Escaping the Fire: How an Ixil Mayan Pastor Led His People Out of a Holocaust During the Guatemalan Civil War

by Tom?s Guzaro, David Stoll (Afterword), Terri Jacob McComb

During the height of the Guatemalan civil war, Tomás Guzaro, a Mayan evangelical pastor, led more than two hundred fellow Mayas out of guerrilla-controlled Ixil territory and into the relative safety of the government army's hands. This exodus was one of the factors that caused the guerrillas to lose their grip on the Ixil, thus hastening the return of peace to the area. In Escaping the Fire , Guzaro relates the hardships common to most Mayas and the resulting unrest that opened the door to civil war. He details the Guatemalan army's atrocities while also describing the Guerrilla Army of the Poor's rise to power in Ixil country, which resulted in limited religious freedom, murdered church leaders, and threatened congregations. His story climaxes with the harrowing vision that induced him to guide his people out of their war-torn homeland. Guzaro also provides an intimate look at his spiritual pilgrimage through all three of Guatemala's main religions. The son of a Mayan priest, formerly a leader in the Catholic Church, and finally a convert to Protestantism, Guzaro, in detailing his religious life, offers insight into the widespread shift toward Protestantism in Latin America over the past four decades. Riveting and highly personal, Escaping the Fire ultimately provides a counterpoint to the usual interpretation of indigenous agency during the Guatemalan civil war by documenting the little-studied experiences of Protestants living in guerrilla-held territory.

Genres: Memoir

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ashley Ruhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was especially interesting to me because (1) it was the first time I really explored the details of the Guatemalan civil war, and (2) because I visited the area the the book takes place. I was able to meet the author and a few of the people who were written about. It gave me a broader understanding of what happened and how it has left a lasting impact on the people of this area. The author took painstaking care to translate between the indigenous language, Spanish, and English, making it an important work documenting a heinously violent event.

[Diego Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal amount of the Guatemalan civil war from the perspective of a Mayan pastor. You truly get to know Tomas through this heart wrenching story and come to understand what his people experienced.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books that I've read about the Guatemalan Civil War.