STAYING SAFE IN HONDURAS

Much is made of the fact that Honduras - and specifically San Pedro Sula - is the murder capital of the world.  You can't dispute the facts.  Day after day the headlines of the newspapers announce another tragedy.  However, our missionaries are safe!  They are protected in a hundred different ways.  For example: health. 

Some people fear for their health when coming to Honduras.  We are careful with what we eat, and have never had much problem.  However, health issues are a part of mission life.  Beside the normal bouts with stomach problems we deal with a lot of ingrown toenails, athlete's foot, sun burn and heat rashes, mosquito bites and more.  We provide medicine every week to those in need.  Occasionally, someone has a serious problem.  This week Elder Rivera had to have his appendix removed and we were able to spend some time with him as he recovered.  The hospital was clean and orderly and the surgery went off without a hiccup.  President Dester stayed with Elder Rivera until he came out of surgery and was sleeping soundly.  We were there the next morning so he wouldn't be alone.  Elder Palma had a problem of a different kind.  He got bit by a rat.  We were positive that he would need rabies shots and so he was taken to a rabies clinic to begin the process.  They insisted that a tetanus shot would suffice.  So our nurse, Sister Bayles, purchased the injection and that is what he got.  Our whole office got a great laugh watching him squirm.  We love these missionaries.  P.S. He is fine!

Secondly... where the missionaries live. 

More and more, the communities here in San Pedro Sula are placing security guards and gates around their homes.  There are literally hundreds of such gates and entrances.  They check your identification when you enter, and call ahead to the family you intend to visit.  Inside of these places it is pretty safe.  The majority of our missionaries live behind some sort of security gate.

These security gates come in all shapes and sizes - the determining factor is how much money the tenants behind the gates have.

 

Thirdly... they (we) are protected by the people - most of whom are wonderful, kind and loving.

This week a hardened gang member stopped at the home of two of our missionaries and warned them that a rival gang was going to be there that night dressed in white shirts.  "To avoid being hurt," he warned, "you need to stay off the streets tonight."  Every single day people watch out for the missionaries of this Church.  A complete stranger walked up to us after we had just taken money out of an ATM that is visible from the street and warned us that we should never use any ATM that is so easily observed by those who pass by.  He added, "You need to always go inside of the bank." He then told us that his father had been killed doing exactly what we had just done. The lesson was learned.  Taxi drivers warn us of areas that are too dangerous to enter.  Members of the Church call frequently warning that a missionary was late getting home that night.  The local people know the dangers and they keep us safe.

Fourth... we are protected from above.

We are going to speak of this factor very reverently.  We recognize that there may be some who read this blog who are not of our faith and may not fully understand these words.  But, all we say is true.  God protects these young missionaries - often in very mysterious ways.  Elder Williams told of a time he missed his normal bus and had to wait for the next one.  He fretted for the fifteen minutes that he waited because he knew it would make him late.  However, only five minutes down the road they passed the former bus which had been hijacked.  People were both robbed and shot.  Elder Shuga left his backpack on a crowded bus. It contained information that he needed for the work.  Three hours later he saw a bus that he thought looked the same; he flagged it down; and there it was - his backpack!  A simple phone call was what got us out of our house the night thieves broke into our home.  Quick words of counsel, when heeded, have protected these missionaries for thirty-eight years!  No LDS missionary has ever been killed in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.  We believe that God guides this work and those incredible men and women who are called to preside over these missions.

These eight wonderful missionaries are living proof of all we have said.  From left: Elder Guaran, Elder Barba, Elder Funes, Sister Tolliver, Sister Lopez, Sister Cifuentes, Elder Lucas and Elder Garcia.  President and Sister Dester are seated.  They leave their very successful missions healthy and happy, having met every challenge with courage and safety. We are so proud of them.  Goodbye, our friends.

WALKING THROUGH HONDURAS

The public streets of Honduras are literally strewn with garbage.  The problem has grown to the stage where no one even seems to notice it anymore.  Wherever you are is where you drop your garbage.  Some gets eaten by the goats and sheep that graze the road sides freely.  However, that which is uneaten continues to mound up until it obscures the natural beauty of this land.

It's not very often that we get home from the office before dark.  On those days when we do get home early enough, we leave the safety of our housing compound and get a tiny bit of exercise by walking.  We stay within the confines of the guarded colony which surrounds our housing complex.  The streets we walk don't look like the streets pictured above.  We thought you might enjoy accompanying us today on our walk.



