Projects Guatemala Post-Agatha Reconstruction
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Post-Agatha Reconstruction Print E-mail
Tuesday, 13 December 2011 19:38

 

By Ken Herfst
For those living in a vulnerable place like Guatemala, natural disasters, poverty and violence are not only regular themes in the newspapers; they affect the lives of millions of Guatemalans each and every day. It was during late May of 2010 that Guatemala again experienced torrential rains that destroyed roads, bridges and homes. Subsequent rains caused numerous mud slides, and in one occasion, not far from Quetzaltenango, a team of volunteer rescuers were buried by a second landslide. An entire community was plunged into mourning.
DonManueandhissonhelpingwithconstructionofnewhome
Don Manuel and his son helping with the construction of their new home.
One of the dangers of relief work is that people become statistics; they lose their human face. However, in the case of José Manuel López and his wife Rosa, things were different. They live in a community called Xuva (Shu-va), near Colomba, Quetzaltenango. About halfway up the mountains, this very hilly region of Western Guatemala is a prime coffee-producing area. Most people earn their living through employment on coffee farms. Xuva has a temperate climate and is blessed with abundant rain. When Agatha struck, that abundant rain became a destructive force. In three days the equivalent of a year’s normal rainfall wreaked havoc. José Manuel’s house was already in poor shape and the winds and rain simply finished it off. The house collapsed and José Manuel and Rosa looked for temporary shelter with their children.
MembersofthelocalchurchattendeddedicationserviceoftheLopez_newhome
Members of the local church attended the dedication of the Lopez' new home.
Through a mutual friend, we learned of their plight and visited them. They had a piece of property in another community and we agreed to explore the possibility of reconstruction. Thankfully, Word & Deed responded to our request, and in June 2011, we joined José Manuel and Rosa for the dedication of their house. Their local congregation accompanied us at this important event. As we recognized the LORD’s provision and thanked Him for those who played a part in this project, we could see the gratitude in José Manuel and Rosa’s faces. As they stood up to express their thankfulness, tears welled up in their eyes. The house they received was more than they ever dreamed of.
TheLopezoriginalhome
The Lopez' old home.
Psalm 127 reminds us that “unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” A house is more than a building; it is a home. It provides protection and security as well as a space to be a family, to live in relationships that honor God and bless not only our lives, but our communities. José Manuel and Rosa are committed to celebrating God’s goodness and expressed the desire that their home continue to witness to the presence of God, the God who can use storms to bring people together from different parts of the world to work together. On their behalf, we wish to thank Word & Deed for blessing José Manuel and Rosa with a safe and secure house.
Thenewhomeinthefinalstageofconstruction
The Lopez' new home.
Pastor Ken Herfst is president of Asociación SAQ B’E. In partnership with Word & Deed, this association seeks to bring about lasting solutions to the problems facing the poor in Western Guatemala.
 
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