Volcano Affects God`s Child | Video

Alex Hagan | 9/14/2012

A volcano has erupted near Antigua, Guatemala, a city that has ties to Bismarck. That`s the home of a project that many North Dakotans are a part of. The volcano exploded with clouds of ash and lava prompting a large scale evacuation, which is affecting the Dreamer Center of the God`s Child Project, which is close to the disaster.

The Guatemala headquarters of the God`s Child Project based in Bismarck is about six miles away from the volcano. The center provides education for children ages five through fifteen.

"We have schools, we have a vocational center, the nutritional center and a variety of other program," said God`s Child Chief Operating Officer Murray Sagsveen.

The Volcan del fuego, which is more than 12,000 feet high, recently erupted prompting evacuation orders of more than 33,000 people including the children at the Dreamer Center in Antigua.

"No matter how much lava there is or dust, there will be some effect to the God`s Child Project," Sagsveen said.

The center is located in the colonial city of Antigua, however the school serves people affected by the volcanic disaster as well.

"The main people that we serve are these 17 villages that have been evacuated surrounding Antigua. It`s not necessarily the population in Antigua," said Resource Development Director Angela Miller.

The volcano has spit out a lot of ash along with lava down its flanks, however the Dreamer Center in Antigua has been lucky so far.

"It`s not life threatening though and it`s not threatening the water supply for Antigua or for the Dreamer Center right now, but that is simply the will of God because if the wind shifts all of that flume could be coming right at us," said God`s Child Project Founder Patrick Atkinson.

But for right now, members of the project don`t know what the future holds for the school.

"We can`t speculate but we can prepare and that`s what we`re doing right now in case this happens and comes in our direction," Atkinson said.

And the project has received plenty of support so far.

"They care about the project, they want to make sure that the people that they have been supporting the last 20 years are safe and that they`re getting the help they need," Miller said.

Resources have already been distributed to those in need, but members say any help makes a big difference.

Anyone who wants to help with the relief effort can call 701-255-7956 or go to godschild.org.

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