Long before the Spanish arrived in, what we now know as Guatemala, the Mayans flourished throughout Guatemala. Temples and other unique buildings proved that they once were a great people. The Mayans were declining when the Spaniard Pedro de Alvarado conquered them. The first settlement, which the name translated in English is City of Santiago, was destroyed because of an earthquake. The second colonial capital flooded in the year 1542. Instead of building over the second colonial capital, the survivors built Antigua, located near Almolonga, which became the second capital in 1543. Later during the 17th century, Antigua became one of the wealthiest capitals in Central America and also started the first university in Central America, Universidad de San Carlos; this university is a prestigious school known for medicine and social expertise. Because of the capitals location, it was venerable to earthquakes and in the year 1773 was destroyed by two earthquakes. Unfortunately these two earthquakes caused Antigua to be vacated and the third capital, Guatemala City, was founded in La Hermita Valley in 1776.
After several years underneath Spanish rule, Guatemala broke free on September 15, 1821 but Guatemala was not done with changes. The country occasionally had representative government but most of the mid-19th century until the mid-1980s the country was in constant struggles with dictatorships, insurgencies, coups, and stretches of military rule. This constant struggle with Guatemala government caused high crime rates, worsening corruption problem and a multitude of other things. Although all this is in the history of Guatemala, a new government was established and has given hope to the Guatemala people. Please pray that I might be able to reach out to these hurting people.
Sadly Guatemala history is totally different than how our forefathers created our nation. Since our forefathers built this nation on Biblical standards we have been able to be blessed by God and help other nations. Once we turn away from Biblical standards we will plunge into darkness.
