THE Derrumbe (Landslide/Rockslide)

For our facebook and blog readers this will be a repeat but it bears worth repeating. We covet your prayers as we travel. We covet your prayers for the many people who are affected by derrumbes which are especially prevelent during the rainy season.


When we first visited San Cristobal in May 2009, we visited the site of the massive derrumbe which had occurred in January 2009.


From the former road, we looked down at the new road that had been constructed to enable people to still travel the only northern east/west highway.

We went back in September 2009, the view was still much the same...massive destruction. As people passed along the new road, often the noise of rocks cracking could still be heard. Rocks and land continued to slide down the mountain.

When we visited again in September 2009, trucks and cars continued to use the new lower highway even if it meant passing by huge boulders which could, with just a little shake, completely crush the truck.


It is a long road to travel.

A long road to travel that still has continual slides that constantly change the overall view.


This past week in June 2010, we entered from the other side of the derrumbe on a misty afternoon, praying the Lord to hold the rain until we were safely on the other side.


It just looks differently as we enter from the west side.


We were trying to take pictures that give the total view but it is just impossible.


Many cars and trucks just like this pass through the path everyday.

This view is to the right of the car looking down to the river far in the distance which received much rocks and earth from the original slide.


Look at the size of some of these boulders...they could crush a car very easily.


Heading up to the top of the road, this was the view of the overall derrumbe.


We are climbing up from the low highway.


Not a really good photo but was taken backwards as we reached the top and reentered the former highway.

As the rains come, some landslides cover parts or all of the roads. They can also wash out the earth under the roads and roads can collapse. Travel is interesting to say the least. Remember us before the Throne!

Why we ask you to pray...

This week we began to travel into our new area of research, the Eastern Quiche. It was a profitable first journey but as we traveled we surely were glad that you were praying for us.

This is rainy season and we have experienced some heavy rains. First there was tropical storm Agatha which racked havoc in many areas, washing out bridges and causing mudslides. Other heavy rains have followed and each has only added to the original damage.


As we looked to the left, we saw the large landslide. Even as we were stopped to take pictures, we could still see rocks tubling down the mountainside.


This is a major highway artery of Guatemala...buses, trucks, and cars travel this road all during the day and night.


We looked ahead and saw this side of the mountain had slid down...before it had been a beautiful grassy tree covered mountain...but no more.


Many times (more than we would care to count) we rounded the curve to find that rocks had covered one lane or the other or both lanes. Here the road had been almost completely covered and we drove to the far right (yep, close to the edge) beside the tuktuk (glorified golf cart used as a taxi) which was waiting for a new wheel.


As we drove through areas like this, we asked the Lord to hold back the sides.

Now you can understand better why we ask you to pray as we travel and why we so depend on your prayers for us as we go. Keep them flowing...we have many miles to travel as we study the Eastern Quiche.

Opening Doors to the Ch´orti´

Do you ever wonder just what will be the outcome of your investments? For several months, we have ridden into some very remote areas of the Ch´orti´region. The spiritual lostness is so vast, and the region is so difficult to access. Who would be willing to come to a difficult area like this to live and serve? Will anything come of the investment?

On a recent Sunday evening, David was able to present the needs of the Ch´orti´to our church, Iglesia Bautista Canaan. Soon after, we had a meeting in our home with our pastor Victoriano Cojti, another pastor from near the capital and two men from his church. At that meeting, plans were made for the group to go on a vision trip to the Ch´orti´area.


On June 16-18, David took these men to five unevangelized Ch´orti´villages. In each village, the men met with the community leader to explain their desire to establish ministries there.


In each village, we were received graciously with the invitation to return and begin work. None of these villages have an evangelical church nor Gospel witness. A priest comes to the local Catholic church once per month.



These two pastors have returned with a fire in their hearts to get the Gospel to the Ch´orti´. They are challenging their congregations to become aggressive in taking the Gospel to these villages.


In a recent message, Victoriano said, "Who has the responsibility to take the Gospel to the Ch´orti´? The Gringos from North America? The missionaries? Or is it the Acts 1:8 responsibility of Iglesia Bautista Canaan?" The church responded that it was their responsibility.

Pray for us and these pastors as we move forward to bring the Gospel to these unreached areas of the Ch´orti´ People.