It's been two months since Volcan Pacaya erupted leaving a coating of sandy black ash and chunks of hardened lava over a large portion of southern Guatemala. With dozens of canceled flights, the team from Concordia Seminary was blessed to learn a bit more about the "Fruit of the Spirit" t
hat had been assigned to them for their faith lessons the previous week: "Patience!" It didn't take very long for the frustrations of not getting to return home to families and jobs to vaporize as the team went out to assist the people of Amatitlán in the aftermath of the storm. While the giant sinkhole got international attention, little was mentioned about the 200 lives lost in mudslides and flooding throughout the country. The team was able to distribute some bags of water, hygiene kits, t-shirts and food to the people wh
o lived along the "green river" which had swept through their homes leaving mud as high as pilas (wash sinks), or washing them away completely. Hours were spent helping people dig out the mud and sludge. When the road was finally passable, the team worked their way out to El Rincón, our rural ministry site. When talking with families with which we have a relationship, we discovered that a huge chunk of the side of a mountain had roared through an area leaving two teenagers dead. One was a Christian. The other was not.
It was sobering to see Sindy, one of our scholarship kids, clinging to her mom in fear with the realization of what had happened. Their house was unlivable, as well. There was one family there whose shanty, simply because of the pile of rocks behind it, was totally spared and untouched. They are going to move because they can't bear to think about what happened to their neighbors. Sindy has just begun smiling again.
So, rebuilding has begun. It is a way of life for many in Guatemala. Hardships like this come so often, they are almost expected. But more than the rebuilding of shanties, the rebuilding of lives has begun, as well. The attendance at the faith lessons in El Rincón has tripled since the storm, bringing 60 or more children and that many adults. It is only God that brings hope in the midst of storms. Both the physical and emotional kind. To Him be all glory."I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my f
eet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the Lord." --Psalm 40:1-3
