January 24, 2014

what life is like


What is it like, you ask, to live in a 3rd world country with 2 small children? 

It's nice, sometimes.

It's hard, often.

It's worth it, always.



Our home is a typical local-style house. It's a second-story home on stilts with an open bottom. The stilts are concrete and the rest is made from wood. All the windows and the sliding glass door have metal grates on them for security. There is one larger room, the front room with a kitchen on one end. Off the front room are 3 small bedrooms. Amelia and Samuel each sleep in separate rooms unless we have company, then they sleep in one room together. Off the kitchen is a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower. The washing machine is in the kitchen and doubles as counter space most of the time. 

We sleep on a queen bed with a foam (which we have upgraded to a thicker, more comfortable 6" foam - yay!) and a bug net. Amelia and Samuel both have little zip-up tents they sleep in. 

We have a nice faux-leather sofa set and a kitchen table with 4 chairs - just the right size for our family. Our home is simple but comfortable and most days clean. 

Our food here is simple, nearly everything is made from scratch. With few exceptions, all of what we buy are ingredients rather than ready-made, instant food (I'm not above keeping mac and cheese in the cupboard for emergencies!). 

One difference from life in the US is how we travel. Todd often takes the bus to travel around. The bus is $80 per trip - about 40 cents US. Since I have the children with me, I call a taxi for rides, which are $400-500 per trip, US $2-2.50. If we end up in town long term we would like to get a car of our own. 

The things we miss the most are probably stable electricity, our own car, and our favorite comfort foods. Of course all that is second to missing friends and family. 

And that's a little more about life as missionaries in Guyana. 

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