Thousands of people were evacuated and, as of Tuesday, 69 people are confirmed dead. That death toll is expected to rise as emergency responders continue to reach some of the most devastated areas.

AMG International serves in Guatemala, and their ministry and communities were also affected by the disaster. Bill Passons with AMG International shares, “We have communities where we’re working where virtually everybody in the community has lost their total livelihood because all the crops that they have planted have been totally destroyed. It’s going to take about a year’s time for them to get close to back on their feet.”

The volcano was still emitting blasts as of Monday. The ongoing eruptions have slowed rescue efforts.

Currently, the biggest needs are shelter, food, and clothing for displaced families and individuals. Passons points out that many people had to flee immediately and leave everything behind.

“There [are] lots of agencies, big government-type agencies that are stepping in and we praise the Lord for that. But there [are] needs for food, there is need for medication. Specifically, we have a lot of burn victims.”

To help meet the needs, AMG International is responding with aid in the name of Jesus.

“One of the things we believe [is] if God has placed us in an area or country that is having a natural disaster, God has already given us a footprint into communities. So because of the compassion that Christ has put into our heart…we are motivated to respond,” shares Passons.

“Right now in Guatemala, we are using some of our centers that are further away to help to receive food and clothing and other things that can be donated so we can help transport those into the more affected areas.”

AMG International will also need to clean their facilities that are closer to the volcano. Once they do that, those facilities can be used as distribution points for aid as well.

Additionally, AMG International is networking with churches and other organizations for relief efforts. “We do have a long-term mindset — how can we help not just on day one or in week one, but how can we help going forward?”

One profoundly helpful thing you can do today is give to AMG International’s disaster relief fund as they respond to the volcanic devastation in Guatemala.

Also, Passons says, “We need to be praying — praying for those whose lives are devastated and praying that the God of peace would meet them and give them the peace that passes understanding. And pray for the believers there, those pastors that are there doing counseling and just meeting the deepest needs of the people in the community. Pray for them. Pray that they will continue to have strength and that they will continue just to be light in this time of great darkness.

“Pray for wisdom for us, for AMG, and for all the other organizations that are coming together…. That He would give us wisdom, that He would help us in that partnership of working together, and then ultimately that all the things we do would bring glory and honor to Him.”

Although the thousands of evacuees have been home for some time already, there are residual issues to be dealt with. According to Paradise Bound Ministries, most of the damage has been caused by heavy ash fall and has contaminated water supplies and even clogged water tubing in some villages.

When MNN first reported this story, Paradise Bound's work in La Reina was out of the danger zone. The village was on the edge of the ash cloud, but residents didn't have to evacuate.

However, Paradise Bound has relationship with other villages through their Mobile Medical Clinics/Outreaches. These villages were in the ash cloud's path. Although the ministry team temporarily lost communications with them, they have since begun responding to the needs expressed.

Since 1997, Paradise Bound Ministries has a comprehensive and growing suite of programs meeting the needs of children, families, and villages for basic sustenance, medical care, and Christian ministry.

The teams provide medical care, pastoral training, discipleship training, rebuilds homes for families, and runs Open Doors Orphanage. It costs $32 a month to sponsor a child there.

Please remain in prayer for Paradise Bound Ministries as they help make repairs and restore communities. Pray for Gospel opportunities, too.

Founder and President of Paradise Bound Ministries Dan Smith says the Antigua side of Fuego isn't affected, but, "On the other side of Fuego lies an entire area where there are just a lot of poor villages on the coastal region of Guatemala. That is the area that seems to be affected the most, as well as one of the villages in which we have been working for the last two years, building homes right on the base of the volcano."

Smith says, "Many of the villages are very, very poor. And everything they own is inside that little shack that they live in, They're fearful to leave because when they come back, or IF they come back to a house at all, perhaps nothing will be there. So, many people are choosing to stay"–which Smith says is also dangerous.

Why? "Many of them are supplying their water for the villages out of streams or springs up on the mountainside, so those will become contaminated most likely, as well."

Smith says Paradise Bound has been cut off from some of the villages where they have discipleship ministry. Teams are trying to make contact with those individuals.

While the eruption was difficult for many, it can also be something God uses to draw people to Himself. Paradise Bound always keeps this in mind. "As we can come in with Christ's love and are able to help them–whether it be with water filters or the medical aspect of it, n everything we do we share the Gospel. They are very open to it."

Paradise Bound provides medical care, pastoral training, discipleship training, rebuilds homes for families, and runs Open Doors Orphanage. It costs $32 a month to sponsor a child there. Click here to help.