Weeks 3 & 4 in Guyana

It’s hard to believe we could actually have already been here for a month and that our trip is half over.  It feels like it took us so long to get settled down and into a routine that we lost a couple of weeks, but we are starting to learn the ropes of living in Haslington, Guyana.   

One of the biggest things we have discovered is making connections is imperative.  Connections on how to get around, on how to get food and water and at the best prices etc.  Unlike home, where we go to the grocery store for pretty much anything, we have to shop several different places for different things. For instance, some people make bread and can deliver it to your home, I buy our meats from a meat shop, then each day there are vans that drive around announcing what fruits and vegetables they have to sell or you can go to a market which consists of fish, fresh chicken, fruits and vegetables, clothing etc. (I forgot my camera the last time I went to the market, next time I will be sure to take pics)  It seems to be a learning curve where we figure more and more out each week, of how to make life easier.

 There are definitely challenges(more on that in the next post) but the longer we are here the more we love it.  The ministry is just so incredible.  The people are so zealous and appreciative to learn about Jehovah.  I was on a bible study with a sister last week and I thought the student must have been studying for at least a year if not more.  Her knowledge was noticeable and she seemed to be advancing quickly.  To my surprise she has only been studying since May 2011.  In 7 months she is already attending meetings with her 6 year old daughter, her 2 month old son and her mother comes as well.  She is an incredibly hard working (as most Guyanese we have encountered are) single mother who supports her whole family, including her siblings on her pay alone.  Yet she still makes time for her bible study each week and attends meetings.  Her name is Varsha and I was so encouraged by her.  Her mother even made my entire family dinner while we studied so I could bring it back for them!  The hospitality is incredible here.  As little as some have materially, they are some of the most giving people we have ever met!!!