Neighbors to neighbors: Loving in the middle of tragedy

On March 8, 2026, a tragedy took the life of a local grandmother and her 3-year-old grandson when they both drowned in a local river.

The family had been out together visiting a forest on the banks of the river when the little boy and grandmother somehow ended up in the water. Neither knew how to swim.

Cellphone footage showed the aftermath of the tragedy and played out the scene with the mourning mother on local media outlets in the rawness that Guatemalan news outlets are unashamed to share broadly.

First responder’s arrived, but it was too late. The weeping mother also ended up in the hospital from a mix of the effects of riverwater she had injested or inhaled and the strain of the disaster.

We knew this family because the young victim’s older brother regularly comes to our Bible studies. He had celebrated his seventh birthday with his family and friends here at our house.

When teachers at the local school told us about the tragedy, we coordinated with them to be present for our young friend and the family during this difficult time. With dozens of students from the school we visited the family home where a large black bow and a clean white bow hung from the front fence. This is the traditional way that families announce that there was a death in the family as family and friends come to console the family.

As we entered, we found a large room filled with chairs and a rush of people waiting, sitting, and being present while the two caskets rested at the front of the room in silence.

We were there for the family and our young friend. At the wake, Chrisi met one of the family members and received her contact information.

A few days later the brother, who is one of our students, asked when we were going to visit his mother. “She’s sad because no one is visiting her,” he told Chrisi. Hearing that, Chrisi made a point to visit their family and pray with them.

Over the next several weeks, Chrisi and her ladies Bible study made a point to reach out to the mourning mother and encourage her. Visiting in her home, when she was at hospital and holding encouraging Bible studies with her and another family member.

In this tragedy, we’ve come to remember that reaching out with the love of Christ is not a quick fix, but a long-term, ongoing, demonstration of God’s love and, as in this case, it means being present with someone in their sorrow and as well as their joy.

Please pray for this dear Mother and son as we continue showing the love of Christ to them.

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