Stephanie Jones shared her experiences of helping light up other parts of the world with Kingfisher Rotary Club members.

Jones is chief technology officer at Cimarron Electric Cooperative and spoke with the civic group recently of a trip late last year to help provide electric lines to homes in rural Guatemala.

They were homes that had never had electricity before.

Jones narrated a presentation showing videos and photos documenting the work provided by the crew she worked with, which was made up of volunteers from rural electric cooperatives from other areas of the nation.

She said it was very exhausting work, as the roads were very primitive and the hikes to the homes were made uphill in muddy conditions most of the time.

“These homes are not just right off the road. We were laying line and hiking up small trails for sometimes hundreds of yards,” Jones told Rotarians.

“ We learned very quickly to be sure and take all the supplies and tools needed with us on these hikes, because to go back and get them was not something we wanted to do! We definitely got our workout every day.”

Jones also showed photos and video of the families to which the power was being provided.

She said the people were very friendly and cooperative and were all delighted to have lights and electrical outlets in their homes for the first time.

She said the typical rural village served had a church and school, with the church typically already being supplied with electricity and sometimes the schools as well.

But otherwise, she said the homes did not have electricity.

Jones said she thoroughly enjoyed the work, the fellowship with the other volunteers, as well as families they were providing power to.

She said they stayed in a centrally-located motel and drove in four-wheel drive trucks to each new village daily.

Jones said it rained every day, sometimes drenching downpours, making for “challenging” work conditions.

She said the crews took tarps with them to set up to keep the rain off their heads while setting up the electric lines on the outsides of the homes.

She said the homes were all clean and tidy, but primitive.

None of the homes she worked in had leaks in the roofs, she added.

“They didn’t have a lot, but what they had, they took care of,” she said.

When asked from the membership whether she ever felt unsafe, she responded that all the locals the crew members came into contact with were very helpful, friendly and happy to see them.

She noted that other Cimarron volunteers would be returning to Guatemala later this year.

Kingfisher Rotarian Jeff Hyatt made arrangements for the program to be presented.