Our walk is about two miles long and will take us about 30 minutes.

There aren't many sidewalks, but there are manicured roadways, flowers in bloom and roads that have been swept clean of the normal dust and grime for us to enjoy.  This area is called Bosques del Merendon.  There are a number of homes being built further up the road, and some fences that for now stand guard over empty fields.  This area is the home of the most wealthy of families here in San Pedro Sula.  Most of the lots are still undeveloped, but there is lots of room to grow.  Most of the homes that are built have private security guards in addition to the guards that watch over this private colony's entry. 
   The birds that we hear sound more wild than the birds we have known before. Trees soar more that a hundred feet into the blue sky above us.  Occasionally we will see an animal scurry across the road in front of us - usually it is a rat-like animal called a taper (we think).

It provides a peaceful atmosphere for us to unwind from the stress of the mission office.  Sadly, even here we don't dare be outside once the sun sets.  So, we don't pause long to admire the sights.  We have to keep walking.

Any area that is not trimmed and manicured soon grows into a dense, impenetrable jungle.

We do see a few things that we have never seen before.  This nest used to house either ants, wasps or termites; we just don't know.  We didn't dare disturb it for fear that it wasn't completely uninhabited.

Sometimes the beauty is breathtaking.

We pass no one on the streets; and no one passes us. The air is muggy and the temperature is hot. We talk about our day - the sad and the funny.  We talk about our future plans.  And, of course, we talk about family.  It's a wonderful part of our day.  But, now it is time to turn around and head for home.

The San Pedro Sula valley lies below us.  It will very soon disappear into the darkness as year round the sun sets by 6:00 p.m.  It seems to transition from light to dark extremely quickly here.  So, for today our walk is over.  We hope that you enjoyed it. 



 

THANKSGIVING DAY

Thanksgiving isn't celebrated as a holiday in Honduras. There is no great rush on the purchase of turkeys or pumpkin pie.  Stores don't close and families don't gather together.  Work goes on as normal - both for the people of Honduras and for our missionaries.  But, we were amongst the fortunate few who found a way to make this day special. For us, Thursday was quite a milestone.  It not only was Thanksgiving, but it marked our 18th month as missionaries in Honduras.

It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without pie.  It is funny how certain things forge themselves into being more than just pleasant traditions.  Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie are more than just food; they are the anchors that hold us firmly to our roots as Americans. Partaking of them on this day is as emotionally important to us as it is delicious. 

And it just isn't Thanksgiving without family!  We missed our children and grandchildren today.  But, the people we have met here in Honduras and who have now served by our side in this mighty work have become more like family than just friends.  What a blessing it has been to be with the Desters and the Kleins.  This Thanksgiving we also had President Dester's brother and sister-in-law, John and Debbie Dester, with us.  Together we ate, talked and laughed until the day had passed.  Some of the chatter was business, but most of the day was passed just enjoying the blessing of getting to know each other. 

John and Debbie Dester were kind enough to bring us a special gift from LaRae's brother.  The airport custom official really gave them a hard time bringing it into the country, but these seasoned travelers were able to squeeze it through.  What a nice way to end a Thanksgiving day - a little Ghirardelli's chocolate.  Thank you, Rodney and Mischel.  Your thoughtfulness made our day even sweeter.

HONDURAS VOTES

The fate of this wonderful nation hangs upon the decisions that will be made this weekend by the people of this country. Candidates from eight political parties are running in the election that will take place this Sunday morning.  However, the actual struggle appears likely to be between the conservative ruling party's candidate, Juan Orlando, of what they call the National Party and the left-wing candidate, Xiomara Castro of the "Libre" party (Freedom).  She is the wife of former President Mel Zelaya who was ousted from his office in 2009 and is widely blamed for the economic collapse of Honduras.  His name still carries a lot of power, but there are definitely more people who hate him than that admire him.  A third party (the Liberal Party) is also expected to make a lot of noise.  Their candidate is Mauricio Villeda.  You can't turn your head without seeing a poster of his face.  He apparently has a reputation of being an honest man. A huge amount of money has been spent during this campaign by all three of these parties which contrasts with the impoverished lifestyles of millions of Hondurans who can barely survive. 

 

The streets are flooded with posters of the Honduras presidential candidates hanging from every single possible post; from street lamps to electricity posts to trees… you name it.  We are counseled to stay completely politically neutral as missionaries and to avoid, whenever possible, political discussions.  For the most part we have done that. But, the election is in the forefront of the minds of every Honduranian.  The few conversations we have had have been divided.  Our dentists strongly feels one way; our security guard feels the other way.  We really don't know.

