A Memorable Event by Don, Part Two

A Memorable Event, Chapter Two
by Don

Our daughter, Donna, was attending a school for missionary children in Huehuetenango that was available to us was out of service. By the third day we became anxious to know how our daughter and companions were. On that day we met a married translator couple who had stopped on their way to visit their children. I asked, Where are your children?

At Huehuetenango, they replied.

So I said We have a daughter, Donna, there.

To which his wife said, My daughter knows Donna. Have you heard how they are?

Virginia answered, No and we are becoming anxious to know.

They replied, Then come with us and we will find out how they are. You can return with us tomorrow.

Another answered prayer!

The drive toward Huehuetenanago soon revealed to us the extent of the earthquake devastation between Guatemala's Capitol and northwest. Every adobe-block house and building with a thatched roof had been leveled to the ground for the next hour or so of our venture into the unknown. We later learned that about 11,000 Cakchiquel people had died, plus that many more around the country.

Then we had to leave the regular road which was blocked by land and rock slides. Bulldozers had been digging out a detour through some beautiful forest for some distance. Alternately we would return to pavement and detouring until the damage decreased enough to where we had pavement to drive on to Huehuetenanago. The damage was much less there. Everyone at the school was safe and uninjured. We had truly joyful reunion with our children and those of others we knew in Guatemala. The school staff people were wonderful.

Two or three days later we returned the way we had come, a two or three hour drive. Our remaining time in Guatemala was fully occupied with recovery operations.

NOTE: Virginia and I are members of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Now we are retired. We went to Guatemala to set up and maintain telephone and radio communications for our translators' village. workplaces and our headquarters in Guatemala City. Virginia was the Translators Center's Hostess.

This is the conclusion of Don's memorable event. Thankfully, he and his family were safe in the midst of a possible fatal situation. Again, his description gave us the feeling we were there traveling with them through this frightening time.

NOTE: Liquefaction, Motagua Valley, Guatemala Earthquake of February 4, 1976, Guatemala. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake killed 23,000, injured 76,000, and caused $1,100 million in property damage. It was felt over 100,000 square km and was accompanied by extensive surface faulting.
LIQUEFACTION- Sand mounds deposited by spouting from the row of crater-like vents in the lower Motagua Valley, Guatemala. Increased pressure due to the earthquake forced the liquefied sands to the surface.

Photograph Credit: U.S. Geological Survey. eq-general-15

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