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October 11, 2005
Guatemala Update
Dear friends
We just received the following letter from the president of SETECA regarding the situation in Guatemala. As of yet I have not seen where there has been a fund set up to help but there are ways to get funds to individuals in Guatemala to help buy relief supplies if anyone is interested. And first and foremost we can pray.
Alvin
SETECA GRADS MINISTER IN AREAS HIT HARD BY TROPICAL STORMOctober 10, 2005
Tropical storm Stan brought incredible destruction to Guatemala last week. Scores of towns and villages were flooded or destroyed by mudslides. Travel became impossible to large parts of the country due to landslides and places where the road was washed out or bridges were destroyed. Thousands of acres of crops were leveled. The official death toll as of Sunday night was 652, but unofficial estimates put the figure much higher. According to today’s paper, over 3 million Guatemalans have been directly affected in some way.
This national tragedy has provided opportunities to share Christ's love. Many of the over 200 shelters that have been set up all over the country are evangelical churches. SETECA graduates are having a significant ministry in the areas that have been affected. Here are a few examples:
· José and Thelma Mazariegos, graduates of 2004, serve in Puerto San José, a Pacific coast town that was flooded out. They are not only ministering to people in the town itself but are also visiting nearby villages to take food, water, and clothes to people who lost everything. Radio Station TGNA has helped to collect and send down badly needed supplies to that area.
· Luis Morales, who also graduated last year, is pastoring a church near the city of San Marcos in western Guatemala. He called us Saturday night asking for prayer. Four of his church members were killed by a mudslide, and many families lost their homes. The shortage of drinking water and food was a serious concern there, as it has been in many other places.
· Abraham Sojuel is pastor of the CAM church in Santiago Atitlán where a couple of nearby villages were totally buried in a major mudslide, in the largest single tragedy which has been reported, and in which possibly hundreds of people lost their lives. The church building has been converted into a shelter, and Abraham is ministering to scores of grieving people.
· Carlos Morales, one of our faculty members, travels on weekends to minister in his home town of Tecpán. A small river there turned into a murderous torrent and swept members of several families to their death. The day after the tragedy Carlos and his wife Cristina traveled to Tecpán to minister to the people who had taken refuge in the CAM church. Cristina had the joy of leading several people to the Lord.
· Santos Chavajay pastors the CAM church in San Juan La Laguna, on the shores of Lake Atitlán. Two villages there were destroyed by a swollen river. The people heard the water coming and were able to flee in time, but they lost everything. The CAM church, under Santos’ leadership, is caring for 150 refugees. This weekend some food and water were finally brought it, but the ongoing need remains, both materially and spiritually.
· Joel Pérez has been pastoring a growing church in Tapachula, Mexico, a city near the Guatemala border that was severely damaged by raging rivers. His home was destroyed, as were the church building and the homes of many in the congregation. He is seeking to serve as best he can in that very difficult situation. One of our professors plans to visit him next week to bring help and encouragement.
Here at the Seminary we have been collecting items to send to the areas that have been hit hard. Our students have been helping to sort out and pack up the donations which come to Radio TGNA, and a few have been able to visit some of those areas.
This noon we had a special time of prayer in the chapel, remembering particularly our graduates who are serving in the areas that were hit hard. We'll appreciate the prayers of God’s people for them as well as for others who are involved in the relief efforts. Here are some specific requests:
- For physical and spiritual strength for those who are serving
- That people will turn to the Lord through their ministry and find true peace in Him.
- That the needed supplies will get to the areas where people are suffering.
- That the rains will be held back and that the country will be spared from further tragedy.
- That the government and private entities involved will serve effectively.Plans for the seminary graduation exercises October 16 continue on schedule. Nearly 90 people will be receiving their degrees and diplomas. The excitement of the occasion will be somewhat dampened by the sobering reality of last week’s tragic events. But we are reminded that God often calls us to serve in difficult circumstances, and He promises us His presence, peace and power. His promises are as sure today as they have ever been, and because of that we, along with our graduates, face the future with confidence.
Paul Sywulka, President
Central American Theological Seminary—SETECA
Guatemala City, Guatemala
