This year we have two items to get into Guatemala. One is a newer drill rig that was donated and repaired for service. The other is a container full of equipment to support the drilling efforts and things for the orphanage campus. In November, I was in Guatemala and spoke to the Mayor of the municipality of Poptun. I enlisted his help in trying to get the container and rig into the county without paying duty (which we expect could be about 22,000.00 for both). The amount of duty is always an elusive figure until you are standing in the Customs office. There is usually a “problem” that comes up at the last moment and you are not really in a good position to negotiate. You try to solve the “problem” and money is usually the solution. That is just the way it is.

This year, the shipper arraigned for the rig to go from Houston to Puerto Barrios on the east coast of Guatemala and the container to be sent by rail freight and ship to the west coast of Guatemala and then across the county to Puerto Barrios. We received word that the rig was in Puerto Barrios just before the New Year and the container is scheduled to arrive there on the 23rd of January. When the rig arrived in Puerto Barrios without the container, the Customs officials believed that the container had been stolen in- route or that some form off illegal importation was afoot. The rig was seized and impounded. The locks on the tool boxes were somehow hammered off and the contents inspected. Once they learned that the container was still on the way, the officials relented.

Gary Bartholomew arrived at Guatemala City one day late due to the weather problems here in the States. Literally within hours of his arrival at the Receiving Center, the originals of the shipping papers were delivered by DHL courier. Gary was able to place them into the hands of Berny Leonardo who began the torturous process of getting through the customs process. After some negotiation about storage and inspection fees, the rig was released for about $3000.00, less than 1/3 of the expected amount. Although the tools boxes were damaged a little, the contents were intact.

These are always anxious times for the project. Our precious material is out of our control and any losses jeopardize the project. We need everything we send. We learn again to let the Good Lord protect the cargo and to trust in his providence.

If you would like to help us, please contact Gary or Lynn Bartholomew at 509-466-5075 or 509-466-5134

On December 7, 2005, a container was loaded at the Bartholomew’s yard and headed to Poptun, Guatemala. It contained a well service truck, steel forms for a concrete water reservoir, generators, spare drilling tools, a spool of cable and other equipment; 40,000 lbs in all!

The container’s journey was long and difficult. It went by truck to Seattle, then by rail to Long Beach, then by a ship of the Maersk line to Guatemala and then by truck again to Poptun. The transit was to take about 3 weeks. The container was not delivered until January 17th due to “problems” with paper work; issues between the main office of the shipping company and the Guatemala office. After days of negotiation, faxes back and forth and the payment of some “adjustments”, the container was released. (more…)

During January and February 2005, the first wells were drilled at the International Children’s Care campus. It was very hot and as a result of no rain, very dry. The rig was set up in a broad depression in the land between the school and the orphanage. The four inch main water lines had been constructed to this point and a small concrete shed was prepared to house the valves, pump controllers and electrical connections to the power grid. The rig was working on the second well and making good progress. One afternoon we began to smell smoke on the wind and it grew progressively stronger. By five o’clock the sky was full of thick smoke. From the higher (more…)