Diary Sunday August 19, 2001

Diary

Friday, August 17 Guatemala and travel to Quetzaltenango
Saturday, August 18 Quetzaltenango
Sunday, August 19 Guatemala
Monday, August 20 El Salvador
Tuesday/Wednesday August 21/22 El Salvador/Guatemala
Central America 2001 Home
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Set 1 Guatemala and travel to Quetzaltenango
Set 2 Quetzaltenango on Saturday, August 18
Set 3 Guatemala City August 18-19
Set 4 Guatemala City August 19
Set 5 Guatemala City August 19
Set 6 Guatemala City -- at Senor/Senora Perez's
Set 7 We enter El Salvador August 20
Set 8 El Salvador Dental Office
Set 9 Social get-together at Cisneros in San Salvador
Set 10 Earthquake damage at Las Colinas August 21
Set 11 Goodbye to El Salvador and back to Guatemala

Today was a day of eye-openers for us. I had not seen poverty of this sort anywhere else we’ve been, even in Ukraine. It was a sobering day showing us how unequal human beings are. And Central America has probably shown us the greatest variance between the rich and poor.

The morning began with the traditional Langarica breakfast where young Saulito makes pancakes. He did a great job!

We set out on the day's five stops in the Guatemala City area. First stop was the Huite Boloz family. We drove past housing on hillsides. One near the Langarica’s home had major damage in the January 13, 2001 earthquake and some people were killed. Because there is so little flat land, housing is terraced. Even a cemetery we saw was terraced. The cemetery had some well-constructed mausoleums. The dead were well care for. Now, if people can learn to care for the living…. Earthquake damage and injury is escalated as homes slide on top of one another.

Our visit with Huite and his wife Maria Estella Boloz was wonderful. They have a cheery family of seven children who are Herbert, Antonio, Wilson, Marcos, Mariza, Hura and little Sarah, a real sweetheart. He works in sales and she cleans homes. She is taking a weekly class in making various kinds of pastries and we hope that she can open a little pastry shop on the road they live.

Photos of events described on this page

Set 3 Guatemala August 18-19 Boloz family
Set 4 Guatemala August 19 Morales/Hernandez
Set 5 Guatemala August 19 Osorio/Perez

After the January 13 earthquake, there is no running water in this area because the quake changed the underground water veins. Water was drawn from a well. The plot of land is owned by their parents who parceled the land giving their son Huite and his brother space to build their homes. The Boloz’s live on dirt floors. The Guatemala Spokesman’s Club will pour a concrete floor for them in early September.

The Boloz told us of a young lady in the Church who was attacked by a rapist with a knife. He dragged her into a nearby ravine. All of a sudden a man with a gun appeared and told the perpertrator to drop his knife which he did and fled.

The Boloz’s invited us for a lunch that we enjoyed outdoors in almost perfect weather. We got a close-up look at their well and the corn and beans that grow together on their property. The beans work their way up the corn stalks. There are also tomato plants sheltered by the shade of the corn.

The Boloz’s also supplement their income from placing bubble gum machines provided by Bob and Sue Payne in Florida.

Our next stop was at the home of tax cab driver Rusbi Morales who lives on a hillside with his wife Leonarda and little daughter Dolce Estrillita, meaning "sweet little star." We had to drive through the center of Guatemala City. This is a huge city. I found interesting the "crazy corn" vendors who sold corn on a stick smeared in mayonnaise, ketchup, salsa, parmesan cheese and anything you’d put on a hot dog.

Rusbi and Leonarda Morales moved down from the Quetzaltenango area. He bought a plot of ground located on the edge of a ravine. With a pick and shovel he dug through the hillside and built his home. This is one of the homes in which we will be installing a concrete floor. From a member he is paying on an older auto that he uses as a taxi to make a living. He is developing a clientele, especially people who want a ride at night. People are becoming distrustful of night taxi cab drivers because some of the drivers have become robbers themselves!

Our next stop was the home of widow Flory Osorio. On December 31, 2000 she opened a small grocery out of her window that operates from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. She was able to quit her job at a factory and operate this store out of window in her home. If she’s not in the window area, customers can ring a bell and she or one of the children will come to the window to serve the patron. She is able to make more than at the factory and she says that her tithe has quadrupled since the store opened. Prices are usually a 20% markup on items such as eggs, beans, salt, snacks. LifeNets gave her seed money to stock the store and she’s been on her own ever since. They want to call the store either “Amy” or “The Little Store,” but are a bit reluctant to put up a sign as it might attract higher taxes by the revenuers.

Flory’s daughter Magdil is marrying Igor Rivis September 30. She also has children Bercier, Lidany and Milvia.

Then we went to the Letty (Leticia) Hernandez’s home. She had saved five years to buy a $2000 plot of land to build her home. She works as a seamstress. She cares also for her mother and her sister and children. We wish to help her complete the work on her home.

Then before going over to the home of deacon Avilio Perez and family, we stopped by a Hiper Paiz, a large supermarket in Guatemala City. It’s interesting to see all the guards carrying menacing looking rifles for protection. I am told that they are not shy about using the weapons if necessary.

We had dinner at the Perez’s. Avilio’s wife Gabriella is the church’s choir director. Daugther Lillian is a deaconess and a most capable lady who organizes many of the church’s functions. She is an accountant.

After eating all decided to sing a few songs. This included Saul and Carmen Langarica. The most special song was one composed by Saul’s father Alejandro that he was going to sing for the Festival in 1991 in Quetzaltenango, but died before he did. It was a song he composed about the Kingdom of God. Saul sang it a few years later at the Fall Festival.

We drove back to the Langarica home in the rain. At this rainy season time of year, it rains every evening.