We've got a car!

On Saturday Mark took the hire car back, full of intrepidation, and thankfully our car really WAS ready for collection so he drove it home again!  We could hardly believe it!  So now we don’t have to go into Georgetown every week to find enough cash and renew the hire!  Hooray and praise God!  And it also means I can drive now so I had a little practice run and managed not to kill any animals or drive down any potholes!!

The engineer drove by to look at the box to install the landline but said the trees around it were too overgrown so he drove off again! Now we are not sure who has to trim the trees so we are waiting again!  Ho hum! 

Sunday’s ups and downs!

On Sunday morning we went to two more Covenant services.  I have mentioned before that they usually have no musical accompaniment to the hymns other than a drum but at the second service of the morning we were encouraged to see a man appear with a guitar.  What then ensued was hilarious!  They still started the hymns off in their own way with their own version of the tune and then the guitar man joined in after the song had started, playing in a different key to the singing!  However, everyone seemed to enjoy being ‘accompanied’ even if it bore no resemblance to the song being sung!

In the afternoon (I asked for 3pm prompt) I had called for a meeting of the local Sunday school leaders, church stewards and anyone interested in children’s work and was very disappointed and discouraged that by 3pm only one lady had arrived.  She said she was the cradle roll secretary but hasn’t seen the cradle roll for a couple of years so it hasn’t been updated.  At 3.15 I called one of the stewards and she said she wasn’t coming and didn’t know who was.  At 3.30 the young girl who leads the Sunday school appeared but by then it was too late to have a proper meeting – I had been hoping to find out what people’s views were and what they wanted me to help with but I am really none the wiser – apart from realising that there seems to be no heart for children’s work here.  Very sad.  L

I went over to the Sunday school at 4pm and taught the kids a couple of my action songs, which they absolutely LOVED!  It was so uplifting to see their great big grins and to catch a glimpse of their vitality when they were enjoying something.  That gave me hope that we can change some things here and make life more enjoyable for all ages!!

Wildlife

 Mark, meanwhile had been to meet the youth and leaders at another church where the young people seemed keen to change the way services are run to make them more interesting and lively so Mark was able to discuss that with the leaders who made the right noises.  On the way back he passed an enormous snake coiled up in the road and wasn’t sure if it was dead or in the road consuming road kill!  Ew!! 

Last night at bedtime when letting down the mozzie net we spotted an enormous spider which Mark had to kill because it was too fast to catch.  It seems that life at All Nations was good preparation in more ways than one!

We have seen all manner of creatures in and around the manse – here is the definitive list!!  

Outside - cows, donkeys, goats, dogs (lots!), cats, horses, deer, chickens, bats, crabs (in the gulleys out on the road), frogs, lizards and many many lovely birds including some pretty impressive birds of prey. I really want to find out what they all are but there doesn’t seem to be a book anywhere and no-one knows when I ask them! 

Inside – spiders, cockroaches, ants, lizards, frogs and one stray bat!!  We are taking them all in our stride!  Amazingly, they are far less stressful than the bureaucracy, paperwork and rigidity of some of the people here!  

 

 

Light Relief!

2.1.13

Yesterday morning we were feeling really low and fed up that we are hitting so many brick walls but then three good things happened to lift our spirits! 

Firstly, a guy from the Guyana Bible Society visited us to drop off the 850 children’s Bibles I had asked for.  We had first met this man while applying for our visas right back in our first week here and he had told us that the GBS were trying to get these ‘make your own’ children’s Bibles into the hands of every Primary school child in the country.  He had given me some samples to show head teachers and I gave one to each of the three heads I visited last week.  All the heads were keen to have them hence the delivery.  They are good quality books, (paid for by overseas donors) each page telling a bible story with the beginning of a picture that the child can complete and colour to tell the story in their own way.  

After unloading he came in for some water and told us about his work – he said that they have a lot of resources but no-one to make contact with schools to get the books out and so he was excited that I am already getting into local schools and starting to get some of them distributed.  That gave me some encouragement that maybe I can be useful here!  He also asked about how we were getting on and prayed for us and our girls back home – we have had no pastoral care really since being here so it was lovely to be prayed for and have someone show an interest in how we were coping.

Then when we went out I found a letter from my Mum in the mail box which cheered me up!  Receiving post has taken on so much more significance since being here as it links us with home. 

Thirdly, we went to try out a hotel I had been researching to have lunch and were pleasantly surprised to find it was clean, well ordered, good service and tasty food!  The going to try to book a night there once a month (funds allowing!) to give us something to look forward to and to have some downtime in nice surroundings!  The rooms even have hot water so we would be able to have a proper shower!  Woohoo!   After our lunch we sat by the pool in the shade and listened to some tasteful jazz music they were playing in the bar!  We felt like we had stumbled into normal life for a couple of hours!  It gave us such a boost to our sagging spirits!   When I can get to proper internet I have lots of photos to upload to give you an idea. 

Today we have been told the engineer will ‘try’ to come and install the landline but we are not full of hope about that.  Also, we had a call saying the car is ready apart from the insurance and Mark has had to go into Georgetown to hand back the hire car but we are nervous that the insurance won’t in fact be sorted and we’ll be left without any car at all.  It’s all a bit wearing but we continue to pray that we will be enabled to be ‘content in all circumstances’ as it says in Phillipians 4 vs 11 – 13 – whether having plenty or nothing to keep being content.  We can only do that with God’s help and pray he will indeed give us the strength to endure. 

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.