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The wet season in Guatemala usually starts about
April and reaches its peak during September. As the last
days of October count off, the rains begin to diminish
and cease by December. This year the rains came
late, really late. Though there have been plenty
of clouds, they only managed to produce weak and
scattered rain showers. As October arrived some
normal amounts of rain begin to fall, but too little too
late, the wet season is at it's end.
The southeastern side of Guatemala is known as the "Corredor
Seco" or Dry Corridor. The weather pattern and
terrain just do not allow the formation of regular
precipitation. The people that live in this "dry
corridor" are simple and poor, and this year suffer even
greater hunger and deprivation due to the feeble wet
season.
It is common for women, girls, and children to live
on reduced rations or even go without food.
Whatever humble nourishment is available is reserved for
men and boys as they are viewed as the main
producers and contributors. The more you can
produce the more you get to eat. And, basic
medical for these people is all but non-existent.
The mission of Living Water Teaching (LWT) is to
train up national ministers from all over Central and
South America, sending them out, many often return to
their own villages to minister. Such was the case
with the remote villages surrounding Zacapa in the areas
of Chiquimula, Jocotan, and La Palmilla. Two LWT
Bible institute graduates have been working with the
people in these areas. An emergency was
developing, little rain meant few crops, the people are
running out of food! Over 150 families were in
trouble; what they needed was food, and soon. A
call for help went out.
Living Water Teaching Church, located in
Quetzaltenango, responded by collecting Q13,000.00
(Quetzals) from the congregation, approximately $1570.00
USD. With this support, life sustaining grains and
staples were purchased and distributed. Beans,
rice, corn, and salt could be placed in the hands of
these families.
In addition to these staples, vitamins for the
already malnutrition stricken children and de-worming
medicine for their swollen bellies.
Mercy Wings International (MWI) provided aviation
services to transport Living Water Teaching Church
pastor Wilson Moir, and Distribution coordinator Dany
Mejia.
Overland travel within Guatemala can be a challenge,
often requiring long drive times for relatively short
distances. To drive from our mission base at
Quetzaltenango (in the western highlands) to Zacapas
(eastern edge of the country) is 10 to 11 hours.
By using aircraft less than one hour (58 minutes) is
required.
The maximum gross weight of the aircraft is 3600
Lbs., meaning the weight of the aircraft, all people on
board, fuel, and cargo, cannot exceed 3600 Lbs.
Calculating fuel required, we departed Quetzaltenango
with four on board, luggage, vitamins and medicine. And
enough fuel to safely reach the planned fueling stop at
Guatemala City.
From our mission base at 7880 MSL, the aircraft took
little notice of the great load being carried as we
briskly ascended. We all took a parting glance
back at the Santa Maria Volcano, a prominent landmark in
our valley.
Next climbing out over the city of Totonicapan then
setting a course for Guatemala City via the "Alaska"
pass at 10,500 ft.
Once over "Alaska Pass" and weaving our way past
craggy mountain peaks and between volcanoes, our flight
path took us along side Lago Attilan, a volcano crater
filled with water, surrounded by a few smaller volcano.
The next checkpoint is Patzun a small township just at
the lip of the crater.
Below the cloud layer we made our way to Antigua and
between the bases of the Fuego and Pacaya volcanoes
where an opening in the cloud layer provided a visual
for the descend into the valley of Guatemala City, and
fuel.
Departing La Aurora International Airport at
Guatemala City we made our way to the Rabinal VOR and
changed course to clear a 6,500 foot ridge and into the
narrow valley of El Progresso and Teculutan.
A long descent to 2,000 ft., following the river and
under low clouds obscuring the high terrain on both
sides, then finally Zacapa.
Finding a place beside the airstrip, the turbo cooled
for several minutes, before engine shut down. We
were met with the usual armed soldiers and airport
officials, and asked to produce the required documents,
then everyone was all smiles.
Our passengers with their supplies arrived fresh and
ready to minister. Mission accomplished with
excellence and safety. This is the purpose of
aircraft at work in Guatemala; speeding the Gospel and
relief to the people.
All that was left to do was to return to home
base.........but that's another story.
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