Flippin' the Switch
Flippin' the Switch
A Lineman’s Mission Trip That Brought Electricity To Rural Guatemala
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A light switch feels ordinary until you stand in a place that has never had one. We sit down with journeyman lineman Joe Zernhild from Jones-Onslow EMC, who volunteered for a mission trip to Guatemala alongside 14 linemen from electric cooperatives across North Carolina. It is Joe’s first time out of the country, and he walks us through what it takes to say yes, get outside your comfort zone, and use your trade to deliver something life-changing: electricity access.
Joe shares the reality of getting to a remote village, including the long travel, the logistics on the ground, and the biggest surprise for many listeners: no bucket trucks. The crew relies on climbing tools, teamwork, and the fundamentals of linework to string wire, make connections, and wire roughly 50-plus homes along with a school, churches, and a small health facility. Along the way, Joe describes the culture shock of daily life without modern resources, including families cooking on indoor fires, and why basic electrification can mean safer homes and better long-term health.
The most unforgettable moment comes when the lights finally turn on for the first time. Joe explains why that scene changes how you think about storm restoration back home and why he would go again without hesitation. We also share helpful co-op updates and practical resources, including easy bill payment options, budget billing, Flex Pay, and simple summer energy efficiency steps like sealing air leaks, changing air filters, switching to LED bulbs, and adjusting your thermostat.
Subscribe for more real stories from the people who keep the power on, share this with someone who believes in service, and leave a review with the one thing you’re most grateful to have electricity for.
Why This Trip Matters
SPEAKER_02Welcome to this extra special edition of Flippin' the Switch. This month we get to sit down with Joe Zernhild. Joe was one of 14 linemen from the state of North Carolina who had the unique opportunity to travel to Guatemala and serve as a mission trip to bring electricity to a village who had never seen the lights turn on before. So we hope you enjoyed this edition and you learn a little bit about how Jones Onslow and many other cooperatives throughout the state are making the world a little brighter each and every day. Well, welcome to the July edition of Flippin' the Switch. This month is a little bit of a different avenue for us because we are again interviewing Joe Zernhild, but this time he's been on a big trip. He went to Guatemala on a mission trip. And that's one of those things that is a little bit out of our norm here at Jen Zonslow. We're not typically going on international trips, but we're here to learn a little bit about Joe's experience
Saying Yes To Guatemala
SPEAKER_02in Guatemala. Welcome, Joe.
SPEAKER_03Thank you.
SPEAKER_02Now, Joe, can you tell us a little bit about how you got into this situation? What led you to end up in Guatemala?
SPEAKER_03Well, I was on vacation and came back and sent an email to for volunteers for the trip, and I thought it'd be a great opportunity to go on a trip, so I signed up to volunteer for it.
SPEAKER_02And it worked out? Yep. And have you ever traveled international before?
SPEAKER_03That's the first time ever leaving the country.
SPEAKER_02So what did it take to get you to travel international?
SPEAKER_03Just basically getting outside my comfort zone and doing something I've never done before and had to go through everything, getting passport and all that stuff.
SPEAKER_02Did you know what you were gonna be actually doing whenever you um signed up to go to Guatemala? Like sending your application?
SPEAKER_03I had a little bit of idea, but not really sure what all was gonna be entailed in it just because of being doing normal work here, but then going out of the country to do the same thing.
SPEAKER_02Can you tell us a little bit about what your normal work here at Joneso is?
SPEAKER_03Basically supplying power to customers and keeping the power on to them, and then going out of the country and it completely different than what it is here, just because it's not your system you're working on.
SPEAKER_02And now here at Jones Anzo, you were a journeyman lineman. So you've been at Jones Anso for how long?
SPEAKER_03I've been just over 19 years now.
SPEAKER_02So 19 years, first time out of the country, and here we end up in Guatemala.
SPEAKER_03It's been an adventure.
SPEAKER_02I would say so. Now, you didn't go to Guatemala by yourself. It was a partnership with our statewide agency and our national agency and our ECA. Can you tell us a little bit about the crew that was with you?
SPEAKER_03So I was the only one from Jones Onslow, but there was 14 other linemen from several different co-ops throughout the state.
SPEAKER_02And what was your first impression when you landed in
Two Days To Reach The Village
SPEAKER_02Guatemala?
SPEAKER_03It was it was different. It was just for one being in a different country and just being a different airport completely, and then everything going on, trying to get the trucks so we can get to where we were going.
SPEAKER_02Can you tell us a little bit about kind of like the experience to once you got off the plane, got to like where you're getting your cars and all that stuff, how long did it take you to get to the village?
