The Situation in Honduras and WME's Response
On Sunday June 28, the sitting President of Honduras was removed from office and deported from the country. A new President was appointed. This action has been opposed by all surrounding governments as well as the Obama administration. This is being called an illegal coup by the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the United States government. On the other hand, a number of missionaries that I know or know of, and more conservative analysts are defending the action as legal and in accordance with the Honduran constitution. WME is not a political organization and exists only to advance the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the facilitation of a church planting ministry in Honduras. Our prayer is for a quick, peaceful resolution of the problem in Honduras. For Honduras we pray, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
Since the 28th of June, there has been unrest in Honduras. Road blocks and protests and demonstrations on both sides of the issue have made travel difficult and somewhat dangerous in Honduras. At this present moment, it is uncertain if and when the ousted President will return and what the result would be for the peace and stability of the country if he does. Sanctions may be placed on the country that may affect the nation adversely.
When the coup occurred our church planting team was on a short break. Every 3 months our team takes a short break to travel home to the eastern side of Honduras to visit with family. Our Honduran church planters were there when the events began to unfold last Sunday, the 28th. Because of travel problems, they have been instructed to remain where they are for now. While there they will be making contacts, looking for men and women of peace and hopefully beginning initial Bible studies. The Lord may use this to open doors in a different part of the country from where we have been working.
On Tuesday, the 2 missionary families, the Travises, were in San Pedro Sula. The unrest had reached there by that time. By the grace of God they were spared injury or worse when they were on foot in a part of the city and ran into some kind of a protest group or perhaps merely a mob of trouble makers. They were spotted and identified as north Americans and the group chased them, threatening them with clubs. They had some distance between them and the Travis families ran and rounded a corner. Suddenly a taxi appeared and they jumped in and were sped away, and taken to where their vehicles were parked. This close call and the fact that our Honduran church planters are on the other side of the nation and not able to get back to our project area in west Honduras led us to believe that it might be best if our 2 north American families would leave the country until things settle down. Randy Travis talked with me by phone and I affirmed the decision. On Wednesday morning, July 1 Randy, Linda, Keith and Juanita Travis crossed into Guatemala and then proceeded across the country entering Mexico on Thursday, July 2. They are there as of this posting and are monitoring events, as we are as well, in Honduras.
For now we believe that this is the best course of action. Here are the plans that we have for this month.
We have an opportunity to develop some materials to use in our project, and also have the need to obtain some supplies that we are using in the program. Therefore we believe that Randy and Linda will drive home to the USA in a few days. (Keith and Juanita will remain in Mexico). Randy will take care of some business and work on a project related to the HCPM program. While he is here we will try to obtain some needed equipment for use in Honduras. Hopefully all this can be accomplished this month (July) and assuming that it is possible they can return to Honduras to continue the project in August.
The most important thing that our partners and supporters can do at this time is pray. It is certainly true that 2 of the critical elements of cpm are Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. I want to ask the readers of this blog to join in prayer for the following things, especially in this month of July, 2009.
1. Pray for peace in Honduras and a quick resolution for this crisis, and a resolution that keeps doors open for the Gospel.
2. Pray for the Honduran church planters on our team for blessing, provision, and protection during this time, and that they can redeem the time by entering new locations to find people of peace and begin new studies that will result in churches and souls saved.
3. Pray for the people of the 73 Discovery Bible Studies in west Honduras that have begun. Pray that the work of the Lord continues in these families and that the seed that has been planted will continue to be watered by the Holy Spirit during this time.
4. Pray that all this works together to produce church planting movements in Honduras and throughout Central America.
5. Pray for traveling mercies for the Randy and Keith Travis families, who will be traveling much this next month.
6. Pray that all the preparations and supply acquisitions can be successfully accomplished during this time, so that we can redeem the time and when the team reassembles, the project can move forward rapidly.
7. Praise God for all that He has done, and for how He will use all of these circumstances for His Glory and the advance of His Kingdom.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support, and love for the people of Honduras.
Since the 28th of June, there has been unrest in Honduras. Road blocks and protests and demonstrations on both sides of the issue have made travel difficult and somewhat dangerous in Honduras. At this present moment, it is uncertain if and when the ousted President will return and what the result would be for the peace and stability of the country if he does. Sanctions may be placed on the country that may affect the nation adversely.
When the coup occurred our church planting team was on a short break. Every 3 months our team takes a short break to travel home to the eastern side of Honduras to visit with family. Our Honduran church planters were there when the events began to unfold last Sunday, the 28th. Because of travel problems, they have been instructed to remain where they are for now. While there they will be making contacts, looking for men and women of peace and hopefully beginning initial Bible studies. The Lord may use this to open doors in a different part of the country from where we have been working.
On Tuesday, the 2 missionary families, the Travises, were in San Pedro Sula. The unrest had reached there by that time. By the grace of God they were spared injury or worse when they were on foot in a part of the city and ran into some kind of a protest group or perhaps merely a mob of trouble makers. They were spotted and identified as north Americans and the group chased them, threatening them with clubs. They had some distance between them and the Travis families ran and rounded a corner. Suddenly a taxi appeared and they jumped in and were sped away, and taken to where their vehicles were parked. This close call and the fact that our Honduran church planters are on the other side of the nation and not able to get back to our project area in west Honduras led us to believe that it might be best if our 2 north American families would leave the country until things settle down. Randy Travis talked with me by phone and I affirmed the decision. On Wednesday morning, July 1 Randy, Linda, Keith and Juanita Travis crossed into Guatemala and then proceeded across the country entering Mexico on Thursday, July 2. They are there as of this posting and are monitoring events, as we are as well, in Honduras.
For now we believe that this is the best course of action. Here are the plans that we have for this month.
We have an opportunity to develop some materials to use in our project, and also have the need to obtain some supplies that we are using in the program. Therefore we believe that Randy and Linda will drive home to the USA in a few days. (Keith and Juanita will remain in Mexico). Randy will take care of some business and work on a project related to the HCPM program. While he is here we will try to obtain some needed equipment for use in Honduras. Hopefully all this can be accomplished this month (July) and assuming that it is possible they can return to Honduras to continue the project in August.
The most important thing that our partners and supporters can do at this time is pray. It is certainly true that 2 of the critical elements of cpm are Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. I want to ask the readers of this blog to join in prayer for the following things, especially in this month of July, 2009.
1. Pray for peace in Honduras and a quick resolution for this crisis, and a resolution that keeps doors open for the Gospel.
2. Pray for the Honduran church planters on our team for blessing, provision, and protection during this time, and that they can redeem the time by entering new locations to find people of peace and begin new studies that will result in churches and souls saved.
3. Pray for the people of the 73 Discovery Bible Studies in west Honduras that have begun. Pray that the work of the Lord continues in these families and that the seed that has been planted will continue to be watered by the Holy Spirit during this time.
4. Pray that all this works together to produce church planting movements in Honduras and throughout Central America.
5. Pray for traveling mercies for the Randy and Keith Travis families, who will be traveling much this next month.
6. Pray that all the preparations and supply acquisitions can be successfully accomplished during this time, so that we can redeem the time and when the team reassembles, the project can move forward rapidly.
7. Praise God for all that He has done, and for how He will use all of these circumstances for His Glory and the advance of His Kingdom.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support, and love for the people of Honduras.
Comments