Questions #1

Since the first day we learned we would be (officially) going to Guatemala we have been getting lots and lots of questions. We wanted to take some time to answer a few of them.

Below is a list of questions we received. Thank you to everyone that asked!

We have received support from friends and family. We are so grateful for the love many people have shown us.

As you may know, I'm adopted from Guatemala. What part are you going to?

We are going to Huehuetenango, about 6 hours West of Guatemala City.

Address? Number? City?

Fundacion Salvacion Contiguo al Estadio Kaibil Balam Zona 8 Huehuetenango, Guatemala

A phone number will not be the best way to get a hold of us. We can receive messages via this blog, Facebook, or Skype. We can also video chat via Skype, which will the best way to contact us and keep in touch.

Is this a forever gig or just a trial thing?

We are making a commitment to stay "long term" but don't have an exact number in mind.

We are going to help implement the transition the Fundacion is making into the new house parent model. This role is meant to be long term so a specific timeline is unknown, maybe forever!

I want to donate every month but I'm not sure how to.

We set up the blog so donations can be a single or recurring donation.

To donate:

Click the "donate" button under our photo.

If you have a specific intention for your donation put it in the "purpose box" (buy clothes, gifts for kids, monthly expenses, airline tickets, etc)

Put in the amount

If you want it to automatically be done every month just check the "Make This Recurring (Monthly)" box.

Recurring donations can be canceled from your paypal account at any time.

How will you make money to live off of?

Bob and I will have very few expenses. We will live at the Fundacion and be able to eat with the kids any time. We will be paid a small amount that will cover absolute basics (toiletries, medicine, food, etc)

We will be able to continue the online mineral business that we started last year (7continentsminerals.com). Heather currently does a bit of online work that she will be able to continue.

Other basic expenses will be covered by donations and outside support.

Is there a bank there?/How do you handle money there?

Yes, there are banks there. There are small banks and ATM's where we will be staying. We have used them many times in past trips through the country. The larger cities have bigger name banks like Santander. We will most likely use an on-line bank like PayPal or CapitalOne 360.

Will this give you an opportunity to adopt?

During our trip last year one of our friends said that by living in Guatemala and becoming an official resident you can potentially adopt. It would be about one and a half to two years to qualify for residency, plus who knows how much longer for paper work. Besides this we are uncertain.

That is definitely one of our long-term hopes/goals.

What is your biggest concern/how can we be praying for you?

Learning Spanish and quickly figuring out how to raise a half dozen or more children seems a bit overwhelming.

We will be attending an intense Spanish school when we arrive which will surely be stressful (mostly Heather is nervous about her ability with this one!)

Our immediate concerns will be paying off the remainder of our debt before we leave and saving enough money to be secure long term. Part of this involves finding recurring donors which we haven't ever had to do!

Do you know which kids you will be caring for?

We will be assigned a group of children after our "training period" of a couple months. The specific kids are unknown at this time.

Currently, the program is being built and house parents are being sought out.

How many shots do I need before visiting?

There are no required shots or medications to take to visit the region we are staying in. The city of Huehuetenango has very high elevation so many threats, like malaria, are not an issue.

All routine shots should be up to date to be safe. You can take medicines for Typhoid if you want to eat street food, but if you follow a careful diet and wash your hands properly this can be mostly avoided.

When we went the first year we only took medicine to prevent Typhoid. The second year we didn't take anything and we only got a 24 hour stomach bug once in the month we were there.

How many other house parents are there?

Right now there are two sets of house parents doing a "trial." When we arrive we will be taking the place of one set who have other responsibilities at the orphanage and School. The other parents will stay in their role.

The organization is actively looking for more house parents.

Are there other Americans helping with the kids?

The school currently employees an English-speaking teacher for every grade, plus a music / gym teacher, as well as administrative staff. Many of them are from America, but some have been from other countries as well.

There are also several volunteers coming to the school, usually several each month. There are also Guatemalan teachers that teach core subjects and do most things at the Fundcaion.

Do you know how many American's live in Guatemala?

In the city of Huehuetenango, any American is most likely with the school or the orphanage.

Will you have access to internet any time?

There is wi-fi at the school and where we will be staying. It's usually reliable and we've never had any issues with it in the past.

Any supplies I should be looking for that I can send once you get there?

Children's books, basic toiletries, diapers for the baby room, games and kids toys, sports stuff (Soccer!), good quality shoes, etc. I'm sure we will have a list when we arrive of items we can't think of right now!

What type of animals are in Guatemala?

In the area we will be living, sadly, there are lots of wild dogs and cats. Birds are every where and up in the mountains are giant nasty worms. In other more tropical areas are Jaguars, Armadillos, Monkeys, Ant-Eaters, etc.

The National Bird of Guatemala is the Quetzal.

Do most people drive cars?

Yes, lots of people drive cars or scooters. Many people also ride bicycles or walk.

What do kids wear on their feet? Or do they go barefoot?

The kids have nice dress shoes they wear to school along with a uniform. They have regular shoes for play time, slippers, sandals, etc. Rain Boots are a favorite.

How much rain do they get?

It has only lightly rained a couple times when we've been there, though there is supposed to be a "rain season" from May until October. Lots of sunshine and always around the high 60's or 70's. It gets very cold at night because of the high elevation.

Can they grow gardens?

Yes, incredible gardens! Some with Cacti, Banana trees, Papaya trees, Chocolate trees, Guava bushes, Corn, etc.

There's also a garden at the Fundacion where the kids plants fruits and vegetables.

#questions #new #guatemala