An update from the field in Guatemala
What a month it’s been! As a team made up mostly of Midwesterners and Southerners, we’re no strangers to thunderstorms or tornado sirens—but earthquakes? That’s a whole new experience for us!
On July 8, we were jolted awake by a powerful magnitude 5.7 earthquake that hit near San Vicente Pacaya, just a short distance from our base in San Lucas. Since then, we’ve felt hundreds of aftershocks, including several registering above magnitude 4. According to the USGS, there were over 576 tremors in the first 48 hours alone!
While the shaking gave us quite a scare, we’re incredibly grateful to report that our team is safe. Aside from a few broken plates, mirrors, and the occasional startled jump, we haven’t suffered any serious damage. We’ve also been in contact with our network of pastors and village leaders, and so far, no major damage has been reported in our partner communities or churches. Praise God!
That said, we know not everyone was as fortunate. Some areas closer to the epicenter experienced tragic loss of life and significant structural damage. One of the main roads we use to access remote villages is currently impassable due to buckling. Please keep those affected in your prayers—especially families who have lost homes or loved ones.
We’re also grateful to share that scientists and seismological institutes are not reporting any indication that these tremors are precursors to a larger quake. While the ground is still rumbling from time to time, what we’re experiencing is consistent with normal aftershock activity following a quake of this size.
If you’d like to see photos of the earthquake damage around Guatemala, the AP News article below gives a powerful glimpse into what many communities are facing:
👉 View the article
Thank you for praying with us—for protection, for peace, and for continued strength as we serve in a place where both the ground and the needs are shifting. As always, we remain committed to walking alongside the communities we serve with compassion, courage, and the love of Christ.
