostics are either Agrippa (a cold) or gastritis (stomach problems) either is cured by injections typically 3 to 8 shots.

Another possible cure in case you are afraid of needles is to burn a red or green candle and pray.  If you have a phobia of fire and needles you next choice maybe to visit Maximon.  By the way; this is not the name of a renowned medical clinic as Mayo or a specially trained doctor.  Living here is more than interesting to see how the Catholic churches as messed with the indigenous beliefs.

Also interesting here is the increase in others including evangelistic.  Apparently God lost His hearing because all churches have more speakers than used at Woodstock including additional blow horns mounted on the roof or higher.  Yes, I am a Christian because of God’s grace only and I do believe that the message of God’s love and grace should be spread but turn the volume down.  Another is if you sing as bad or worse than I, do not hold the microphone.  Until recently I thought tones only dealt with the intensity of a color and keys were to unlock.  Maybe take a lesson from someone who has talents ranging between Johnny Cash and Tiny Tim.

I think I will just ramble for a while or as explained let creativity create itself and you decide if it is insufficient or excessive.

Speed bump (Tumeloes) Avenue – 38 bumps in 3 miles, although in this route there is not a spot that your front tires are hitting a new bump before your back tires have crossed the previous one.  There is a spot like this in Zaragoza.   But not 38 times.  In some places there are speed bumps on dirt roads that are so eroded from rain that you must travel at less than 10 MPH.

18 different posters on 1 telephone pole advertising who to vote for.  If I recall last election, there were 28 choices on the ballot.

I counted the obvious dents and scratches on motorcycles once as Sue did her grocery shopping 26 out of 28.

Driving into Guatemala City (Guate) the traffic was a bit heavy.  We did the crawl before getting to the city; walkers were faster than us and that was 28K about 17 miles.

Teenage girls from the ages of 12 to 20 make tortillas at the rate of more than 1 a minute (less than that and you are fired.)  Most make 2 a minute and get paid Q10.00 ($1.25) for 3 hours of work.  The 13 to 15 year olds interviewed give the money to the family.

Hoeing your 1 acre plot of land to prepare for planting in 2 days.

13 people (2 were children) in my Mazda MPV van.

Of vehicles that passed as I waited near the market; 5/8 were buses.  Of non buses; ½ were Toyota pickups.

2 ½ tons of corn (dried kernel only) may be enough for a family of 5 for the year to make tortillas.

A string of firecrackers the length of a soccer field.

My neighbor tinkering with his car so it will start more than 8 months; still not a permanent fix.

Rebuilding a road or bridge after a washout the same way.

“Tigo blue” you have to have been here to understand this one.

A new release movie on DVD for Q10.00 ($1.25) or in El Salvador $1.00.

Saying Hola; Buenos Dias or Adios to EVERY by passer on the street.

The thickest steak to have eaten is ¼ inch and sometimes you wish it were thinner because it is too tough to chew.

A hamburger so thin that if you were in the rain with the top of the bun removed the bottom bun gets wet before the hamburger.

Walking in the rain with water nearly to your knees and thinking that your umbrella will keep you dry.

Sue telling me I was right and she was wrong twice this year.

Opening a 6 pack of toilet paper and wondering if you will have enough for the weekend.

Expecting the piece of plywood to be cut straight and square within ¼ inch.

Eating at McDonalds twice in 3 years.

Taking 8 weeks to write this blog.

The next part was written by Sue:

It has been an exciting 3 years.  We are winding down with less than 2 weeks.  When we moved to Guatemala in 2008, we were concerned about the dangers, having electricity, how our limited Spanish would do.

We have learned a few things:

We don’t go where the danger is.

We have learned to ignore the noise from trucks, buses, political announcements from speakers on top of or in the back of cars, trucks, or vans.  Music (that’s what they call it) from speakers outside of churches.

We have also learned that the rainy season is too long.  From May until October, we get rain daily, sometimes only in the afternoon and night but sometimes the entire day.

Our Spanish is better but still needs lots of work.

We do have electricity most of the time, during the rainy season; we lose it about once a month.

We have also learned how to drive at night.  We just don’t do it.  It is very dangerous because many cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles have NO taillights, headlights, or any other kind.  There are always people walking or on bicycles again with no lights. 

I planned to have another section indicating the generosity of yourselves and the accomplishments that you helped with; for now it’s a generous Muchas Gracias.  Tu eres muy amaile.  I will be fishing August and if we have a rainy day; I will finish this part while sitting in my tent.

Dennis and Sue

A special thank you to our blog master Gabor Bach who has posted all of our blogs for us.

HOW DO YOU DO IT!

The first section is directed to parents and this is a legitimate question.  Sue and I don’t have biological children and of course this caused sadness and emptiness.  I want to suggest that we are now far from sad or empty.  We have an International family.  Now 2 son’s in law; another engaged; and a granddaughter along with 2 other grandchildren whom we haven’t met yet..  We have a second family because of our years as a youth leader. Presently we are anticipating a 3 week visit from Martina; our daughter from Germany and her friend.   For us life is more than full.   (You can assume if you are reading this that I finished it before they arrived.)

