One month done!

11.1.13

So one month in and we are beginning to feel more settled but there are still a lot of things causing us frustration.

We have been spending the last couple of days trying to get some things sorted out.  On Wednesday we managed to extend our temporary driving permit for an extra month and found a shop that sells stationery and craft stuff that even takes Visa (a rare shop in Guyana we’ve realised!) where we managed to get a portable CD player to use in schools and churches.  We also called in to the garage to find out about the delay in getting our car and were told that they were still waiting for the licensing people to sort the documentation but that the National Licensing Office had run out of paper to print them on!  Unbelieveable!

Visit to the British Embassy

Then yesterday we went back into Georgetown to meet the Deputy High Commissioner at the British Embassy to introduce ourselves and find out about life in Guyana from his perspective.  It was a positive and interesting meeting.  His main advice to us was not to overstay our visas – he said he currently has 5 Brits in prison here, 3 of whom are there because they overstayed.  He said the authorities are pretty strict about it and if you have overstayed they will arrest you and put you straight in jail for a year’s sentence.  Eek!  So we are determined to ensure that doesn’t happen and will leave the country if necessary if our paperwork is not in order, even if it is only to wait around in Trinidad or stay with friends in Florida for a week before coming back again! From what we have heard about prison conditions here it is not a place you want to go for even a night let alone a year! 

 We asked him what people do for fun and he said really there isn’t anything to do by way of leisure activities and said isolation is a real problem.  As we suspected!   He said that the only worse place in South America to be sent to is Venezuela as you get shot at when you leave the house here but he said Guyana is the next hardest place to be.  We were encouraged by that as we realise you have to be really hard to survive here so maybe we are not as soft as we thought!

Random facts about Guyana!

A few other interesting facts he told us:

• We talked about wages and he said a typical policeman would be earning about G$ 40000 per month which is about £133 so it helps explain why they survive by accepting bribes. 
• He also told us that 80% of people in Guyana who get degrees go on to leave the country – the so called ‘brain drain’ we had heard about.  It is really sad that so many leave instead of staying to help the country improve. 
• We also learned that there are no copyright laws here so that is why you can’t purchase any original books, CDs or DVDs here – all are pirate copies or photocopies of texts from other countries.  This sadly means that most people here have never been able to read an original book or watch a quality film.  We bought a DVD to try to watch of the film ‘Lincoln’ and it was AWFUL!  Clearly recorded in a cinema with people coughing, sniffing, rustling, phones going off and the camera jiggling around and going out of focus and the sound was appalling!  We won’t be doing that again and look forward to people sending us DVDs from home to watch!

Post office revisited

After our meeting we went off to try to collect another parcel from the post office fully expecting another 3 hour wait!  This time couldn’t have been more different!  It was the same lady who served us last time but this week Mark was wearing his clerical shirt and dog collar and she couldn’t have been more helpful!  If anything she was really sycophantic and VERY keen to please him!!!  Ahem!! ;-)  We were in and out in 25 mins this time!  Still a long time to collect a parcel compared to the UK but much better than last time.  Clearly he has to wear his uniform every time we go!   One of the parcels was from Jo and Ayo and had the CD of their wedding photos in it so it was very exciting! 

Car, phone and internet issues

We went back to the car showroom and were told the licensing office STILL had no paper so we still can’t get our car and it looks like we will now have to rent the car for another week which means a lot of hassle and expense again and it all seems to be for no good reason which is really frustrating.  I have to wait in tomorrow while Mark goes into Georgetown as the phone engineer says he ‘will try’ to come and install the landline.  We have however found out that once that is finally done we have to apply again separately to get internet connection which is an added frustration.

We feel that we are hitting brick wall after brick wall and are spending so much time and energy trying to sort out actual living that we have little time left to actually do the work we came to do so we pray it will eventually get sorted.  We are fighting anger, despair and cynicism as each day is filled with new tests to our fortitude.  L

The only way is up!

8.1.13

Well as you know I have been pretty low the last few weeks and finding all this new life extremely hard going – much harder than I ever imagined it would be to adjust to so many new things and experience the loss of so much that I hold dear.  I have also felt quite isolated and lonely with no-one to talk to really and nothing much to do.  I have so appreciated all the contact from home via the internet and it has made everyone feel a lot closer and made me feel I am not here on my own! 

Yesterday the new school term started here and I devised a questionnaire to take round with me to the various schools: the purpose of this was to find out information to collate as no record of school details is held by anyone, and also to find out whether any school would appreciate my help or input! 

