The La Limonada community was established predominantly by Mayans who fled rural areas of Guatemala as the country experienced significant rural to urban migrations as a result of a four-decade-long civil war. Settlers staked claim to the land marked by the ravine and built homes because there was nowhere else for them to live. It is one of many communities known as asentamientos (Spanish for settlement) in Guatemala, built on what most would consider uninhabitable land formerly controlled by the government.
Considered a “Zona Roja” (or “Red Zone” – a designation given to Guatemala City’s poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods), the ravine is now home to 60,000 – 100,000 people and is the largest urban slum community in Central America. It serves as a border between Zona 1 and Zona 5 in the heart of Guatemala City.
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The community consists of ten different barrios (districts or neighborhoods) that are ruled by rival gangs. People living in one particular barrio will not cross over invisible boundaries into other barrios because of their fear of the rival gangs.
The geographic location of the community and the sub-culture of extreme poverty have produced a lack of education and job opportunities, spiritual darkness and unsustainable living conditions. Many of the families survive with no running water or electricity. Having a La Limonada address prevents people from securing legitimate jobs in the city so people are forced to lie about their address or they succumb to illegal activity.
While there is much darkness in La Limonada, there is also much beauty for those who have eyes to see. In the Book of Acts it is recorded that Jesus commissioned his followers to go to “the ends of the earth” as his witnesses. While the “ends of the earth” may have originally referred to geographical locations, it could also refer to places like La Limonada – places where most people refuse to go.
Tita and her team in Guatemala consider La Limonada a “Cathedral on the Street”, a place where God dwells and where heaven meets earth. It is a place where “holy moments” are experienced every day.
It is to this one place in the world and to the people there that we believe God has called Lemonade International to serve.