Well as i was hanging on for life outside the sliding door of the bus/van I was thinking what i would write about. I decided that... i had no clue. no new stories really because due to the new change all we´ve done is visit members mostly and yet some how we have still found a lot of new investigators which is wonderful. and so since i didn't have any really great stories i thought id tell you just a little bit about the finances of the country and we´ll see where it goes from there. So, here in guatemala the worth of a dollar is about 7.5 quetzals. In other wards yes, if you came here for a vacation practically everyone from the states would be considered "rich". To give you an example of the worth here, we live off around 40 dollars a week. thats including food for the week, taking buses, and P-days which includes eating out, a lot more bus rides, paying for the soccer fields and internet. We do all of this for 40 dollars. One random example that still amazes me is that for one of those small bags of chips here its about 7 american cents. also a regular size water bottle is about 15 american cents. Also i can go out to eat for and get a chimichanga with beans rice a soda and a smoothie for a little under 4 american dollars. its pretty crazy. To give you an idea of your average income its around 2,000 quetz a month which is roughly
250 american dollars. Thats the AVERAGE income per month. You couldnt even afford an apartment to live in, in the states with that income let alone buy groceries and transportation. The quality of living is obviously VERY different. being here has really given me an amazing appreciation for my lifestyle that i have back at home. I´ll describe you you´re average house here. Absolutely NO ONE has any of the
following: washer and dryer, dish washer, completely sealed windows, carpet, or drinkable faucet water. about 50% of the houses have hot water. There is NO sewage system and there is ZERO A/C or heating systems. about 50% have four wheeled vehicles and zero percent might i add for the male teenagers have x-box´s or PS3s. I am not exaggerating(?) about any of those. It is a wonderful and easy lifestyle we live in the states and i hope that you are all VERY grateful for where you are right now. Im not saying this for you to feel bad for me or the people that live here im saying this so that you will appreciate a little more the next time you take a hot shower or walk on your carpet, drink from the faucet or drive your car to work. Well thats just a little of the lifestyle here and i´m loving it! i hope that i can be telling you a good story next week! Thank you everyone for the amazing love i have recieied in my life and thank you for being an influence on my life in one way or another. Love Elder Wimmer
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