I introduced myself to three head teachers yesterday in and near our village and left them a questionnaire and I managed to collect two of them today.  Both schools have asked me to run a lunchtime Bible club, one has asked me to teach some phonics and reading and one has asked me to go in to talk on a 1-1 basis with pupils, staff and parents who are going through difficult times so I am really excited to actually be doing something and beginning to fulfil the purpose for which I came!   There are about 12 more schools in this circuit so I am cautious about offering myself to all of them as I don’t want to spread myself too thinly!  Probably better to start with these three and then get locals involved in helping and move on to other schools later. 

 I have also planned a meeting this Sunday afternoon with the Mahaica Sunday school leaders and those who might be interested in helping to discuss ways to make the Sunday school exciting and engaging for the children who come and hopefully attract some new children along.  I am hoping to introduce some lively action songs, some games and craft activities – nothing too complicated but at the moment they are not very active and I am concerned that the children (especially some of the boys) are not enjoying coming. 

This morning was an interesting morning as I accompanied Mark and one of the lay workers to the homes of some of the ‘shut ins’ (a term for people who are housebound!) so that Mark could administer communion to them.  It was a privilege to go into their homes and meet some of the very elderly and infirm people in the circuit but it was a long and gruelling morning in the heat!  After being out visiting for about 3 hours wandering around in the sun with no drink, I was beginning to feel very peculiar and getting a real headache but then someone offered us some juice and little meat and vegetable pies (called patties) to refresh us.  What a Godsend that was!  Never has Sunny Delight tasted so good!

STILL awaiting the car documentation to be sorted so please pray for that or on Saturday we will have to rent the car for a fourth week.  Also waiting and hoping for an engineer to come and install a landline and internet for us so then I can upload photos, videos etc and even maybe watch some clips of the news! 

 

 

Covenant service

6.1.13

The beginning of January is traditionally the time when Methodists hold a Covenant Service – during this service people renew their commitment to God for the coming year.  I didn't know it but here all the women traditionally wear white for the Covenant Service - I turned up in my usual clothes and felt a bit silly but then some visitors came who clearly didn't know the tradition either so I was glad that I hopefully helped them not feel so excluded!

I always find this a poignant service because if you really mean the words you say it is quite scary!  This morning however, the words were even more meaningful to me than usual and I quote some of the words here for you to read:

The minister says (amongst other things!)

Christ has many services for his people to do.  Some are easy, others are difficult.  Some bring honour, others bring reproach.  Some are suitable to our tastes and compatible with our ambitions, others are contrary to both.  In some we may please Christ and ourselves at the same time.  In others we cannot please Christ except we deny ourselves.  Yet Christ will surely give us the strength and the grace to do all that he requires of us as we consecrate ourselves to him. 

We respond:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.  And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.  Amen.

I don’t think it has previously meant so much as it has this year when I am really being put to the test.  I did say it and meant it and just have to trust that God will help me through this difficult time and that I’ll come out smiling at the end thinking I’ve done a good job and it’s been worthwhile! 

 

Slowly moving forwards...

Apparently the money for the car has now been received but as yet the documentation hasn’t been processed.  We went to Georgetown yesterday hoping to collect the car but were told there was more paperwork to be done and that it would be ready today.  Then this morning we got a call saying it won’t be ready today and to come in on Monday…so tomorrow we will go and rent the hire car for another week and hope that it is all sorted by next Saturday!  We are learning not to get our hopes high when documentation of any kind is involved! 

Our lovely circuit steward has been trying her hardest to sort our internet and landline and today we have been told that an engineer will come in the next 7 – 14 days so again we won’t hold our breath but will hope and pray it comes true! 

Today we learned where to go and get a replacement Calor gas bottle and managed to get some white spirits to help the rubbish burn more easily.  Step by step we’re moving forwards, little by little taking ground…!!

 Old age pensioners

 Yesterday when we called in to see if there was any post, there was a little crowd of elderly people outside and the girl in the post office said they were all waiting to collect their pensions.  We found out today that the pension money is brought in on the first Thursday of the month from Georgetown to be collected by the locals.  We also found out that the monthly pension for an elderly person is 10 000 Guyana dollars which is about £33.00 – that’s PER MONTH.   No wonder there is so much poverty here.  We were so sad to hear that – elderly people have to be looked after by their families, as they certainly can’t afford to live alone on that amount.  We have also been told that the average wage is about 6000 Guyana dollars a week which is only about £20 so it’s no wonder people live on rice as their staple diet.  A salutary thought and makes me count my blessings.  

