A State of Calamity

I am often asked about the weather here in Guatemala.  Believe it or not, because much of the country is at elevations of 5,000 feet or more, it is spring-like year round.  With the wonderful year round temperatures, Guatemala is often called The Land of Eternal Spring.

There are only two seasons here: dry and rainy.  Unfortunately, the rainy season has not been very rainy.  In fact, there has been a huge drought.  With the global economic crisis and the lack of rain, more and more people are going hungry.  The crisis prompted President Álvaro Colom to declare a “state of public calamity” on Sept. 8, which will enable the government to mobilize funds and purchase emergency food supplies without the normal requisites laid out by the law on public tenders.

Hunger is a huge problem here.  Guatemala has the highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in Latin America – around half of all children under five are malnourished – and the fourth highest rate in the world, according to the United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF).  We see this at the clinics all the time.

Recently, Dr. Fredy, our Guatemalan doctor, saw a small child at the clinic who was terribly malnourished.  He asked me to take a picture for him so he could have one for his files.  The child desperately needed to go to the hospital and we offered to pay for his transportation.  The mother said she needed to seek the permission of the father (something that is very common here) and she would let us know.  We never heard back from her.  I continue to pray that the child is alive and the parents are getting help for him.

Feeding centers are huge necessities here with so many suffering from hunger.  Faith-based organizations and other non government organizations are working to try to meet the need, but the demand is so great.  I am often overwhelmed by the need and what I can do to make a difference.

Please continue to pray for the people of Guatemala as they try to survive day to day.  And please continue to hold me in your prayers, as well, as I try to do what I can to make the Kingdom of God’s love a reality.