Back in Guyana

We have returned to Guyana, Our journey here was uneventful, but long. We left Buffalo at 3:15 PM on Tuesday and then had to wait at JFK until our flight left at 1:00 AM Wednesday morning. For some reason, I wasn’t able to get comfortable in my seat, so I hardly got any sleep on the flight. We arrived in Georgetown about 8:15 AM after about a two hour layover in Trinidad.

Once we had collected our baggage and gone through immigration, we walked out to a very comforting sight, namely our brother Gary Chung waiting to pick us up. From the airport we stopped by the branch office to say hello to everyone there, and then went on into Georgetown to run some errands (exchange money, pick up some grocery items, etc.) and then went to the home we will be staying in while we are in Georgetown. It is the same house we stayed at the very first time we came to Guyana, however a different couple is living there now.

Yesterday (Thursday), Gary came and picked us up at 9 AM to go back into Georgetown to take care of various affairs. We went by the licensing office to get driver’s licenses. In the past, we would get what was called a provisional license. They have done away with them and now we have applied for a regular driver’s license. We filled out the paperwork and submitted everything, hopefully next Wednesday we will be able to return and uplift the license.

We also went by the place where they sell motorbikes to see if the one we had looked at when we left was available. I was assured there we several of the bike available and they could be available on three days notice. However, in order to make the purchase, I would need to obtain a TIN (taxpayer identification number). So we also went by the main Post Office to apply for that. I was told it should be ready by Monday.

Since the living quarters that we will be occupying in Matthew’s Ridge is completely empty, and we were only able to bring two bags each on the airplane, we then started going around purchasing things we would need in Matthew’s Ridge, as they would either be much more expensive, or altogether unavailable there. We can to appreciate another benefit of our guide and driver Gary. He is involved with the purchasing department for the National Building Committee here (as opposed to Regional Building Committees), so he knew the best place to go for the various items we needed.

I still have one major hurtle to clear, namely getting everything from here to Matthew’s Ridge. In the past we have always flown into the interior. We have to pay about 80 cents a pound for all our luggage which is rather expensive, but we have always only had the four pieces we brought with us. Now we will have that, plus the motorbike, plus all the things we have been purchasing here in ‘town. I had just thought I’d just ship most everything in on the steamer and pick it up at Port Kaituma. However since then I have been told that if I want the bike to arrive without items missing, I will need to accompany it on the boat. I have heard stories about the 30 hour boat ride, and I am inclined to easily get seasick, so I am not sure how things will work out. I remind myself that I have never heard of anyone dying for seasickness, so it’s not that serious. But I know that when you are in the middle of it, you wish you would die. So that’s one detail that still has to be worked out.

One nice thing about where we are staying is we have nice internet access, so I will be able to keep the blog current. As is normal, I’ve included a couple of pictures. The first is one of our dear brother Gary picking us up at the airport. I’m including this so all those who decide to come and visit us (we already have three who have purchased their tickets) will be able to recognize him when he come to pick them up. Although he is very good at picking the friends out of the crowd. The other picture is a picture of the street where we are staying. Ours is the first house on the right.

Full disclosure

Well, here it is August 1st already! I hope things have gone well for you. I had said I’d have a post up the first of August, so here it is. In my last post, I had said I was going to make everyone wait until now to learn where we had been asked to serve this time. In the interest of complete honesty, the real reason was I didn’t know back then. When we had met with the brothers at the branch, they had said that they didn’t feel they could make a recommendation at that time, as there were so many variables that they didn’t know. So the way it was left was I would contact them a little before our return, at which time they would be in a better position to make their recommendation. So I got in touch with them a few weeks ago, and they said that while there is no question there is a need in Mabaruma (there are no appointed brothers in the congregation), at least there are enough there to encourage and assist one another, and the brothers that are there are able to keep things going. On the other hand, There is only one young brother in Matthew’s Ridge now trying to take care of everyone and everything by himself, and there is nearly as many attending meeting there as in Mabaruma. Therefore, their recommendation was that we go to Matthew’s Ridge, so Matthew’s Ridge it is.

We will be leaving here August 26th. We had expected to depart earlier, but the District Convention in Georgetown was pushed back until September 5-7, and we want to attend the convention before heading into the interior. So we will be spending a short two weeks in Georgetown. This will allow us time to make some preparations for Matthew’s Ridge. I am planning on purchasing a motor bike and shipping that in. I am hoping on regularly visiting Port Kaituma to try and encourage some of the ones there. As of now, there is nothing happening there. The only brother there, Sherwin, moved to Mabaruma, rather than try to handle everything there alone.

As you may know, there is presently no phone service in Matthew’s Ridge, so communicating from there is more of a challenge. It is my intent to continue to regularly post to this site, but pictures may be another matter, only time will tell. I will certainly do a couple of posts from ‘town before we head into the ‘bush’.

From Georgetown, we will travel to Mabaruma, both to say hello and good-by to everyone, and to collect all our things we left there. We will then get a boat to take everything, including our small freezer, up-river to Port Kaituma, where we will have to arrange transportation to Matthew’s Ridge.

Speaking of pictures, I really don’t have much to post, but since pictures are a treat, and may be more rare in the future, I thought I’d post up one to let you see that Terri has been working hard to stay in condition for Guyana.

And so the adventure continues.