 

 

Happy New Year!

3.1.13

 New Year’s Eve

 It was very strange at 8pm here on New Year’s Eve knowing that everyone in England would be singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and toasting the new year when we still had 4 hours of the old year left!

At 10pm we wandered over to the church for the ‘Old Year’s Night’ service – people gradually arrived and eventually there was a reasonable sized congregation.  We were told that a lot of people who don’t usually go to church come on ‘Old Year’s Night’ and it is traditional to at least be in church at the stroke of midnight even if you miss the rest of the service!   Everyone came dressed up in their best party gear as it was a special occasion for them all.  Me being scared of mozzie bites left my best frock and high heels at home and wore linen trousers and a long sleeved top! 

 At midnight a bell was rung to welcome in the New Year and everyone greeted each other before heading off home to bed!  Meanwhile, the party at the local bar and the loud fireworks in the street continued to keep us awake all night! 

 New Year’s Day

This is a national holiday in Guyana so we decided to drive into Georgetown and have a look around the ‘Pegasus’ hotel to see if it is somewhere we might be able to go when we have leisure time.  The guidebook says that it ‘remains the most popular full service hotel, but thanks to aging rooms and lack of upkeep, their basic rooms are now terribly overpriced.’ 

 

We went into the café where a lunchtime buffet was being served and decided to stay and eat as it was lovely and cool in the air conditioning!  The buffet consisted of some roast pork with some rather overcooked vegetables, rice and noodles with some cake for dessert.  With soft drinks our bill came to about £40, which we thought was highly overpriced!  We sat in the cool lobby watching BBC World News for a while so that made the journey worthwhile!  

Next time we get a day off we are going to try visiting another hotel.  We had asked about using the swimming pool at one hotel but were told it is only for guests staying over so we may have to book an occasional night away as we are sadly lacking in leisure facilities! 

 Calor gas

 Yesterday Mark had to go to a staff meeting (just for the ministers!) in Georgetown and I decided to try and cook a chicken to make him a nice lunch for when he got back.  We had been given the chicken by a couple from the church which would have been a real sacrifice for them.  However, after about 45 mins I noticed the Calor gas had run out and I didn’t know how to change the bottle and couldn’t lift the new one upstairs anyway so sadly the chicken had to be wasted and thrown to the dogs.  I felt so upset about that as I hate wasting food anyway, but particularly as it would have cost a lot for the couple who gave it to us and it seemed so sad.  Also, we haven’t had much meat to eat so I was looking forward to a nice bit of chicken and had plans for three day’s meals out of it!  Now I’ve learned not to cook while in the house on my own! 

Today…

We went into the post office in Georgetown again to collect another parcel.  Some of you know the hassle we had last time so we were expecting a full day trip…thankfully collecting the package only took about 40 minutes this time so we were very thankful! 

We are still hoping and praying that we might get our car soon so that we don’t have to keep hiring one and also REALLY praying we can get a landline and internet at the house so we can upload photos and video clips to show you a bit more of life here. 

I have been feeling pretty low – lonely and isolated - the last few days and hope that once term starts next week and I get busy that I will start to settle down and feel more at home.  We appreciate all the ongoing prayer, thoughts and lovely messages we keep receiving which help to boost our spirits.

 

Party time!

30.12.12

We have had two social events this weekend, both of which have been interesting! 

On Friday night we had a district staff dinner at a resort in West Bank Demerara so it took us an hour and a half to drive there!  It was a very formal event with a running order resembling a service rather than a social evening, including a hymn, prayers and a sermon.  It was difficult to talk to people around the table as the music was soooo loud so not a very sociable time really!  Then an hour and a half drive back again but this time in the dark so we had to be even more careful of the potholes in the road and animals coming at us from all directions! 

Yesterday we went to a church social at Mark’s Airy Hall chapel which was meant to start at 6pm.  When we got there about 6.10 hardly anyone was there but by 7pm several people of all ages had arrived and they were ready to start.  Again it took the form of a service really with hymns, songs and prayers.  They asked me to teach a song so I tried to teach them the action song ‘Great big God’!  The adults joined in merrily but the children just stared at me as though I was crazy!  I think they are not used to seeing adults doing silly things!  I wonder what they’ll make of Nettie when she ventures out! 