 

A political poll was taken a few months ago wherein the people were asked what are the most important issues facing them at this time.  The response was direct and overwhelming: security and unemployment.  A second question asked which they would prefer: a corrupt leader who would fix the problems, or an honest leader who would probably not be able to fix the problems.  The answer was nearly unanimous - give us someone who will fix the problems regardless of how they accomplish it!

For safety reasons, and as a precaution, all missionaries throughout all of Honduras have been ordered to stay inside of their apartments for the next three days.  All were told to gather enough purified water and food to last these three days and perhaps a little bit longer if necessary.  We are permitted to attend sacrament meeting this Sunday but then are to return immediately back to our apartments.  There is a great deal of uneasiness and anticipation.  Being "locked-up" in an apartment for three days is viewed by most of our missionaries as a prison sentence.  "What will we do?" "We'll go crazy!"  However, as a whole, these young men and women are incredibly obedient and will do as they have been asked to do.  It is important to know that we are not expecting any incidents of violence.  These efforts are precautionary only.  Actually, we are excited about this because we hope they will take the time to clean their apartments. The two of us are looking at these three days as a much needed vacation!

 

No effort to woo voters has been left undone.  The National Party has made a sudden, last second push of public projects in hopes of gaining favor.  A bridge that was ignored for years suddenly is fixed and painted, several streets now are adorned by walking and exercise paths.  Of course, all of these projects appear in the richest areas of San Pedro Sula.

We won't know for a couple of days who won this election.  And we probably won't know for several months what impact this election is going to have upon the wonderful people of Honduras.  But, small choices often bring about huge consequences.  This election will shape the future of Honduras. We are praying that the people will be guided to make wise decisions this Sunday.

TIME + SERVICE = A PROFOUND CHANGE FOR GOOD

Two days ago fourteen young Latter-day Saint men and women left the mission field for their former homes.  They had faithfully completed their missions.  In a meeting held just hours before, several of them had expressed a deep and abiding love for this country and its people and privately wished that they could stay longer.  "It has been the best two years of my life," was expressed over and over again.

From top left: Elder Limon, Elder Ramirez, Elder Birt, Elder Underwood, Elder Bergquist, Elder Bautista, Elder Perez, Elder Heber and Elder Rodriguez.  Front row: Sister Aguilar, Sister Tanner, Sister Gomorah, Sister Lopez, Sister Williams.

Two of our favorites: Sister Aguilar and Sister Tanner

As is customary President and Sister Dester prepared them a "going away" dinner in their home.  We were lucky enough to be invited and we were treated to a feast - both spiritually and temporally.  In a brief fireside-type chat, President Dester asked them all to share something that they had learned while serving their mission that they had not known before coming on their mission.  Their responses were varied but extremely sincere.  Frequently one would say, "I've learned those things too, but one additional thing I learned was...."  In this blog we wanted to share with you the wonderful reasons why a parent would wish for their child to have this experience of service.  Here is just a small sampling of what these missionaries said:

• Elder Limon said, "I learned that everybody matters - not just me.  These people are all my brothers and sisters.  When I see someone crying, I don't just pass them by, I now go to them to see if I can help."
• Elder Birt (in perfect Spanish) said, "I have learned that happiness is a decision.  My environment or circumstances don't have the power to affect my happiness.  I have chosen to be happy."
• Elder Bergquist said, "I have learned how to talk to people, but probably even more importantly, I have learned that people are worth talking to."
• Many talked of the importance of obedience.  Elder Underwood said, "I have learned that in order to obtain the guidance of the Holy Ghost I have to be obedient to what He has already taught me."
• Elder Perez said, "I have learned patience.  I'm not perfect yet, but I have learned to give people the benefit of the doubt and to let them progress at their own pace.  I am more patient now."
• Sister Gomorah said, "I have learned how to pray - I mean, how to really pray."

Sister Lopez and Elder Bautista

Most of these things, and more, were learned by them all.  However, one thing stood out above the rest.  Sister Lopez summed up the night when she said, "I have learned to know and to trust my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I now know better what He did for us, and I will be eternally grateful."

What a privilege it has been for us to associate with these fine young men and women for these two years.  We have watched them grow up while serving here in Honduras.  Every lesson they learned while serving as missionaries will bless their future lives every single day. 

