Safety in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
So casa verde has changed buildings since Marielle Moguel was there on 8/1/2014. Casa Verde now rents the building where the man was shot. Although that does sound alarming, i never felt unsafe at the location. Be aware that Paul Tanetti, does come into the compound at random times during the night. When he wakes you up accidently, it can be alarming. He has good intentions but it can catch you off guard. I’d recomend asking if he plans to that the first night you are there. I felt safe to walk to the mall and the women on our team walked in twos and were out at the movies with ministry consent much later than 9 o’clock.
A man was shot at the tienda next to Casa Verde one night while we were there. It happened at 10:00 pm and we were very thankful for the rule that nobody is allowed out after 9:00 unless you are in the van coming back form church ministry. It is a rule worth strongly enforcing.
Ministry Summary
The WR team worked with a local church named El Cavario(Pastor Willy). The team was involved with leading church services. They also helped with a local radio station that wasn’t on air at the time. They did ministry with other YWAMers(on their DTS outreach), painted schools and churches, worked in a local village and found another contact on a nearby island called Livingston. There is also a local park where kids play soccer/futball and basketball almost every night of the week. Great opportunity to build relationships.
Ministry Summary in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Breakthroughs? Suggestions? Concerns? On a scale of 1-4 (1 being not at all, 4 being absolutely) how strongly would you recommend another World Race team go to this ministry location & why?
People’s Opinions
I would rate this as (1). I don’t want to discourage other racers if you are going here, but I am not going to lie to you either. If you come here, be prepared to offer a lot of feedback for Paul and Hilda. Be prepared to be very graceful and actively pursue a relationship with Paul and Hilda. Hindsight is 20-20. If I had it to do over again, I’d suck it up and start trying to impress upon Paul and Hilda what relationship ministry looks like. Communication will be a challenge due to the fact that the communication between Hilda and Paul is lacking. But put your head down and go for it! Activate your patience and grace like you never have before.
Email me at p.diff@yahoo.com if you’d like to recieve the one month summary I wrote for my team leader and AIM. it was intended to give a clear picture of the minstry and encourage AIM to further asses whether it is healthy for future racers to serve at Casa Verde.
Lodging
The main contact, Paul Tonetti, (paul.tonetti@gmail.com or paul@tonetti.us) has a home and radio station in one. It is provided with a hot shower, western bathroom, one room that fits about 4 people and two couches in a small living area. There is a full kitchen provided. If group is larger, Paul could possibly house more in a house near his. Need to contact Paul for more information reguarding groups larger that five.
Lodging in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Where did you stay? What were the accommodations (sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc.)? Cost (per person per night in USD), Contact info.
People’s Opinions
The casa verde we stayed at was a compound with a front and back door. The wall are about 15 feet high and the compound is probably about 1 acre. Two showers, two toilets provide for very good plumbing. The compound is outside with a tin roof covering. it will be very hot. There are three dorms for lodging. Two rooms have bunk beds. there will hopefully one fan for each room. Don’t worry about buying fans because there is only one outlet. Our fans are still there. If they are gone, you can buy fans down at the market in Puerto Barrios.
Teams are all now staying in Casa Blanca which is a couple doors down from Casa Verde (where the Tonettis live and the radio station is housed). There are several rooms that are very hot and stuffy (bring or be ready to buy a fan). There is one outdoor shower and one outdoor bathroom as well as combined bathroom and shower outdoors with western toilets.
Update: Jan/2014 Casa Verde is now renting a house adjacent to the original house. There are no hot showers. The rented house has 5 rooms a lot of living room floor space. There are 2 bathrooms indoors and 2 outdoor.Costs for the size of WR group: $15/day USD *Includes lodging, transportation to ministries, and 3 meals a day.
Food / Meals
The team will live right next to a Maxi Bodega (owned by Wal-Mart). If staying with main contact, a full kitchen will be provided. Pollo Camero seemed to be a popular spot for ice cream, chicken, and air conditioning. There is a local taco stand in downtown Santo Thomas that is very inexpensive.
