Members of the Nazarene Youth International council from the Guatemala Central District, along with Rene Rivas from the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries committee, delivered supplies to three shelters in the community of Escuintla, Guatemala, 28 July for families who had lost their belongings and homes as a result of the Volcano of Fire eruption 3 June.

Using an offering sent by the Owings Mills Church of the Nazarene, Maryland, along with individual donations, the team was able to distribute goods to 107 families. Each family received five pounds of powdered whole milk, oatmeal, powdered detergent, diapers, wet wipes, and boxes of Incaparina (a high-calorie beverage). They also distributed Bibles and small tracts with Scripture to many people in the shelters.

The group visited Jaime from the El Rodeo community, which was one of the communities most affected. Jaime suffered severe burns over a large portion of his body to the extent that he was taken to Mexico for treatment. Upon his return, he has stayed with his family at the shelter in the Mormon church where some Nazarene youth brought him some medicines that he still must take for his recovery.

“One of the leaders of the third shelter we visited was moved by the donations they received and indicated that they had not had much help from the authorities," Rene Rivas said. "When he was given a Bible he also received the Lord Jesus as his Savior."

The young people in the volunteer group will continue helping some of the families they visited. They plan to bring more groceries and medicine with the help of the district NCM committee.

-- Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica