Carrying on in the Casa

Life for us at Casa de Esperanza has settled into a somewhat predictable routine. I can't express how pleased I was with the way they carried on while I was in the US.  Many asked me who was taking care of the boys while I was gone, and I'd respond, "They're adults!  They should be able to take care of themselves."  And the did so wonderfully.

Fidel and Alberto continue to study two days a week with Profe. Ray.  They also sit in on theater classes at a local community center two days a week while Miguel and Tony take English class.  The English class is on the second floor of the building and inaccessible to the guys in chairs.  The director of the program, though, has told them she will try to get a ramp built for them before classes start again next year.  This would be a boom to many in Antigua who cannot attend these adult ed. classes.

I teach three days a week at Nueva Vida (New Life) in Santa Maria.  We go to market on Monday and Saturday.  Laundry and dishes are never ending tasks, and while we do have a washing machine, hanging out the clothes to dry can be a challenge in rainy season.  I have a load on the line that has gone up and down for three days, avoiding rainfalls.  As I write it, this all sounds kind of boring. . .but so is the rhythm of daily life, whether in the US or Guatemala.

There are things that liven up our lives, though.

Rainy season is here and we have had our first "tropical depression" which brought tons of rain to Antigua.

This gave our house, along with a number of our friends' homes, an "inside water feature" when our gutters could not handle the rainfall and overflowed into the house.












Miguel and I spent nearly a full Monday sweeping water out of the house and into the patio before the storm moved on to Mexico.  It would have been much worse if it hit landfall here.








It wasn't like we could really go anywhere anyway!   They are installing a new drainage system into the area south of town, but, as you can see, they aren't finished yet.  Even the streets in the main part of town were full of water, making it almost impossible to get through without a truck.  Our guys couldn't go out with their power chairs for a couple of days, and were beginning to get cabin fever.

As with many "open concept" homes here (open concept means the individual rooms open to the outdoors) we face continual struggles with insects, and I've gotten used to battling ants and even roaches.  However, the bat that decided to try to take up residence with us kind of freaked me out.  Tony managed to dispatch with it quickly, however.

I'm happy to say that we have been able to support the local economy and make Antigua  repairmen quite happy.  First, the car wouldn't start, and we discovered that about 60% of the teeth on the flywheel were broken off.  Dick tells me this almost never happens but it happened to us.  So the car has been in the shop almost a month while waiting for parts and repairs.  Hopefully, I'll get it back tomorrow.

We also have had some of our appliances try to switch personalities. . .our dryer blows cold air and our refrigerator was heating up.  Both of these were bought used less than six months ago from the same appliance repairman recommended by a friend. . .needless to say we have a new appliance repairman!  I've grown in respect for how difficult it is for so many families who live without refrigerators after spending a few days without one myself.  Daily market trips become a way of life very quickly.


The boys have been challenged as well.  Alberto's wheelchair wouldn't charge, but thanks to Dick's speedy service, he was up and running after just a few days.  Fidel learned anew that getting around town in a power chair can be a bit difficult, especially when the guys decide to go up to Cerro de la Cruz (a high hilltop overlooking Antigua)  in the late afternoon, after he has used his chair to get around all day.  Not to be denied the trip to the top, however, the guys pushed him the rest of the way to the top when his batteries ran out of juice.

I don't think that thought about how difficult the return trip would be.  They had quite the time keeping the heavy chair from speeding down the hill without benefit of the motor to brake it.  They did manage to get pictures, though, so it must not have been too overwhelming.

 Spring cleaning was a group chore.  I didn't realize how much dust accumulates here until Miguel climbed up on top of the closet to sweep it down.

It was such a strenuous task that he had to take a rest break afterwards.  (Cleaning house with young men is always a hoot!).







We are down one resident since Calin moved back to Chimaltenango after the first semester of school.  It was difficult for him to adapt to the differences in the expectations of the private school he attended here after spending 9 years in Guatemalan public schools.  Then, too, he was quite homesick.  His mother had surgery and was not able to do many things around the house and he was worried about her.  His grandmother who also lived with the family had been quite ill.  He feels great responsibility towards his family, and had become Grandma's caregiver until she died last Sunday.  Please pray for this family as they mourn the loss of their matriarch.  She was grandma as well to Fernando and a number of Dick's young men.  

 Finally, no report on our house would be complete without a mention of the World Cup games going on.  Our meal schedule has been rearranged to accommodate some popular teams' games, and I'm sure the electric bill will go up with the added TV watching.  Each guy has their favorite, and all of Guatemala is stopping whenever Spain, Argentina or Costa Rica play.  Some of the guys from Chimaltenango have joined us to watch.  I have to admit, I usually go to my room when the games are on. . .I don't need to be watching to know who is winning. . .the sounds from the living room give my continual updates on the score, as well as the announcers loud, "Gooooool!" whenever one is scored.