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beans and bags of bread pieces. Then we went to the supermarket and bought 100 individual bags of powdered milk to make a liter each and large bags for several gallons each, 40 baby bottles, 80 gallons of pure water, toilet paper, seven pounds of rice, some cinnamon, sugar, salt, etc. We had to make two trips because we filled two very large shopping carts each time, but when we got to the cars the water was so heavy that the tread-worn tires were almost flat on both of the cars. So we rented a taxi for $4.00 and got all the stuff back to the station. Then we loaded what we could carry and set out to deliver it. But when we drove up the main road out of the city, it was closed because of a huge slide, so we had to go by a roundabout way. Perhaps you are wondering how such a storm can be so destructive in this part of the world. Let me set the scene. Guatemala City is 5,000 feet high and it is surrounded by and made up of hills and deep gorges. For lack of enforcement of any rules of building, people construct their one-room shacks framed with single two-by-fours and covered with corrugated roofing on the sides of these very steep hills or actually cliffs, which are not made of rock, but just dirt. There are 320 of these dangerous settlements here, called asentimientos. Up to 200,000 families were in danger from the rains. The hills can be as high as 1,000 feet down to the little rivers, but many times they will be in levels with 100 or 200 feet above them before they flow off to the level below. These areas receive a good bit of rain each year, but generally it is for small periods of heavy rain and the gullies can handle it. However, when the rain is sustained for many days as in this recent storm, then it causes problems. When we got to St. Dominic's parish on the outskirts of Guatemala City in the part called Mixco, which is very hilly, we introduced ourselves at the parish center and met the man in charge of the social action committee. He took us into the hall where about 35 people were packing boxes to give to those who requested help. He explained that they personally went to the homes of the people to make sure they were in need. We saw about 120 boxes lined up in the hall, filled to the brim, so we felt that these people were well organized. We delivered all our goods and then they invited us to have lunch of bean sandwiches and some pieces of chicken. There was a wonderful spirit of warmth and friendliness as we ate with them, which I think comes from the feeling that we are doing something very important. They also wanted us to visit the medical clinic and learn of their needs, but time did not permit. With so much rain there is a lot of sickness and need for medicine. Then I asked if we could see the areas where people had lost their homes. |
