Our Sisters on mission in Guatemala are safe
and well, but many people they serve are not. Several survivors of the volcano
eruption are severely injured and have lost everything.
Sister Dee Smith needs YOUR help! She is raising money to buy food, clothing and essential
medical supplies for the volcano survivors who are in alburgues (hostels) as
they are now homeless as well as having lost their crops and animals.
Over 65 people
and counting have died, over 330 people are still unaccounted for and more than
290 were injured when the volcano—which lies 25 miles southwest of the capital,
Guatemala City—began its eruption on June 3, sending deadly pyroclastic flows
(a highly dangerous mix of ash, rock and volcanic gases that can be much more
lethal than lava) across a 9-mile radius. More
than 3,100 people have been evacuated and 1.7 million people have been affected
by the eruption.
Pyroclastic
flows can race down a volcano at hundreds of kilometers per hour. To make
matters worse in Guatemala, villages are right on the base of the mountain,
sadly leaving many people no time to escape.
Sister Dee said, “The people of Guatemala are
in mourning. Mourning for the loss of life of over 65 people, thousands of
acres of productive land which supports hundreds of families. The people
affected by the volcanic eruption have been moved from their homes, homes that
they have lived in for generations. They have lost everything including their
houses, their animals and pets, their way of life and are now living in
shelters waiting patiently for donations to arrive. They need food, medical
supplies and clothing. Many communities in Guatemala are responding. There is
an outpouring of love and solidarity where even the poorest of the poor are
offering the little they have.”
Friend, this is why Sister Dee needs YOUR help now more than
ever! Your
donation will provide aid to the people in Guatemala who need it most right
now.
We are grateful for your prayers and support.
Together, we are saving lives and making God’s love visible around the world.
With love,
The Maryknoll Sisters
Photo credits: Planeta Curioso 
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