With every group that leaves, another group of "youngsters" comes to replace them.  On Tuesday of this week twenty-three brand new missionaries arrived in San Pedro Sula.  They are excited and a little bit scared, but they are ready to serve.  It is amazing to know that in just a few short months, these new ones will be as powerful as those we just sent home.

Our new missionaries

One thing is certain - lives will change here in Honduras because these young people selflessly have chosen to serve.  However, the life that is most likely to change is the life of each of these missionaries.  They will be better people for having chosen to come.  These next photos illustrate that truth better than our words can.

Elder Underwood was thrilled when his younger brother was called to serve his mission in this same country.  But, because missionaries can't leave their mission boundaries they were never able to see each other even though, at times, they were only 50 miles apart.  He received special permission to see his brother for one day before flying home.  We were privileged to drive him down to Tegucigalpa where his brother was serving.  We met at the temple there.  The incredible joy they experienced as they met and shared their common experiences and the lessons they had learned underlined what this service does for these missionaries.  Their hearts grow softer; their love grows deeper; and their testimonies are stronger.

A TASTE OF NORMAL LIFE

Our missionary service here in Honduras has put us in a "not-normal" situation.  By that we mean that most of what we see and most of what we do is completely different than those things to which we had become accustomed to over the years.  When something "normal" happens it brings us great joy!  Take, for instance, Halloween.

We only saw a total of three pumpkins for sale this entire year.  We bought two of them.  They were both already starting to get soft, but we had a blast carving them.  Of course, about all we had were a couple of butcher knives and soup spoons, but we had a good time.  We lit them up and proudly displayed them for a couple of nights on our front window sill.  We figured it would be our only taste of Halloween, but we were overjoyed when our doorbell rang.  Outside there were about a dozen little kids wearing the cutest costumes we've ever seen.  We grabbed our camera and snapped shots as fast as the kids grabbed our Tootsie Roll pops, and then they were gone.  They came in a big group accompanied by a whole host of parents, and then no one came again.  It was all over, but it was awesome.  All night long we relished the minute we had of the "normal."

For the first time since we arrived in Honduras we had a couple of friends come to visit us.  Glade and Beverly Peterson may be amongst our newest friends, but they have become dear to our hearts.  We first met them in the Tegucigalpa Temple when we were there a couple of months ago.  We invited them to come visit us while the temple was closed for cleaning - and they did.  We stayed up late, talked until our jaws were tired, and then drove to Copan so they could see the ruins. 

They are serving as temple missionaries for two years.  He speaks Spanish, but Beverly is having to try to learn it now.  They are from the Idaho Falls area.  It was such a joy to be with them.  For a couple of days we felt "normal."

Once in awhile we try to make someone laugh.  One of our very favorite missionaries is Elder Palma.  He is always so happy and full of energy.  For a couple of months now as we passed by his zone with the deliveries he would ask us if we had brought his wife.  He would say, "I have been asking for a wife now for weeks.  Why don't you ever bring her?"  So, we created a little catalogue from which he could choose his wife.  Oh, he laughed and laughed as he read it.  Making someone laugh once in awhile makes us feel "normal" again.

We stay busy. This was our "yesterday."

We taught for a few minutes at a zone leader's conference; then we took Elder Lui to the dentist, got the car washed, spent five hours in the office answering phone calls and solving issues, picked up 25 packages at the custom's office, hauled them up three floors, dropped off the mail, went to four different banks and one lawyer's office paying bills, and then drove to Castanos at 7:00 p.m. to teach a seminar about how to have a successful marriage to a room full of couples. (The couple on the end were new investigators.  We hope it went well.)  To be honest, this is our new "normal." 

IF WE WERE COMING TO HONDURAS TO PICK UP OUR MISSIONARY

Since our time in the office seldom changes, we thought today we would take a moment to answer the many questions that have come to us through our blog about coming to pick up your son or daughter from their mission.  These are obviously only our opinions, but these are the things that we would do if we were coming to pick up our own child.  Some of our suggestions are outside of our Mission's boundaries and might require special permission.  So, check first before you make your plan.

 

FIRST: We would go see the Mayan Ruins of Copan.  These ruins from 400 AD are impressive and well worth the four-hour drive from San Pedro Sula. The roads are twisty and pot-holed and will constantly keep you guessing, but the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful.  The never ending greenery is nothing short of amazing to those of us who have lived our lives in the relatively dry Utah desert.  Rain is a definite possibility anytime you visit this area of the world, so bringing an umbrella would be wise.  The locals use umbrellas year round as either a protection from the rain or the sun.

