Life In A Hut

A few things I’ve learned while working in a third-world country

A typical village home — Author’s photo

“It’s hot,” he moaned, “I’m going inside.”

“I wish,” I replied on WhatsApp. “I don’t have AC.”

“I’d die,” he said, running for the door.

“Yes, some people do.”

Summer is here in eastern Guatemala. It came late, thank God, but hit with a vengeance. Today’s high, 103 with a heat index of 109.

It’s bloody hot.

My local forecast but no one looks like that guy — Author’s screenshot

Central AC doesn’t exist, and electricity is so expensive — most couldn’t afford it anyway. We have a unit in our bedroom, so the rest of the day, we melt. That’s a different story for a different sweaty day.

But what if you live in a hut?

Yes, huts exist and not just on Nat Geo. I believe more people on Earth live in some sort of hut-style domain than not.

Tiny house movement not included.

When we entered the mission field, I’d been to a few villages and seen a handful of huts. But being here full-time changed my perspective.