Safety in San Raimundo, 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
Definitely one of the safest locations you could get, everyone loves white people. Lori, the ministry host, is known and respected by everyone, and everyone knows the Americans are with Lori.
San Raimundo is a pretty safe little town, especially on the side of it Morning Glory teams live on. We were asked to just be in by 7 ish. We felt very safe walking around the city, even in just groups of 2 girls. Just watch out for traffic . . . that will probably be your biggest issue here.
Ministry Summary
Ministry Summary in San Raimundo, 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
We worked with Morning Glory for the whole time. You won’t necessarily receive a legitimate role in the school and have to kind of find a place to hang out. We were asked to teach Bible class, and one of us taught an art class. I personally hung out in one of the first grade classes daily and it was so amazing. Lori and Rob are the ministry hosts. Lori started the school like fifteen years ago and runs it, and Rob handles mission groups. Lori and Rob are both super cool. When you’re not at school, you can hang out with the kids on the street, and sometimes Casas Por Cristo (a separate ministry) will have stuff for you to do (we helped them build a house, and we painted their building).
We worked with Morning Glory Christian Academy. It’s an awesome school owned by Mrs. Lori. Some of us taught English, but most of the ministry was just about playing with and loving on the kiddos. Lori is very into mentoring young women. She is so full of wisdom. I would suggest just getting as involved with the school as you can. We threw a dance and helped with a mother’s day celebration while we were there. Lori loves new ideas being brought to the table. I would give this ministry a 4. It is just a really great location with a really great host and the kids and ministry is super awesome.
Lodging
Lodging in San Raimundo, 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
We stayed in a super large house a few doors down from Lori’s house. It has like forty beds, every appliance you might need, a TV, showers and toilets and it is great. We believe the house has some mold in it and a lot of people had allergy problems/bronchitis. Lori did not charge us for housing.
Mrs. Lori, our ministry host, provided lodging for us in a largeish apartment style home. It is shared with other interns and short teams. There are several rooms with bunk beds, western toilets, and hot showers (if you can manage to not get electrocuted by the widow makers). Lori wasn’t going to charge for housing, but that might be different in the future.
Food / Meals
Food / Meals in San Raimundo, 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
When we didn’t eat out we got our food from the dispensa (a grocery store) and the market. There are a lot of good places to eat here. Our favorites were Tacos Orale, the yellow taco place in the square, Don Taco (past the dispensa), the Sports Bar (past the casas office), street tacos (by the casas office), and La Ceiba (a pizza place we got tired of quickly). You can also get ice cream at Neveria or Sarita, coffee at Coffee Home (owned by Andrew who is really cool, we went here almost daily), and crepes at this one crepe place by the Sarita. If you go anywhere go to Tacos Orale, Coffee Home and Don Taco.
While we have been here we have eaten a lot of vegetables, pasta and fruit. You can get pretty much everything either at the Dispensa or the local market. Our team went to La Ceiba for pizza a lot and right around the corner of La Ceiba is a little tienda owned by the cutest couple where you can get choco-bananos for only 1q.
We would go to the local grocery store (the Dispensa) and the market for food. We always stayed in budget and had more than enough to eat. Food $5ppd. We also went to eat at a local restaurant, but I don’t remember the name. We also made regular trips to Que Rely, an AWESOME hamburger fast food place, and La Neveria, an AWESOME cheap ice cream place.
Transportation
Transportation in San Raimundo, 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
Travel from Antigua to San Raymundo (if your host doesn’t pick you up, SQL travel, etc.): I took a minibus/van from Antigua to San Juan Sacatepéquez and then a chicken bus from San Juan to San Raymundo. (Note: There are chicken busses from Antigua to San Juan Sacatepéquez, but we were told they are not safe.) The minibus from Antigua was in a parking lot/street across from the soccer fields that are next to the bus depot by the market. (If you walk away from the market out of the bus depot and turn right onto that street, the minibusses will be on your left. If you can’t find them, just ask around for a minibus to San Juan Sacatepéquez.) I got on at 8:00am, but I’m pretty sure they leave several times throughout the day. It cost 20 Quetzales (which I believe was for two people, one being my pack) and dropped me off right at the bus depot in San Juan. From there I got right on a chicken bus to San Raymundo. It cost 5 Quetzales and took me to the heart of town, where I was picked up by our host.
Our contact picked us up from Hostal Antigueno in Antigua. To travel anywhere we either used the local bus system and chicken buses. The bus that takes you to the school where you do ministry is free for teams to use.
Medical
Medical in San Raimundo, Guatemala Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).
People’s Opinions
Over three months, all but one of us did not get minorly sick. A few were vomiting, a few had bronchitis, and one person had amoebas (he was pooping 24/7). Pretty much everyone has allergies, too. If you need to go to the doctor just contact Rob. Medicine at the doctor’a office is more expensive than at local pharmacies. You can also go to Lori if you have a problem and she’ll try to diagnose you but she was usually incorrect.
(With Morning Glory) Always contact either Rob or Lori if you have a medical emergency. Also, if you need to get parasite labs done, go to Laboratoria Fatima. 25Q. Also, I got tested for anemia (for reasons) and that test was 75Q.
Communication
Communication in San Raimundo, Guatemala Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
Cell Provider: Moviestar. Good reception. You can get internet minutes at a place right down from La Neveria. Internet: you will have wifi at the team house, but it is to be used only for simple stuff like google, facebook, and email due to bandwidth. No facetiming or skyping or streaming videos.
Financial
Financial in San Raimundo, Guatemala Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.
People’s Opinions
There is an ATM right outside the market but it wasn’t working half the time. The ATM in the dispensa or at the municipal building (in the square) are much safer bets.
There is a safe ATM ride beside the entrance to the market on the main street.
Translators
Translators in San Raimundo, Guatemala List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken
People’s Opinions
You’re pretty much on your own for this one. Rob can help translate when he is available and some of the teachers know a bit of English . . .
Off Days / Fun Activities
Off Days / Fun Activities in San Raimundo, Guatemala What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?
People’s Opinions
If you go anywhere go to Lake Atitlan. It was one of the highlights of Guatemala.
One weekend our team took a trip to Lake Atitlan, it was a little complicated to get there (we had someone drive us into the city, then we took three buses and a boat to get to our hostel) but it was fairly cheap and totally worth our time. If you can take a few days off and go there do it! It is gorgeous and so much fun. Just ask Lori to figure out how to get there.
One weekend we went to Antigua. We took the local bus to San Juan then a chicken bus to Antigua. Make sure coming back that you catch a chicken bus back to San Juan>San Raimundo before 4pm just to be safe. We missed the bus and had to get a taxi, then the taxi got lost . . . SO . . . if you get a taxi, contact Lori or Rob so they can get you one that actually knows their way to San Raimundo. We also went to Guatemala City. We went with Lori’s son and paid nothing because he was going there for school anyway. We hung out at the mall all day. It was fun.
Other Important Contacts
Other Important Contacts in San Raimundo, 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 San Raimundo, Guatemala Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?