Ashcraft Ministries June—July

2010
Serving Our Savior in Central America

Dear Fellow Laborer of Christ,

Under normal circumstances, I would enjoy a trip

home to Guatemala, but these were far from normal
circumstances. Most people have heard about the
sinkhole in Guatemala City. The 30 story deep
sinkhole swallowed an entire factory, which is indeed
tragic; however many have not heard of the small city
of Ciudad Vieja, where our home is located. Not only The city is surrounded by three volcanoes, situated at
did Tropical Storm Agatha cause problems in the the bottom of the largest, Volcán de Agua. Many
capital, but it also caused a catastrophe just a few people in Ciudad Vieja and neighboring villages farm
hundred yards from our front door. the fertile terrain on these mountains. When the
tropical storm hit, yielding torrential rains, the freshly
tilled ground planted with corn, coffee, and beans,
quickly gave way and formed a mudslide. It gathered
speed, dumping tons of mud, boulders, and trees into
the city, which destroyed many homes and filled the
rest with mud. Vehicles, couches, and beds slid down
the steep avenues as the mud tore down walls and
stripped houses of their furnishings and appliances.
Many people lost the majority of their belongings, if
not their entire home. Even more devastating were
the loved ones that were lost. When I left Ciudad
Vieja, they were still pulling bodies out of the mud.
Over 50 people died, and 30 more were still missing.
We ask that you pray for the people of Ciudad Vieja
and all of Guatemala. Besides their homes, many lost
an entire season of crops, which they will not be able to
sell or eat in order to provide for their families. Lauren
and I are anxious to get home now more than ever.
Please pray that the remainder of our work fund will be
raised quickly so that we can help Guatemala recover
from this natural disaster, for we know their only real
hope is in Jesus Christ.

“When thou passest through the waters, I

will be with thee; and through the rivers, In His Grace,
they shall not overflow thee” Rhyan and Lauren Ashcraft
Isaiah 43:2a

Ministry of Joshua Baptist Church * P.O. Box 1210 Joshua, Texas 76058
rhyanashcraft@aol.com * www.rhyanashcraft.org * (803) 571-1423