Ok you got it!

Thank you for your comments folks - happy to carry on  - it will probably be only a monthly report of our doings so I should be able to come up with something interesting to read (there's never really a dull moment in Ecuador).

We leave NZ on the 26th of July - scarily close now - and are off on a little tour of South America for 3 weeks before we settle down again in Cuenca. I am so looking forward to being in a house again and being settled, this last year has been quite topsy turvy for us so bring on the Ecuadorian tranquility!

Hopefully I will have some interesting photos of our trip to post but until then - hasta pronto mis amigos!

Ecuador here we come -again!

I have been asked a number of times over the last few weeks about whether or not I will be continuing with this blog now that we are going back to Ecuador....if you hadn't heard that then yes it is true - in exactly one months time we will be on a plane bound for South America again - it will take us about 3 weeks to get back to Cuenca as we are taking a little tour through a few countries on the way. I had decided that, no I wouldn't be blogging again as nothing will be new and exciting this time - so my feeble brain might not be able to come up with anything interesting however some have told me it is the only way they ever get to hear about whatever happened to the James so maybe?

Hence the poll question...what do you reckon?

Copied this from GringoTree Cuenca - thought some of you may appreciate it

GringoTree Survey: Cost of Living

January 18, 2013

We received 282 responses and hundreds of specific and general comments. Thanks, as always, to everyone who took the time.

Not all respondents answered all questions, which skews the percentages a little.

Of the 282, 240 respondents are from Cuenca. Vilcabamba and the coast logged 6 each, Quito 5, Salinas 4, Loja 3, Cotacachi 2, and the rest miscellaneous.

279 people answered the rent/own question, with 203 renters (73%) and 76 (27%) owners.

Exactly 100 (just under 50%) renters pay $300-$499 per month. Another 32 (15%) pay $500-$599, while 16 (8%) pay $600-$699, 13 (6%) pay $700-$799, 12 (7%) pay $800-$999; and 6 (3%) pay $1,000 and up. At the other extreme, 27 renters (12%) pay $100-$299.

Of properties owners, 29 (35%) pay no building or neighborhood fees, while another 20 (24%) pay up to $75 per month. Ten (12%) pay $76-$99, 15 (the largest percentage at 18%) pay $100-$149, and 9 (10%) pay $150 or more.

For utilities (electricity, gas, water, and landline) the vast majority, 173 (76%) pay $50-$74. Another 45 (20%) pay $75-$149. And the rest pay $150 and up.

For Internet, 14 respondents (6%) get away for less than $20, while 137 (60%) pay between $20 and $49, and 57 (25%) pay $50-$74. The rest pay $75 and up.

Not quite half of the respondents (61/41%) pay more than $50 per month for cable/satellite TV. The rest are as follows: 29 (19%) pay $40-$49; 21 (14%) pay $30-$39; 17 (12%) pay $20-$29; and 20 (14%) pay $10-$19.

For cell phones, fully 67% of respondents, 174 people, pay between $10 and $29 per month. Another 38 (15%) pay $30-$49 and 16 (6%) pay $50-$74. 7 people, just under 3%, pay $75 or more per month. 24 people (9%) don’t own cell phones.

As for food and groceries, not surprisingly, 103 shoppers always shop at SuperMaxi, with another 136 shopping there sometimes and 17 rarely. Only 34 people always shop at Coral, though 111 shop there sometimes and 36 rarely. 3 people always shop at GranAki, 23 sometimes, and 62 rarely. 50 shop at mercados always, while 134, the largest block of responders to this question, shop at them sometimes, and 27 rarely. Finally, it’s 23 people always, 86 sometimes, and 50 rarely at the tiendas.

The shopping question had an “Other” box, which received 59 responses. Also not surprisingly, 34 people (58%) cited the Coopera. Other “Others” included: Comisariato (3), SuperStock (2), and Tia, Feria Libre, MegaTienda, and street vendors. One goes all the way to shop at the “local stores in Lansing, Michigan.”

For food and groceries, 134 respondents (just under 50%) spend between $50 and $99 per week. 78 shoppers (just under 25%) spend more, while 37 (not quite 14%) shell out $20-$39 and 8 (3%) pay $10-$19.

The following question, on dining out, also surveyed expenses per week: 76 people (28%) spend $19 or less; 120 (45%) spend $20-$49; and 71 (almost 27%) spend more than $50 per week at restaurants and bars.

Transportation expenses are generally low. Per month, 187 people (nearly 72%) spend less than $50; 43 people spend $50-$99; and the other 31 pay $100 and up.

57 people (roughly 20% of total respondents) own their own cars. 27 of them, just under 50%, pay between $50 and $99 per month on gas, repairs, insurance. 12 (21%) pay less than $50, while 13 pay $100-$199, and 5 pay more than $200.

