News from the Edge

Beginning Again: An Update on Post Disaster Relief

It has been seven months since Pokomchi families have moved to New Queja. They had to leave their previous village, Queja, as a landslide buried most of the village. Many lost those most dear to them and their homes. Starting over again was scary and seemed impossible. With God all is possible and He has provided for them and is continuing to do this. Through a generous landowner and charitable organizations, He provided land and the means to put together basic homes. He also opened a way for ASOSAP to come alongside these families through our post disaster relief project, made possible by many generous donations of funds.

The post disaster relief project is meeting some of the important needs of these families. They have needed a safe and clean place to sleep. Can you imagine sleeping on a dirt or cement floor for months? It would be cold, damp, and dirty. This has been their reality. The solution to this is a bed. Recently we were able to make the 2-hour trip to New Queja to deliver these wooden beds. Ten families received 2 beds each. After parking the trucks as far as we could drive, we walked the steep and muddy trails to their homes with the bed pieces. We often passed through corn stalks and dodged black bean plants, staple food items for the Pokomchi. Upon arrival at a home we got to work assembling the beds. The children were excited and couldn’t wait until it was all made up to test it out. Most of all, everyone was so grateful for this gift.

Along with the beds, we brought a table and chairs set for each family. Having a clean place to sit and eat meals is another necessity. Families can stay healthy eating from the table, instead of eating from a dirt floor or dirt caked cement floor. It is also another opportunity to come together as a family around the table. They have lost so much, but sitting together they are thankful for those they did not lose and for can see some progress in their new surroundings.

The other piece of post disaster relief is nutritional support for children aged 6 months to 4 years old . Before the landslide, the families struggled daily to put food on the table. Having to flee their village without anything and start over in a previously uninhabited place makes this even more difficult.  As a result, many children in this age group have become malnourished. ASOSAP has experience bringing children out of malnutrition and God has provided the funds to help 50 children from New Queja.

Every month, for 6 months, these children are receiving formula and a nutritional supplement. ASOSAP nurses are educating their mothers on nutrition and monitor the children’s height and weight to ensure they are growing appropriately. The mothers receive Biblical education as well. With this they can grow spiritually and pass this along to their families. We long to see these children healthy, do well in school, and become future leaders in their communities, things they cannot do if they continue to be malnourished. They have received 3 months of nutritional support so far and it is making a big difference in the children and mothers’ lives.

All of this wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and support. Thank you for coming alongside us in this. The project has been fully funded and we are excited to see how God continues to work in New Queja! These families also send their many thanks and blessings to you and your family.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26