 



 
I would plan two days for this trip, not because the ruins will take that long to see, but because you don't want to drive back to San Pedro in the dark.  Plus, the city of Copan Ruinas (about two miles from the ruins) is a wonderful place to spend the night.  The people are friendly, the streets of the city center are clean and relatively safe for tourists.  There are a number of very nice places to stay and to eat.  We chose to stay in the Yat B'alam hotel which is about a block from the city center.  Their phone number is 504-2651-4338.  It is a cozy boutique hotel with four lovely rooms.  The service was nothing short of spectacular.  Your child's ability to speak Spanish will come in handy in asking for suggestions of where to go to eat.

NEXT: We would suggest two days in Roatan.  This island is called the jewel of Honduras and that is for good reason - it is beautiful.  It can be approached either by air from San Pedro Sula or by driving the three hours to La Ceiba and taking the two-hour ferry across the forty miles of water.  Because time is always of the essence in any vacation, we would suggest flying.  TACA airlines has a fifty minute flight that leaves twice every day and usually only costs about $100.  The ferry is quite an experience and is cheap at only $40.00, but the time required for the drive to Ceiba and the cost of parking your car for the two days make the price differential minimal.

You could easily spend weeks on Roatan with its world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, but your child will probably not be able to swim as he will still be a missionary.  Thus, staying for longer than a single night might be torturous.  There are countless resorts begging for your business, but our choice would be Banana-rama.  It is owned and operated by a member of the Church who has blessed this island and the missionaries.  Every missionary who has served here has had the pleasure of feasting on the coconut shrimp at Banana-rama.  It is the very best we have ever eaten.  There are others resorts that cost more, but none that are much better.  Their phone number is 727-564-9058.

THIRD:  Every missionary wants to show off his areas of service and have you meet the people that he or she has taught.  They are proud of what they have accomplished and want you to sense their accomplishments.  They have grown to love this land and this people and they rightfully want to show it off. This is a definite do for any parent.  Likely your missionary's letters have been short on detail over the past two years.  Seeing the streets that they walked, the people that they taught and the chapels where they attended ought to be part of every family's visit.  It will help you understand better what they have done for the past two years. However, the streets of San Pedro Sula and its surrounding areas are not safe for tourists.  Like it or not, you will be viewed as a wealthy American and you will be a target for unscrupulous people.  Visit these areas during the daylight hours only, and one single day ought to be sufficient to see all you need to see.  Sadly, you probably ought to turn-down every offer to eat.  Nothing can ruin a trip like a bad case of stomach problems.  Your child has become accustomed to the food and the manner in which it is prepared, but you are not.  There are a thousand Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Denny's, Applebees and Pizza Huts out there.  They would be the wise choice. 

LASTLY: You ought to take the four-hour drive to Tegucigalpa to see the temple.  Admittedly, that which is done there is identical to any other temple in the world, but for two years your missionary has been teaching, prodding, and motivating people to come to this particular building.  Yet, those missionaries who serve in the San Pedro Sula missions will never have had the opportunity to see it.  If this were the last day of your trip you could leave from here to fly home which would eliminate the return drive.  The drive to Tegucigalpa is very pretty and passes through the entire south end of our mission boundaries - Merendon, Villanueva and Yojoa.  These are places your missionary likely served.  You will pass by Lake Yojoa, the largest body of fresh water in Latin America.  You will have the chance to stop at one of fifty little eateries which dot the side of the lake.  The roads are nice and the drive will be quick. 

Tegucigalpa has a number of amazing cathedrals, but none that will be as special to your son or daughter as this temple.  We personally think it would be a shame if they didn't have the chance to pass through its doors - at least once - and partake of the spirit that is so present there.

Well, there are obviously other places that one could see such as the fort in Puerto Cortez, or the alligator farm in Villanueva, or the waterfall of Pulhapanzak.  But, there are lots of waterfalls in the world, and once you've seen one alligator, you've seen them all.  For those who are coming to pick up their child, we believe that the things we have mentioned would be of most interest both to you and to your missionary.  Drive during the day.  Stay out of the "bordos" - the slums.  Enjoy the kindness and beauty of the people.  Be smart.  Your missionary child has gained a sense of indestructability while serving here.  So, again we say, be smart!