A small community on the south side of Guatemala City is experiencing holistic transformation through an intervention by the Iglesia del Nazareno de San José Chituzul, who saw their need and decided to become actively involved.
The small community of San José Chituzul 207 kilometers north of Guatemala City, is located at the foot of the wall of the Hidroeléctrica Chixoy. Due to its location, the community is considered high risk because of its proximity to the dam.
This community has no clean water to drink, and many families use water directly from the river that flows from the dam. Gastrointestinal sicknesses were very common in the community. “It was very sad to see children sick constantly for this reason,” said Alejandra García, pastor of the Iglesia del Nazareno de San José Chituzul.
From the beginning of the year, the church recognized this need in the community, and noted that one of the key problems causing illness was a lack of purified water. It is for this reason that even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the church developed a project to help the community. “God opened doors and provided financially for the purchase of an ecological filter for each family; we have seen God’s love and care every step of the way,” said pastor García.
A few weeks ago, Pastor García visited some homes to see how the filters were working and one housewife said, “We are so thankful to God for this filter. My children come and drink the water and it tastes so fresh. Before, after taking a drink of water their stomachs hurt, but now they are not experiencing any illness because they are drinking clean water.”
Church members are visiting families every three weeks to share God’s word and deliver food. “Many people have helped and donated with love,” said Pastor García. “During this time in a pandemic, God has shown his love and compassion not only for the families of the church, but also for the community giving witness to our love for our neighbors,” she added.
“I give thanks to God for the opportunity to serve in his work and to be able to hear the testimonies of thanks to God. I know that there are still many more needs to address, but in the name of God we will soon be able to develop other projects to help.”
She finished by saying, “We will be a living church that testifies to the love and compassion of Christ!”
Source: Alejandra García, pastor of Iglesia del Nazareno de San José Chituzul (San Jose Chituzul Church of the Nazarene), Verapaz del Sur District, Guatemala.
