Faith in the Midst of Crisis
In July 2025, a powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Guatemala, centered near our community in Santa María de Jesús. The impact was immediate and devastating; many families in our program saw their homes—often built from traditional adobe and cinderblock—severely damaged or collapsed. In the face of this disaster, Steps of Hope shifted immediately from our usual education efforts to emergency relief. Our local team spent the initial days in the community assessing the safety of our students, providing emotional support, and delivering essential supplies to those who had lost everything. Many of our own staff suffered harrowing experiences in the initial event but quickly turned to helping their neighbors!
Immediate Relief & Community Support
Beyond the physical destruction, the event caused significant trauma for the children, many of whom were terrified by the ongoing aftershocks. Thanks to the overwhelming responsiveness of our US community, we were able to provide emergency food kits, clean water, and temporary shelter materials. Our focus remained on ensuring that no child in our program went hungry or unsheltered while the town began the long, difficult process of clearing debris.
A Legacy of Generosity
The outpouring of support following the quake was nothing short of miraculous. Thanks to your donations, we raised an amazing $23,000 for relief efforts. Spurred on by that momentum, we received an additional $10,000 grant from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
These combined funds allowed us to provide more than 100 families—nearly 500 residents—with weekly deliveries of essential food and water through the end of 2025. This crisis served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of our
Guatemalan staff and the strength of our global partners. It is a wonderful
example of God turning tragedy into hope. Thank you to each and every one of you who responded in this extra time of need.