SPEAKER_03It took, well, ended up being a two-day trip. So we got to the airport, waited probably 30 minutes to an hour so they can get the trucks to come pick us up, get the luggage loaded, and then we drove about four or five hours that day to stay the night, and then had another three or four hour drive the next day to get to the village.
SPEAKER_02When a member is thinking about you going, they're gonna probably visualize like, were there bucket trucks waiting for you guys when you got there? Did you travel? Like, what did that look like for the work that you were planning on doing? Did you have to take anything like were those things waiting for you?
SPEAKER_03The only thing that we had to work with were the climbing tools that we took. They got they rented pickup trucks for us to drive to and from the village and basically used that to haul all our tools and material, but everything had to be climbed. There was no bucket trucks or any equipment to use.
SPEAKER_02You guys climb, but it's not like the first mode of restoration.
SPEAKER_03Climbing is basically last resort now, unless you absolutely have to.
SPEAKER_02So this is kind of going back in time a little bit.
SPEAKER_03It definitely put it back when electricity was first being brought to the people to What was your experience like once you got to the
Working By Climbing Every Pole
SPEAKER_03village? It was a little it was a culture shock. I'm sure. Just I mean how were things different? Not having well, really the resources that we have that we take for granted on a daily basis. Not having really electricity and what's the other thing.
SPEAKER_02And one of the things, as you l have told me previously, and I've looked through photos, they're cooking on fires inside of their homes. Yes, it seemed.
SPEAKER_03They'd build fires inside the house, and that's what they would cook on pretty much three meals a day. Yeah, and every day.
SPEAKER_02And that's a big difference then here for sure. Big difference. So I would assume when you guys got to that village, they were very happy to see you.
SPEAKER_03Oh, they were. They're definitely grateful when we left.
SPEAKER_02Now, when you guys were there originally, did you guys have to install the poles and things as well? Or was that?
SPEAKER_03The poles were already installed because they had a group go down to check the village out to see exactly where we're going to be working and what was what, and they already had the polls set then. So we lucked out on not having to actually polls.
SPEAKER_02But that also allowed you guys to focus on some real work that you had to get done to bring the power to the village. Can you kind of tell us how that worked?
SPEAKER_03So with the poles already being set, that saved a lot of time for us because when we got there, we pretty much started just pulling wire out and getting it strung up and getting the wire in the air to where we could start getting the power a lot quicker with not having to take the time to set the poles, then get the wire and get the wire to the houses.
SPEAKER_02Which is a big deal because it it made you those two weeks that you were there, you were able to accomplish a lot.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it definitely helped us get the power a lot quicker because the time it would set to take to set the poles saved a lot with not having to do, especially not having a line truck tools and set the poles.
SPEAKER_02Now I know every day you guys were not staying in the village because there was not housing there for you guys. So you were staying at another village and you would have to drive in early in the morning to get there. What did the typical day look like for you?
SPEAKER_03So the village we actually stayed at that had power, it was probably forty-five minutes from the village we actually worked at. And we would we'd get up early in the morning, have breakfast, then everybody get their stuff, get in the trucks, and we drive to the village, get what we needed for that day, and go to work.
SPEAKER_02How um what about lunch? Did the did you eat with the villagers in the lunch for lunch and things?
SPEAKER_03The village we stayed at, they had it was like a little restaurant for the public that when they cooked or whatever, they would bring us box lunches that day.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's really nice.
SPEAKER_03They would bring it out every day to us.
SPEAKER_02Now, some of the photos I've seen, the kids were hanging out with you guys a lot. What was that experience like?
SPEAKER_03So the kids were basically with you day in and day out until from the time you got there, they would come out and then they would leave and go back home when we left for the day. I'm sure they were very interested in what you were doing. They were. They were excited.
SPEAKER_02And now it took two weeks for you guys to bring power. Can you tell us a little bit about what was in that village that you brought power to?
SPEAKER_03There was there was fifty-some homes that we had to get power to and actually wire the houses up ourselves. Then there was a school and two churches and a little health facility.
SPEAKER_02Well, and I can't imagine doing, you know, running a health facility without power.
SPEAKER_03No, it's it I don't know how they get by without it before now.
SPEAKER_02Oh, same. Now, you guys had the privilege of turning the lights
The First Time The Lights Came On
SPEAKER_02on. Yes. What was that like?
SPEAKER_03It was it was an experience just to see everybody how excited they were to actually have power for the first time.
SPEAKER_02Can you remember that moment? You think that'll stay with you forever? I think so. Do you take for granted flipping your switch at home now?
SPEAKER_03Oh, I do. Definitely. It's it's one thing too. I mean, just being on a storm here and restoring power to people, but to actually go to another country and then have it for the first time is you'll never forget that.
SPEAKER_02So what are some of your takeaways from this trip?