Mark was asked to give a short word and then we sang some more songs before handing out polystyrene containers of food (rice with chicken!) to everyone gathered.   The children were each given a little present and that was a poignant moment.  Earlier I had asked each of the children what they had received for Christmas and several of them said ‘nothing’.  When given the little cheap plastic toys from the church they looked so happy and held onto them as though they were precious gifts.  I found that very moving when I thought about how much is given and received by way of gifts in the UK. 

This morning, Mark didn’t have a service so we attended Mahaica chapel which is outside our front door.  We got there at 8am and it was just us and the local preacher taking the service.  By 8.20 no-one had arrived so she started the service just with us and gradually more people arrived and by the end there were about 12 people there.  We had started off singing unaccompanied until the drummer arrived at about 8.50 and the steward arrived to give the notices just as the sermon ended at about 9.45. 

I find it really hard to get my head around people arriving so late for services and not preparing for their part in worship until they get there.  Maybe I am yet to understand how this culture works but in my mind it is insulting to the person who has spent time preparing the service and not honouring to God to be so blasé about coming to worship.  People have told us that they have tried started services later but then people still come an hour later than that.  This is an area I need to find out more about because at the moment it is just making me mad! 

Tomorrow night Mark has a ‘Watchnight’ service here in Mahaica starting at 10pm so it will be interesting to see who is there on time!  Here they call ‘New Year’s Eve’ - ‘Old Year’s Night’ – I’ll let you know how it goes! 

I will upload photos once I can get some decent internet – please keep praying for the following;

• The money to come through from the UK to get our own car as we are having to hire a car which is costing a lot of money and they don't accept cards so we have to go to the city each week to draw out the cash to pay for it.
• Landline and internet at home – this is causing us hassle as we can’t use the internet except to very slowly send text emails and we need it for resources, research, information, sending photos and hopefully skype.
• For us to get our visas to stay here and our Guyana driving licenses – we are expecting hassle for these but please pray God will make a way for us! 

Rubbish and Water

28.12.12

 

I thought that today I would write about two domestic issues so that you get an idea of how things work over here!

Rubbish

The country of Guyana has no public rubbish collection and there are no recycling facilities so people have three choices:

• Pay a private contractor to take it away (who knows where it goes?!!)
• Burn the rubbish
• Dump it anywhere!

Many people seem to have a go at burning their rubbish but a lot don’t!  Alongside every road, in every gully, river and canal, by the sea wall, in the gutters, you see huge piles of rubbish – cans, bottles, paper, food remains, household items, polystyrene food containers…the stray dogs rummage in the rubbish for scraps of food but the rest just sits there and much of it will never really decompose.  L

There seems to be a culture of throwing rubbish on the ground…we saw a man finish a bottle of beer and then just throw the bottle down where he stood – of course it smashed and you also see piles of broken glass everywhere, which is hazardous for people, animals and car tyres!  The Government have put up signs everywhere saying ‘do not dump your rubbish’ but what are people supposed to do if there are no bins or skips and no rubbish collections?

 We asked what we should do with our rubbish and were told we must burn it.  So Mark tried to make a fire with our assorted rubbish but it is so damp and humid it didn’t really take off and then we ended up with loads of dogs in the garden trying to get the food scraps.  One of the stewards arranged for an old oil drum to be delivered to us so now Mark is burning the rubbish in that and it is much more effective. 

It feels strange thinking about what will burn and what will happen to the stuff that doesn’t burn and it has made me very conscious about what and how much we dispose of – in England I never really thought about that as it just all got collected but suddenly we are aware of what we waste and it is making us think of ways to re-use as much as possible.

 One of the things we have noticed is that at every church event involving food, it is served in polystyrene containers with plastic forks and spoons instead of on plates that can be washed.  I questioned this and asked why they don’t use plates and they said it is because there is not enough water to wash them up with…which leads me onto the next issue…

 Water

Another thing we took for granted back in the UK! 

Here we can’t drink the water from the taps so we buy 5 gallon containers of bottled water and use that for drinking, cooking and cleaning our teeth.  Before we had the hire car we had to call someone to deliver a container of water to us but now we can collect our own and are trying to keep one large bottle in reserve so we don’t run out.

The fact that we have it in measured containers makes me very aware of how much we use so we make sure that we only boil what we need for drinks, and when I cook vegetables I am reusing the water to make stock for soup rather than just tipping it down the sink. 

As for the mains water, we just have cold running water and the pressure is not very strong so each day we have a kind of cold wash under a dribbly shower head!  It’s amazing how little water you actually need to stay clean though I do miss having a nice relaxing bubble bath and standing under a hot power shower!