For helpers (housekeepers, gardeners, and cooks), just under half of respondents (117) pay nothing. The other half are pretty equally divided between $1-$49 and $50-plus.

The question, “What else do you spend money on and how much per month?” received 156 comments, which included, but weren’t limited to (in a rough expense order):

• high school and college students close to $4,000 per semester
• mortgages $1,500
• visa application $750
• school 2 children $600
• travel $100/$5,000
• medication $75-$100/$120/$300-$400/$160/$60
• health insurance $100/$71/$58/$330/$210/$110
• medical $100/$75/$40/$200/$110/$80
• farm caretaker $450; worker Social Security $59
• acupuncture $300
• alcohol $200/$150/$75/$60/$250
• church $150
• homeowners insurance $120
• salon $120
• clothing, shoes $100
• entertaining $100
• music classes $90
• Spanish lessons $75/$32/$28/$85
• elementary school $70
• sponsor school children $70/$45/$25
• e-books and New York Times (Internet) $80
• veterinarian/grooming $60/$20/$50
• pet food $20/$30/$100/$40
• art lessons $75
• horseback riding $60
• entertainment $50/$25
• gym $50/$20
• dance lessons $45
• art $25/$50/$75
• Club Correos $40
• cooking classes $40
• yoga $30
• movies $20
• laundry/dry cleaning $15/$20/$10/$30
• DVDs $10/$20
• alarm system $15
• cigarettes $3.20 per pack
• flowers $4/$18/$50-$60

Finally, one wag wrote: “acholic” $30.

To summarize:

• almost 90% of renters pay between $100 and $699 per month.
• 72% of property owners who shell out fees pay no up to $99 a month.
• 76% of respondents pay $50-$74 per month for utilities.
• 91% pay no more than $74 for Internet, with most paying between $20 and $49.
• 59% pay $49 or less for cable/satellite TV, though fully 41% pay more.
• Of 235 cell-phone owners, exactly 3 out of 4 pay $10-$29 per month.
• 67% pay up to $99 a week in groceries, while 73% spend up to $49 per week dining out.
• 72% spend less than $50 per month on transportation.
• Of car owners, 70% pay less than $100 a month.

Taking a rough pass over all the numbers, it looks to us like an average couple that rents ($500 + $60 utilities), has fast Internet ($50), cable ($50), and cell phones ($30), shops at SuperMaxi and the mercados including the Coopera ($350), and doesn’t own a car, spends in the neighborhood of $1,100 per month for these basics.

Which brings us to the question, “How much do you spend every month?” which received 208 responses.

Some people provided a range ($1,200-$1,500, for example), which we averaged. There were also a few extreme highs ($7,000 including tuition for several high school and college attendees; two $5,000, one $4,500) and lows ($200, $300, $350), but we figure they washed.

Sixteen didn’t provide a number, writing things like, “I try not to look,” “I never add it up,” and “Still too much.” So that lowered the total to 192. 

Adding it all up and dividing by 192 (with a slight margin for cross-eyed errors), the average -- drum roll, please -- comes to $1,198. Pretty close to our $1,100, plus $100 in miscellaneous expenses as cited above.

The last general-comments question attracted 74 responses.

A number of you took us to task for fatal flaws in the survey methodology (no accommodation for size of household; week-month differentials; some people own and don’t include rent in the calculations, etc.). We plead guilty as charged. We don’t pretend our surveys are scientific, though they’re certainly instructive (and amusing, at least to us).

A couple people copped to spending way too much on alcohol.

A few planned to move from the (expensive) city to the cheaper (campo).

More than a few railed against the consistently low cost of living promoted by the Internet hypesters.

Here are just a few representative responses.

“Don’t move here to save money. Move to Mexico if money is your concern.”

“Cuenca is beautiful. But it’s not so cheap.”

“Our costs for obtaining visa and cédula are much higher than we expected. To date, we have spent $4,500 and we don't have the cédula yet.”

“All the reports of Cuenca's costs are consistently too low, resulting in many expats coming here briefly, then leaving after a few months. Thanks for trying to stop this heart-breaking misinformation!

You’re welcome. We hope these numbers, from more than 250 local households, infuse some measure of reality into outside perceptions of the cost of living in Cuenca.

NZ District Convention 2013

Hi folks, me again - just thought I would share this beautiful ending to the Special District Convention we have just had. Thankfully someone else videoed as I had forgotton my camera - imagine that, how could I do such a thing. Anyway I am sure the brother or sister that posted this to Youtube won't mind me sharing it with you. The convention was just awesome, very faith strenghtening, and this was the perfect finish to it.

BTW there were 4 convention sites with a total of 20,000 attendance and 138 baptised

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4haOMgTZnjo -if you want to watch it again - video from the actual venue)

It happens in NZ too....

Hola Hola!