Life here in Guatemala is what prompted the title of “How do you do it.”  It started 10 days ago.  We invited a family whose husband/father went to the USA 5 years ago with the intention of saving every penny so they can get ahead; well he must be still saving because he has stopped sending support to his family years ago.  Mom with 4 girls and boy ages 15 to 6 had nothing for Christmas.  The nothing is not an exaggeration; they did not have one decoration or a gift.  They also did not get to eat the traditional tamales because they cost a few more centavos each to make.  This life didn’t sadden the family nearly as much as the absence of a phone call from their Father.  Anyway, we invited them to our house for a meal and an afternoon of diversion / fun hoping to give them a smile to take home.  Well they didn’t take their smile home; they spent the night.  We have a guest room with a queen bed; I inflated a single air bed and threw a blanket on the couch and loveseat.  The next day they left with 4 meals and a big smile.  The oldest girl asked if she could have an extra night because she doesn’t get any alone time at home.  They have 2 bedrooms for the 6 people.  The OK was 3 nights long including several hours of encouraging; (I guess once a youth leader always a youth leader.)  The return trip home included 2 sisters 13 and 11 years old.  As explained through tears; they thought their poverty allowed them to take my pen, pencils, and toothpaste.  The first night was less than pleasant as we implemented appropriate discipline.  The 2nd night many more smiles and an important lesson learned.  We had candy, popcorn, candy, ice cream, and candy.  Our 4th trip home included a son 9 and daughter 6 years old.

Here is a list for you to answer; . . .

How do you watch Home Alone enough to write and produce #5?

How do you always discipline with love, fairness, and results?

How do you show God as the heavenly, providing Father to the neglected?

How do you respond to the calls without exhaustion?

This second section is directed towards teachers; HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Let me reminisce a moment then to the question.  At approximately 10 years old; I asked If Noah built a boat big enough for all those animals and it got stuck on top of a mountain; why can’t you find it?

A few years later I thought I understood until I asked the question.   I guess I know why I must dislike Germans and Japanese but what about the French and Indian war who should I dislike?  Apparently I analyze / learn from the other side of the fence.  As I am now acting as a teacher; I am experiencing the difficulty of explaining why. 

Such as, if I already can’t spell it; how can I “Look it up” in the dictionary?  Let’s look at this, shall we OK so I want to spell “alive” and I concentrate on the sound aaa; OK I remember that sound and I try to associate it with a word that I can spell aaaa  I got it. . .  . . “on” so we look some more olive—got it.

Apparently this is more complicated than I thought:  why does the emphasis change from 1st to 2nd syllable.  Alive / Olive

Here are a few other pelicularies concerning spelling.

You – ue  The e makes the u a long vowel sound so why not?

Read – Rede

A bit more complicated yellow – yelloe  What is the w doing there anyway? Do “W”’s make the vowels long also?

Another problem; not just vowels.

Cake – kake or cace            why not?     I GUESS YOU GES 

Cat – kat

Sick – cic – sik – cick –

Box – baz   

Sense this is so difficult; I have a sense that it’s not worth 2 sense.

Pluralizing gets more complicated:  foot – feet;  goose-geese;  book-beek..

Another interesting part is suffix and prefix

Decease – The de means to reduce; cease is to stop existence so maybe we are reducing death.

Prevent – pre means before; vent is to exchange air - before you breathe

Withstand – means against standing

DIS   DIF   IN   IL   IM   IR   NON      all mean “NOT”    isn’t that easier?

Can you explain “increase” infold; inbend

Eye kiid gue an butt ue gotten ta eyedeeah.

As Sue’s father said  “YOU DID NOT LEARN ME THAT” As I am attempting to learn Spanish my teacher said “don’t ask why until later”

So, how do you do it?

For some it’s everyday life but don’t take it for granted.  Think about the knowledge you have; you didn’t get it by yourself and you should not keep it to yourself.

An uninterrupted cup of coffee is good but drinking your coffee along every day isn’t.

Some may even reverse the question, Dennis and Sue how do you do it?  Leaving a comfortable home to live in a 3rd world country (by the way what does that mean?)  Being a youth leader for a lifetime; enjoying children without being a parent.  For us the answer is quite simple, we are following God’s plan and living with His grace.  We hope you are doing the same.

P.S.  We rechecked our numbers from Christmas receiving and giving and discovered an error.  We had Q5.00 left over, about .63 cents.  I went to the street and gave it to a young Mother.  I want to be exact as we are our own bookkeeper and auditor.

Thanks for being a part of our life as we serve God in Guatemala.

Dennis and Sue

Merry (BUSY) Christmas:

We had a dream of giving to approxiatemly 1000 people on the highway covering about 10 miles.  Our request for help gave us surprising response; thank you; thank you; thank you.  We did (we includes you) reach our 1000 bag goal, although I must inform that there was a small change in plans.  When reserving the pick-up , I was informed by one of my advisors “certainly you are doing a good thing but you could do better” after conversation we found that there is a bigger need in the very small villages where some of these children  come from.  There are even poorer conditions because they don’t have time to stand on the highway asking for things.  So instead of driving the highway; we went to these villages directly.  I hope that you are not upset about how I spent your money; we did (in my opinion we did the best we could in targeting the poorest of the poor.  So thank you again and please enjoy a few of the photos.  I guess this would more accurately be instead of one thank you a thousand thank yous.

BAGGING AND SORTING

SOME SMILES!

THEIR HOMES

We marked their hand to know who received a package.  A few came back with very clean hands so after a closer examination; I found a small residue of the mark.  Kids will be kids wherever they are from.  The biggest give away that they already received a bag was there freshly washed hands.

We interrupted a work day at the laundromat.