Food / Meals in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala What did you eat? Where did you get the food? Cost (per person per day in USD)? Contact info (if applicable).
People’s Opinions
We ate at Casa Verde. They were paid a month in advance for our meals. I do not recomend this. Ask AIM if you can control your food budget and do what you can to get access to the kitchen rather than having Casa Verde prepare your meals. This was a hard food month and it left us wondering where our food budget went. We were allotted $5/day/person. It wasnt the lack of money though. I did some investigating around town and realized we could have purchase our own food at the market. It would have been a much more favorable situation if and only if they would allow us to use the kitchen.
Casa Verde provided all of our meals everyday if we chose to eat there. There is also nearby, within a 5 minute walk, a mall with a food court, Pollo Comparo, and McDonalds. If you chose, you could take a bus to the market place to eat at the restaurants there. There are also many Sarita stores (ice cream) nearby and small snack foods stores on the way to the mall.
Transportation
Take a bus from Guatemala City. Litegua Bus will take you directly to Puerto Barrios. Six hour bus ride. (approx. $13).
Taxi’s are 5Q per person. They run in a circuit, so just hop in! Buses take longer to get around and will cost 3Q.
Transportation in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
The information above is accurate.
Medical
Medical in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).
People’s Opinions
Del Carmen is the local private hospital. Service is fast and professional. Doctor during night shift spoke English.
Our group went to the hospital for:
allergic reactions after being bitten by bugs. * Be careful when taking out the trash
X Ray for sprained ankle
Pharmacies: Many 24 hour pharmacies over the city. Look for the Blue and Yellow signs.
Communication
Communication in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
claro is the phone of choice. best internet is at the coffee shop called Kaffa- take a taxi to the park at puerto barrios. Get off at the park. Walk to the end of the block. buy something to use the internet. other internet is a pollo compero in puerto barrios. its across from the market and around the corner from Kaffa.
We used the service CLARO.Service was hit or miss. Our group had issues with text messages.Costs: 25Q for the sim card and 1Q per minute.=Claro to Claro calling should be free.
Financial
Financial in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.
People’s Opinions
The atms are safe. They are gold and blue and are called 5 Banco.
We were told that Mastercard would not work. It doesn’t at stores and restaurants, but there area few ATMs in the mall that take it. Also, transferring cash to quetzales can be a pain in the banks because they do not carry a lot of USD.
Translators
Translators in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken
People’s Opinions
Fernando is the man. He hangs out a lot and is there completely on a volunteer basis so be good to that man. Fernando works as a tour guide for a living, so be aware that some days, dude is a little worn out. If you are there in November, he might not be there as much due to tourist season. There are three-four teenage guys named Taylor, Cache, and Harson. They might refer to them as translators. They are an opportunity for ministry and you will have great time with them. However, they do not speak english. Great dudes though.
Fernando works with Paul and Hilda and is a great help.
Off Days / Fun Activities
Placencia, Belize for weekend off
Rio Dulce -another place to enjoy
Livingston from wikitravel
Off Days / Fun Activities in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?
Other Important Contacts in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Additional ministry opportunities, local pastors, etc. Relationship & follow up suggestions
People’s Opinions
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Tips
People’s Opinions
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Additional Info
Additional Info in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
People’s Opinions
Walk next door!!!!!!! The Morales family lives next door. They have dinner for sale every night. The menu options range from $3 to $7 american and its awesome! Plus the family is awesome. Marvin, the dad, is about to resign from his restaraunt management job, move home, and turn the property in to a restaraunt called “la ponderosa”. I’ll leave the rest up to you. It would make an amazing ministry if the world race could pay for lodging at casa verde and then help marvin build “la ponderosa” . Marvin will tell you more but God gave him the vision for the restaraunt. It will be a church in the form of a restaraunt. And if you want, his two boys would love if you would go teach them more english. I started an ABC notebook…..its waiting on you.
When attending church, be ready with testimonies, dramas, and worship music. If someone plays guitar, bring it.