LDS Members Rally in Central America

Thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) have been affected by a pair of disasters in Central America  which killed hundreds, destroyed homes by the thousands and prompted a ongoing Church humanitarian response.

Guatemala’s Pacaya volcano erupted May 27, spewing lava and rocks and blanketing sections of Guatemala City — located 19 miles to the north — in ash and debris. The eruption forced the evacuation of hundreds of families living near Pacaya, including several member families. The international airport was closed because volcanic ash and debris.

Two days later, a devastating tropical storm, Agatha, made landfall at the Guatemalan border with Mexico.  As it moved south, the storm wreaked havoc not only in Guatemala, but also in Honduras and El Salvador.  The storm dumped rain, caused flooding and landslides, and even created sinkholes.  About 129,000 people were displaced.

No Church meetinghouses were harmed by the disasters and many building are being utilized to shelter LDS families who have been displaced.  Many LDS members were evacuated before the storm hit. 

“The Church provided emergency food, water, clothing and tools to victims and local priesthood leaders. The Central America Area was also working with civil authorities in the three affected Central American nations to purchase and distribute medicine, building supplies and other relief provisions.”

The Church will continue to assess the needs of church members and their neighbors to see what ongoing aid needs to be rendered.  Help rebuilding houses and planting crops is forthcoming.