After the volcanic eruption of June of 2018 we started working with volcano victims. The response to the natural disaster that left about 1,500 dead was truly worldwide. Countries from all over the planet showed their support and chipped in to help get Guatemalans back on their feet. After about a month we saw the majority of the help disappear. We saw a government fail to meet the basic needs of many of their most vulnerable...those victims who didn't check into the government shelters that had been set up and instead opted to stay in private shelters...churches, schools, homes of private citizens, etc. We continued to help. We continued to serve where we were needed. We continued to network with other missionaries, organizations, and other volunteers.
In January, I was invited to see a project on a farm in Escuintla, a city about an hour south of where we live where a lot of the volcano victims are now living. A large portion of this farm was donated to build houses for the victims and their families. I began to visit this farm, and I noticed that several sectors of the farm were taken care of by private donations, a radio station in Washington DC, a group of Guatemalans living in Chicago, the Israeli Embassy, etc. Block homes were built and furnished for families who lost everything. What lies in the rear of the farm, however, is a different story.
When I walked to the back section of the farm I found 36 families...also victims of the volcanic eruption, many of whom have lost several loved ones. But these families don't have block homes...their homes are built of nylon wrapped around a few two-by-fours and covered with a tin roof. The entire size of the home is about the size of my kitchen. There are 5 bathrooms for the 36 families to share. There are 4 pilas (wash basins) for the 36 families. There's no plumbing. No running water. No electric. No road. Just a few cots, some clothes, and a lot of need.
As time went on and we continued to get to know these precious families and their stories I began to think about practical ways we could be the hands and feet of Christ to these families. One of the first things I thought of was to organize a missions team of Guatemalans to visit them, and so during the month of June Esther and I spent many hours planning to transform this idea from thought to reality. On July 6 we led a group of about 45 Guatemalans from the young adults group we launched in February along with the 4 men who were visiting on a missions trip from Church of the Open Door in York, PA on a trip to serve these families.
When we arrived we were met by the heat and the media. A cool day in Escuintla is low to mid 90s, and this was not a cool day. It was 99 degrees by 10 AM. In addition to the heat, I had no idea the press would be waiting for us...The architect who is organizing the building projects on the farm contacted them ahead of time to let them know. As I got off the bus and prepared to coordinate the groups we had set up the press was waiting to interview me. I struggled with trying not to succumb to their pressure to interview me while I was trying to coordinate my team. After some instructions I got our groups organized and started on their day of missions, and I turned to the press to give them an interview. My first ever in Guatemala. My first ever in Spanish.
That day we were able to visit with the majority of the families (a few were away taking their weekly bath at a nearby river). We took donations we had received of food, clothing, shoes, devotionals, books of John and Romans, and solar lights. These families were so excited that they were finally going to have a source of light other than the sun. We also painted the first permanent home that was recently built of the 36 homes. We spent time with each family visiting them, listening to them, and praying over their families, their homes, their illnesses, and their futures.
We also did a children's activity that day and donated stuffed animals, balloon animals, piñatas, candy, etc. The kids also received a program that included songs, games, and a gospel message. It was a fun time that many of them will not soon forget.
We were impacted by several Guatemalans who went on the trip who brought back stories of what impacted them. We heard stories of team members scrambling to try to help families who had open wounds and blisters on their arms and hands, a 10 year old boy who needed to be carried to the area where they were doing the piñata because he doesn't own shoes and the 99 degree heat was burning his feet as he tried to walk, and how some of the Guatemalan team members had never seen such poverty in their lives.
Upon our return and reflection on this day, we believe God is calling us to do more in training Guatemalans to do missions with their own people, throughout Central America, and around the world. Many have been asking when our next missions outreach will be, and one Guatemalan even asked us to lead missions classes to better equip them on how to serve. Pray for us as we take the next steps to form a team who we will train to lead outreaches into various communities around Guatemala. We are planning on leading these trips several times per year, but there are extra costs associated with coordinating and leading trips like this. If you are interested in supporting these trips specifically click here and write "Guatemalan Missions Trips" in the "Gift Notes" section. We are tentatively planning our next trip around Christmas time.
Enjoy the pictures!