I just have to tell you this experience - a little over a month ago I received a phone call asking me to go and see a girl who had rung the KH asking for a study. We called around the next day and had the most text book study you could ask for. The lovely young lady had received the BT book about 3 years ago but had only started reading it about 3 months ago - realized it was the truth and so gave up smoking and then called for someone to help her actually study. 

Well that was mind blowing enough but  last week she texted me to say that as she wanted to "do the truth 100%" she would be leaving her partner. Of course I tried to explain that really Jehovah wanted to see them serving him as a family and how perhaps "C" might want to learn how to have a truly happy life too. Well after a few more texts back and forth - she sent me one saying Jehovah had answered her prayers and they were ready to do this as a family!! 

We had our first study with them both tonight and we are so blown away by the interest shown also by "C". He said how deeply moved he was by the fact that even though there is a shortage of bibles here in NZ (no doubt due to the change over etc to the Australian branch) - we had given "K" one of our own bibles so that she could have a copy. Isn't it funny what affects someone? They were planning on coming to the meeting this Sunday but something has come up so will be making there first one the next week. Awesome aye?

What a privilege it is to be able to help these two - I will keep you posted as to their progress. 

Gidday (typical kiwi greeting there) - perhaps we have been here too long -hehe!

So I just wanted to post something quick because every so often I check the comments on this blog (even though we haven't really been on air, I can see the views from all around the world and it is nice to know that it is still attracting some like minded folks). Any hoo - just recently Claudette and Shirley and JC said they would like some further information/contact details. You can email me at marcosybet@gmail.com and fire away any questions. If I don't know the answer, then I am sure Aaron and Amanda (who as most know are still in Cuenca) will be able to help. In the meantime I wish you well on your endeavors to move where the need is great - you won't regret your decision to do so.

Quick update on us while I am here. Happily Mark finished the service year (and his time) on a high - his last call was with an Ecuadorian!! On Thursday we also had a lovely visit with a Mexican lady who has just been in the country 4 weeks. She has some strange ideas but is happy to be able to speak spanish with someone - who knows where it will lead.

I am employed again - at my old job in the bank (talk about being sucked back into our old life) - it is casual work but I seem to be getting enough to keep Mark in the style he has become accustomed to, so that is good. It also means that if I don't have to fill in for anybody - I can still go out witnessing with Mark during the week. I can be thankful the bank wanted to employ me again actually, because being a little bit older now, and in the economic climate, work is not so easy to come by here. Jehovah really has looked after us.

Not only is it the new service year today but it is also the first day of spring here in NZ. Looking forward to some warmer weather and fresh spring veggies.

Been a LONG time

Ok I just had to share an awesome experience.

Wednesday: Amanda meets a young guy (maybe 16?) in a resturant who says his brother is interested, and that he is too. Amanda comes out on to the street, gets me to go in and talk to him, and I make arrangements to do a study with him on Friday.

Friday: After the group, me and a local bro go to visit. Turns out the young guy is not there... but the older brother pokes his head out from the kitchen and says he has questions and can we stay. We of course do. He wants to know about Micheal the Arcangel, and so we study the index in the BT on who he is. (he pulled out a well worn copy of the BT and said he had read it all) His mum also wants to know. For some funny reason they belive that there are three Arcangels, Micheal, Gabrieal and Rafael. (anyone heard of that before???) Anyway we finish up arranging the next study to start at the beginig of the book on monday. I ask him if he is interested in coming to the meetings and he says "no estoy en acuerdo con ustedes, entonces no quiero." (Im not in agreement with you guys, so I dont want to) "no worries" i say... "but you still want to study" "yes".

Monday: Amanda and I arrive, and the whole family is there. Young brother, Older Brother, Mum and Dad. (Dad just sits in the background lisning) and we study the first half of chap 1. we were there 1.5 hours but mum and dad had to leave halfway though para hacer compras. After we arrange study for Wedsday (today)

Wednesday: Me and Morgan go (NZ bro who cant speak any spanish yet) and only Older brother is there. But we have an awesome study finishing the first chapter in 1.5 hours. After the study, prayer and all, we start having some casual talk, about sports and guitar etc, but HE brings it back to spiritual things and says "Que nesecito hacer a ser un testigo de Jehová?" (what do I need to do to be a Jehovah's Witness?" wow i was blown away. I told him again about the meetings and he wants to come!

What a change in less than a week! I couldnt belive he went from saying he didnt agree with us to wanting to be one of us!!!! not to mention he is wanting 3 studys a week? still unbelivable to know our teritroy is being covered every 2 weeks and finding people like him! 

I would just also like to say that we were having lunch with a local family last sunday, and they told us that only in 1979, Cuenca had only a small group of witneses. Not even a congregation. And now we have around 40 only 33 years later! Some sources have told me there is an anual growth of %15 here in Cuenca. Amazing. (if anyone knows any more acurate figues please corect me) There is a massive need for qualified brothers here.... so if you have the curcumstances... come on over! weather its to preach, or to help in the cong!