Guatemala City, Guatemala….[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Just days after Guatemala was hit by Hurricane Stan, which caused deadly mudslides burying hundreds of people, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is still trying to account for its missing members. So far, church leaders confirm that 22 members are dead and nearly 3,400 members’ families’ homes were affected.
The deadly mudslide was triggered last week after heavy rains overflowed Lake Atitlan in the southwest region combined with the eruption of a volcano. The mudslides completely covered villages and communities in its path.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency [ADRA] in Guatemala stepped into action immediately after the disaster struck.
“We quickly organized a team of 30 pastors and 70 church leaders to assist with food and clothing at different sites, which is the most urgent need now,” says Otoniel Trujillo, ADRA Guatemala director.
“Many people are homeless…some 20 bridges were destroyed and many roads were damaged, leaving the victims stranded and without any outside communication,” adds Trujillo. “Three of our Seventh-day Adventist Churches, which were being used as shelters, were buried under the thick mud, killing everyone inside.”
Masterguides, pathfinders and church members joined forces to offer help in packaging food for the victims and delivering supplies through a caravan of vehicles to the worst hit areas. The local Adventist radio station, “Union Radio” has also been asking for the support of the community to bring food to Adventist churches in the capital city which are serving as relief supplies centers.
Continued rainfall and flooding last weekend delayed access to covered highways and roads for assisting those who survived, church administrators say.
Church leaders at Guatemala’s North Central American Union report that 13 church buildings were destroyed, and 24 Adventist churches and five schools are being used as community shelters.
The search for survivors has officially stopped as the area of devastation is too large to continue digging. Before the search was called off, 652 bodies were uncovered. Local government officials fear the final death toll may double to 1,400.
Church leaders also fear the number of dead among church members may increase. As the days go by, the church will still be accounting for its missing members.
“We’re not sure how many are missing,” says Juan Jose Moran, treasurer for the church in North Central American Union. “We haven’t been able to get in touch with or reach some of our areas where we have an Adventist presence because of power outages and inaccessibility in the worst hit areas. As the days go by and roads are cleared, we’ll be able to have more information on our members.”
With a membership of more than 83,000 church members in the southwest region, the church in Guatemala mourns for the loss of its members and continues to pray for those affected and still missing. ADRA is committed to continue to coordinate and provide assistance to those affected by this natural disaster.
For more information on how to help the victims of the Guatemala disaster, contact the ADRA International at 800.424.2372 or make donations to the Central American Hurricane Fund at www.adra.org.
