A former farm resident and electrician from Francis is now living in Guatemala with his wife and family, and is working by providing services to such people as missionaries and doctors who are serving in the Central American country.

Joe and Karen Leier have been in Guatemala now for about five years after first going there in 2000 on a short-term two-week trip. They went back down in 2002, taking nine days and making a vacation out of the trip as they drove through the U.S. and Mexico before ending up in Guatemala.

Joe is a journeyman electrician, and Karen is a teacher; Joe grew up on a farm in the Francis area where he learned mechanics, welding plumbing and so on, along with working for SaskTel for five years before taking the plunge to live in Guatemala.

When the Leiers first arrived in 2002, they spent two years helping to build a children's home, and felt then it was time to launch their own ministry helping other missions or NGOs (non-government organizations) in technical issues, and set up Freelance Missions.

He described one recent experience that characterizes what his work is like.

"Just last week I was with a medical team from Vancouver. I had made a number of surgical instruments that were used in the various gynecological operations that were performed. We had an emergency one morning that was a serious situation: the washing machine broke down. This would have meant washing all the cloth by hand; you would not believe the amount of dirty clothing created by an operation," said Leier, going on to describe how he repaired the washer with the workers all watching.

"You have to realize many of these people while having cell phones and a television do not have a refrigerator or appliances other than what was mentioned. To actually see a washing machine and the thing taken apart is a big event," said Leier.

He said it took a while to adjust to the culture in Guatemala, and gave driving as an example of the kind of adjustments he and Karen have had to make.

"I am sure that many people have seen on television the Latin method of driving. It seems like the game 'chicken' is played on a national level here. More than once I have come face-to-face with a bus in my lane," he said.

Another difference is the Guatemalan concept of time.

"If an event or meeting is planned for, let us say 7 p.m., people will start drifting in around 8 p.m. or later. Time has a different meaning here. Family ties are quite strong here. But, on the other hand life can be considered quite cheap. Guatemala has one of the highest murder rates in the western hemisphere. It is common to hear pistol shots at night, but most of the time it is for celebration purposes. We feel quite safe where we live," said Leier.

Referring to the conditions of the country, he said the economy there is improving and there are less "junk" vehicles than there used to be, but the middle class is still small with poverty quite widespread. He said there are estimates that 90 per cent of the land is owned by 10 per cent of the people.

"Poverty is quite a problem here, as well Guatemala is a staging point for South American drugs entering North America. Laws exist here, but many times are never enforced," said Leier.

He explained when people ask how he could leave a good job and the security of Canada for such a different land and culture, he answers, "Both Karen and I felt a call to come here. At times it can be difficult, but when you consider how much difference you are making in these people's lives, it is worth it."

One example was working with different surgical teams who have helped out Guatemalans who could never have been helped otherwise. Some women had a prolapsed uterus for more than 12 years and were helped, and in another case, an eight-year-old girl had an artificial eye put in to replace a cancerous one, and now she has a chance to survive her cancer and grow up.

In terms of geography, Leier notes that Guatemala has breath-taking scenery, as they live in a mountainous area at 6,500 feet, with Vancouver-like weather. The coast meanwhile has different weather altogether, what he described as "hot wet" and "hot dry".

"Our daylight is 12 hours throughout the year, give or take a half-hour. After five years here, I still am not adjusted to the 'seasons'. I am still thinking that when it is green outside the sun goes down around 9 p.m. Here it is green all year round and the sun goes down at 7 p.m.," he said.

Those who would like to learn more about what Joe and Karen do, can check out their website at www.freelancemissions.com where updates and photos are posted.