Thankfully, there wasn't a whole lot to move this time. I mean, pretty much everything we own down here fits into this:
Oh - except for our furniture and appliances.
Did you know you kind of have to have furniture and appliances to live? (Well, to live comfortably at least...) Our first home here (an apartment) came "fully" furnished - by which I mean we had a very small, old, uncomfortable living room set; sagging, ancient, uncomfortable beds; and a refrigerator that broke down unexpectedly and took a week to get fixed. (And then there was the shower...)
We really aren't complaining, though. It was a soft place to land when we arrived, and much more luxurious than what most people Guatemala have. Honestly, even with all of those frustrations, we seriously considered just staying in our apartment for the duration of our time here.
But - it was kind of out on the far edge of town. And, we were isolated there, and didn't have many opportunities to talk with (and learn from) our Spanish speaking neighbors. And, there was no room to host people, which we love to do and want to have as a part of our ministry. And, because of the layout and furniture, it wasn't really all that easy or comfortable to spend time together as a family. And, we didn't sleep well there. And, and, and... you get the point.
So - we prayed about it and really felt like it was best for us to move, which meant we had to buy a whole lot of stuff.
That was very scary...
First off, it's scary because everything is harder in Guatemala, and the thought of doing big stuff is especially terrifying. And, while I do love the hunt for a good bargain, that's not as much of an option here. Second-hand items are VERY used, still pretty expensive (usually 60% to 80% of its 'new' price) and much more likely to break or wear out. So, in my quest for furnishings, I had to either spend weeks searching for bargains, and put up with things failing apart and needing to be replaced frequently; or, put aside my natural inclination to buy the cheapest available options, and actually go to a furniture store.
I chose the latter.
That was scary too. Let me assure you - sticker shock is a very real thing, especially when you're a missionary living off the financial support of other people. There are no words to express how utterly grateful we are for our supporters. But, there are also no words to express how strongly we desire to be good stewards of that support. (You can tell why shopping was a conflicting experience.)
Thankfully, God is gracious, and well able to provide both enough finances, AND good Guatemalan friends with a spectacular aptitude for haggling. (If this was an Olympic sport, they would totally win the gold.) Though there was a wide range in prices for the items I needed, I was grateful to find that the cheaper stuff was still pretty good quality and a good fit for us. Also, there wasn't a single item that I bought that didn't end up being close to half off the listed price because of my friends' insistence - and the store even threw in free delivery and a blender and microwave before it was all said and done.
So, we're now the proud owners of a Jeep/car top carrier worth of stuff, PLUS a refrigerator, stove, a couple of small kitchen appliances, two beds, and a living room set. (The latter still hasn't arrived. But, since it's only two weeks past when the store *promised* they'd deliver it, I'm fully confident it will arrive in at least the next month or two. We do live in Guatemala, after all...)
In many ways, the two months we spent in our first apartment were kind of like an introduction and orientation to Xela. We were surviving. We were learning. But, we are really just now beginning to live here. That means that, in addition to the big things we had to buy, we're also finding a million little things that we need for our daily living, and to make us more effective in the ministry God sent us to Guatemala to do.
You know - things like dish towels. Baking dishes. Flour, yeast, baking soda and powder. Hydrogen peroxide and bandaids. Extension cords. Pillows, sheets, and blankets. Strange things that you don't really have to think about that often (or, at least, not all at once) once you've already set up a household. So, we make frequent trips to Walmrt, Maxi Dispensa, and Cemaco (kind of like a Bed Bath and Beyond mixed with an Ace Hardware).
I'm looking forward to the day when our shopping list *only* has grocery items on it once again! Still, even though it's challenging to find everything we need (dish drainers and mixing bowls, for example, are hard to come by), and it's very hard to spend money rebuying all these things that we already owned in Iowa, it's also tremendously satisfying.
God has been sooooooo good to call us to this beautiful city and allow us the privilege of ministering here on His behalf. He has been good to give us this house to live in, and the resources to set up housekeeping here. But, most of all, He's been so good in blessing this place with His presence, so that it's become more than just a house filled with things - it has become our home.
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