SPEAKER_03Just basically the culture shock of what we take for granted every day and how happy everybody was when we left to actually have power for the first time.
SPEAKER_02One thing in addition to bringing power, I saw that NRECA had brought some items for the homes for the villagers too, because they were gonna have power. Do you remember some of those items that they brought?
SPEAKER_03They had little cooktop stoves so they could get away with actually burning a fire in the house and cooking with that is to help with their basically their health in the long term and the safety of having electricity.
SPEAKER_02Well, and I you know, one of the things that that kind of brought to me is like what a time saver it would be for a family.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it definitely started a lot of things.
SPEAKER_02Like, think about if you had to start a fire and tend to it all day. That's what you're basically doing all day.
SPEAKER_03That's yeah, that's it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Have to watch it and constantly, and of course, it'd take a lot longer to actually cook something with the fire than it would having the electric stove.
SPEAKER_02All of these things together, I think, are right on point with our mission here at Denzonzlo and as a cooperative concern for community. The community might not have been right outside of our door. It was a little bit of a trip to get there. But ultimately, I think the lessons that you learned from there is something that will go with you forever. What would you tell other linemen that are looking to do something like this?
SPEAKER_03It's definitely worth the opportunity, if ever given, to take a trip like that.
SPEAKER_02Um, would you go again?
SPEAKER_03I would. I'd go right now if they would let me.
SPEAKER_02And I'm sure they would love to have you. This trip is one of those things that happens about maybe every four to six years here in the state of North Carolina. So it was a unique one for us. It's the first time Joan Sonslow has ever sent anyone. So we're really excited to have you, Joe, to have been able to go because you had the experience, but to get there, you know, work-related experience, but the experience that you gained, I think, is something that will last a lifetime. Do you have any advice or anything for people that are looking to do kind of mission-driven work?
SPEAKER_03If getting out of your comfort zone is what's holding you back, don't let that set you back from having an opportunity like that to do something that magnitude.
SPEAKER_02Well, Joe, thank you so much for representing Joan Zonslow at the highest level. You do that each and every day, but you were taking it international, and we certainly appreciate it. And we hope to see you on another mission trip in the near future.
SPEAKER_03Hopefully so. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02Thanks. We hope you enjoyed this edition. Joe, along with many others, were part of this mission trip through our national organization, which was mentioned before, NRECA.
How To Learn More And Get Involved
SPEAKER_02If you'd like to learn more about the mission trips that this organization provides throughout the world, check out WWNRECA International. You will be thrilled to see that our linemen and many others throughout the 50 states are doing great work throughout the entire world.
Easier Ways To Pay Your Bill
SPEAKER_00Why not relax and take it easy? From our 24-7 phone system to self-service payment kiosks, online member portal, mobile app, and pay where you shop options, paying your bill is easy. Save your gas. Take the easy path to convenience. See all the hassle-free ways to pay and manage your account today at joemc.com forward slash easy.
SPEAKER_02Now for what's happening. What's happening at your co-op is a lot of great things. If you haven't checked out budget billing, we encourage you to do so. We just recently had a survey and one of the top items was how can I make my bill more steady throughout the year? Budget billing is a great opportunity for you to do that. You can set an amount to be paid every month, which is gauged off of your usage from the past 12 months. Each month your bill would be roughly the same amount, and then at the very end of the 12-month period, it would either give you some money back or you would have to pay the difference on your usage. It's a great way to never have surprises on your billing every month. So check it out. Another great thing that you could possibly do is our Flex Pay. If sometimes you have a hard time paying your bill all at once, this is a pay as you go program. FlexPay offers you the opportunity to be in control of your usage and how much money you're putting into your account every day. So think about it like a gas tank. When you're using it a lot, you have to fill up your tank more often. So sometimes in the summer months, you might have to put a little bit more money than you would in March. But it's a great opportunity for you to put yourself in control of how you're making your payments each and every day. Those are two great options offered through our member services. And if you'd like to learn more, check out our website at joemc.com slash member services. There you can check out payments and billing, and you'll learn a little bit more about these programs and maybe a couple more that you didn't know about it. And that's what's happening around the
Simple Summer Energy Savings
SPEAKER_02co-op.
SPEAKER_01As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to start thinking about your energy use at home. A few simple changes can help you stay comfortable while keeping costs down. Start by using natural sunlight during the day and turning off lights when you leave a room. Make sure your home is ready for the season by sealing air leaks, changing air filters, and switching to energy efficient LED bulbs. When it comes to appliances, run full loads, use cold water when you can, and adjust your thermostat to match the warmer days. Small steps now can lead to big savings all year long for your home and your community. Well, folks, that's all for today's episode of Flippin' the Switch. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jones On. So we'll see y'all next time.