Guatemala is in ruins after being hit by Tropical Storm Agatha this past weekend. 123 people were killed and 90 are still missing due to massive flooding and mudslides. And because Guatemala is such a poor country, those left in Agatha’s wake are clinging to life and in desperate need of help.
Carlos Vargas, our Guatemalan partner has been working around the clock to bring help to those most affected. He wrote me an urgent email this weekend,
“The situation in Guatemala is devastating; at Hope of Life we are safe from the flooding that has caused so much suffering, outside of the ministry things are extremely bad. In Chiquimula and the northeast region the rivers have flooded and this has caused total destruction and loss of many lives. Thousands of people are without shelter because they lived along the river in huts. They all are from the poorest families of the region and they have no one to turn too and are losing hope. We are providing food, medicine, and clothing for them and doing what we can. The government has asked us for our help and will be sending many infants and children to the rescue center this coming week . . . We really need your help.”
Many of the villages left standing are covered in up to 3 feet of mud . . . and it has filled their huts and shacks. This has contaminated any water they had for drinking and cooking. The crops grown for food and money are gone, destroyed in moments. These crops are for many the only thing that stands between them and 
starvation. With no food, no clean water, and no shelter their chances for survival are slim.
Guatemala needs our help. Carlos Vargas is giving everything he can through Hope of Life but he needs help. Sickness and disease will soon be widespread and children are the most affected. The Baby Rescue Center that has saved thousands of children’s lives will need additional resources quickly. Carlos must also continue to give food, water, medicine, clothing, and other essentials to those most affected.
Guatemalans cannot depend on their government for assistance in times like these. The infrastructure is not there. But people like you and me can give them hope. And right now, families’ lives depend on us.