Grocery Shopping in Guatemala

First, for a quick update on how the missionary "without a leg to stand on" is doing.  We went to the Doctor's office on Thursday the 23rd, and got the staples out.  Doctor Amenabar (with an accent over the second a) was very pleased and said that all was well and he will see us again in 4 weeks. 

Doctor Amenabar in his office

Elder Thompson keeping track of progress

Looking good and feeling better without the staples in.  Two weeks down, only 4 to go!!!

     Before President Burk came here a year ago, the Senior Temple Missionaries were on their own as far a grocery shopping was concerned.  They had to either walk to the nearby stores or hire a taxi to take them.  When President Burk became the temple president, he assigned two of the Senior Elders to drive his van, rotating each week, to take whoever needed grocery shopping.  Each Monday at 9:00 AM the van leaves the temple grounds for shopping at Walmart and Price Smart.  Whoever needs something can go.  If there are too many to fit into the van, then only one of  each couple can go.  We usually only need to go to these stores once a month to pick up case goods. 

This Walmart is bigger than the one in El Salvador and has a very good supply of everything.

This is like a Costco.  It is smaller than the one in El Salvador.

      We are very fortunate that we are young and healthy and can walk to three different stores locally whenever we are in need of something.  (as of two weeks ago anyway)  The loop that we walk goes past three different stores, depending on the way we take the loop.  We try to pick up a few groceries at a time so it is not so hard for "mi burro" to carry them home.  Lon puts on his back pack and away we go. 

This small mall is just about two blocks from us.  The Cemaco store is like an Ace Hardware.  This is where Elder Thompson found a kitchen sink sprayer and was able to hook it up to the shower so that he could wash my hair without getting the legs wet.  We bought his crock pot here also.  The mall has a small office supply store, a store called the Nauvoo where local people sell anything that they can make that pertains to "Mormons", a post office, a pharmacy, a Catholic store, a dry cleaners and several clothing stores.  In the parking garage in the basement is a small grocery store,  Yetro.

  This is the closest store to us.  They have just about anything, from groceries to cleaning supplies but not a big variety.  This is great if you just need a couple of things.  They seem to have the best variety of Campbells Soups in town. 

      If we need fresh fruits or vegetable, we like to go to La Torre

     It is the farthest from us so we try to be careful that Elder Thompson is not too loaded down for the walk home.  Their fresh fruits and vegetables are the best we have found and they have a very big selection.  Because it is so far from home, we usually only get the fresh things here as that is a big enough load. 

Paiz is the store that we use most often because it is closer.  It reminds us of Super Selectos in El Salvador.  They have a very good selection of most everything that we need.  It is located inside a mall, on the second floor.  We really haven't explored this mall yet, but they do have a POPS (ice cream), and a Pay Less Shoe store. 

     We have several pharmacies close by also and Elder Thompson has been able to find the prescriptions that I have needed these past two weeks.  We have the names and numbers of at least 5 taxies that are safe and reliable.  We feel like we are settled in and feel comfortable in the area we live and are looking forward to the temple opening again so we can get to know the people now. 

     Life is a routine for us, breakfast, exercise for me with the help of my dear companion, Lon takes a walk and does whatever shopping needs done while I read my scriptures and study my Spanish, lunch, Lon's turn to study and read while I either take a nap or read a book, supper, exercise for me again with the help of my dear companion, and bed.  Lon is not going stir crazy yet cause it takes a while to get me dressed, exercised and fed.  He is learning new cooking skills daily but will be ready for the temple to open on the 4th.  We miss it so when it is closed.  I know that I will not be able to start back until after the 6 weeks and then we will have to see if I can do a whole shift or not. 

     We know that our Heavenly Father is in charge and we are putting our faith and trust in Him.  He will guide us and strengthen us.  Life is good.  The road has a few pot holes and we have fallen into one of them but this trial will soon be over and we will have learned more about ourselves, each other, and our Savior.  We send our love to all.  You are in our prayers always and we thank you for yours in our behalf.  Love Dad and Mom, Grandma and Grandpa, Lon and Nancy