Guatemala experienced a brutal civil war from 1960 to 1996 yet the country hasn’t recovered. State and military forces destroyed nearly 700 villages, sent death squads, and displaced nearly a million people in Guatemala. The majority of people killed were of Mayan descent. This legacy of inhumanity is a major contributor to the continued murder, violence against women, and other crimes throughout the country.

In many regions of Guatemala, work is hard to find especially in smaller towns and villages. The main industries are coffee, garment factories, agriculture, and construction. Minimum daily wages are extremely low. The communities reached by Capital’s team remain some of the poorest, with unemployment rates up to 75%. Approximately 49 percent of the children are chronically malnourished. This is the fourth highest rate in the world.

Many families cook indoors over open flames. This causes homes to be filled with smoke and creates a variety of health issues. Over the last five years, our Capital teams constructed new homes and built brick stoves ventilated to the outside. We helped build a brand new school and church in Membrillal, and hosted a first-ever Women’s Conference. Our teams are now host annual community festivals in San Lucas and Membrillal to bring people of all ages to worship, play, and learn about what God is doing!