During the armed internal conflict
in Guatemala, the village of Santiago, Atitlan was hi hard. This
year the forces of nature have seriously affected the communities
during the passing of Hurricane Stan in the country. The night of
October 5th will remain marked in the minds of all those that survived.
The hurricane provoked a mud slide that buried almost in totality
the village of Panabaj, burying many victims beneath 2 to 3 meters
of mud. As of November 2, the means of communication in the country
have only recgonized 77 mortal victims identified and hundreds disappeared.
The authorities have declared the area a cemetery but still there
is no clarity as to what will happen with the survivors who remain
currently in shelters.
The association Acción Cultural
Guatemalteca ACG has felt the pain of all our brothers and sisters
that have survived this unfortunate event. From the first moment of
the tragedy we began a campaign with our base communities for the
contributions of support. Many communities have responded. In addition,
we made an announcement by means of the Internet to see if our brothers
and sisters from other countries could come to our aide. Before this
call many people from different churches of the United States, many
who are a part of Global Ministries have responded to our call.
On the 10th of November three members
of ACG who made up part of the Emergency commission and the volunteer
Pablo Pitcher traveled to Santiago, Atitlan in order to distribute
aide directly to those affected which we would in six shelters of
the municipal head in Santiago, Atitlan. The aide given consisted
of kitchen utensils in accordance with a study made by the members
of the Emergency commission a week before. An analysis of the assistance
that had been received up to that point was done finding that basic
grains (food) had been given and it was determined that what they
were lacking were pots, pitchers, skillets, ladles, plates and cups
so that they can serve the food which has arrived. As we delivered
the assistance, the people were happy and grateful to ACG and Global
Ministries for the gesture of solidarity.
There are many people who need assistance
and they asked us for support; nonetheless, we had to say that that
would depend on the assistance we receive which then we would bring
to them.
Men and women both manifested that
the form of giving the aide directly to the people is a good method,
for many governmental instances have offered aide but it is very little
that they have actually received.
And he commanded the crowd to sit
down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given
thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before
the people; and they set them before the crowd.
Mark 8:6
