Journal #13

Thursday, August 31, 2006

First, Shelly is feeling better. She has had a tough week trying to get over this sickness. She still has some cramping in her stomach but we are going to talk to the preacher/doctor at Bible study tonight about it. We shall see what he says. She is much better though.

August has flown by. It seems like just yesterday we moved to Antigua and now we only have a month left here. It has become home for us over the last month. It is amazing to see the progress we have made in speaking and understanding the Spanish language since we first arrived. I knew nothing!

I always find it interesting to study what things cost in different countries (especially third world countries). It gives me a feeling of where they are economically and how far a dollar truly goes. I want to share some expenses, incomes, costs of things here in Antigua, Guatemala. Thinking about this reminds me how blessed we are!

Guatemalan money is called Quetzal. $1 = 7.62 Quetzales. This will give you a reference on how much the following is:

My teacher makes Q15 an hour (He works 8 hours a day, 5 days a week).
The average yearly income is $2,000. (Honduras is $600)
6 small homemade corn tortillas delivered to your house costs Q6.
1 childhood vaccination costs Q500.
A combo meal at Burger King (Whopper, fries and coke) costs Q21.
A coke in a can costs Q5.
1 pound of laundry (washed, dried and folded) costs Q5.
1 ½ pounds of whole cashews cost Q30.
A phone call to the United States costs Q1 per minute (with a calling card).
A bottle of Pedialyte costs Q21.
A small bottle of Philip’s Milk of Magnesia costs Q16.
A nice supper out on the town (according to US standards) costs Q80.
A gallon of gasoline costs Q28.
.10% of a paycheck goes to Social Security which functions as health care in most businesses.
Being on this adventure = priceless.

I had to throw that last one in. We found out today that the church staff was going to Rafferty’s for a celebration lunch for Margaret’s 5 year anniversary at Berry’s Chapel. We bought a calling card two weeks ago and decided to use some of it to make a surprise call to them. We finally caught them on Margaret’s cell phone (what did we do without them?) traveling back in the van to the church building. It was so good to hear their voices and have a short conversation with each one. Hello again Margaret, Will, Jerrie, Alejandro and Guilford (I know Guilford is reading this)!

Shelly and I have regressed ourselves to listening to Barney in Spanish. That is what we are doing right now as we type. What you will do to learn Spanish and entertain yourselves at the same time! We better concentrate on Barney so we will talk to you again soon.

We love each and every one of you!
Chad