Angry

I am angry about the events in Honduras. I have no control over any of it, but I am still angry.

This former president has broken the law and the constitution. Money was found in his house. Three point one five million DOLLARS was found in his house that he stole from the country when school teachers and sometimes the policemen do not get paid. The infrastructure is crumbling and thousands do not receive any kind of aid for food or education for their children. And that kind of money was found in his house.

His greed and his lust for power has created the current crisis in Honduras. And not just a little power. He wanted to do away with the constitution, the national congress and the supreme court and become a dictator. He is backed by Hugo Chavez and Castro and Ortega. And the United States is siding with these dictators and the former president. That makes me angry as well. I am sure there is some good reason the United States is taking the side of dictatorship and not the one of democracy. I just don't know what it is. I may never know.

One hundred and fifty people in our Overland Park/Topeka group and Terry Reeves' group had to be sent home early. At least that many more people in the next five groups have cancelled and are not coming to Honduras at all. And that is only the Torch groups. Thousands of people have been sent home early or are not coming at all. Not coming because of the political unrest that exists in Honduras. Not coming to build dozens of houses. Not coming to feed hundreds. Not coming to give medical and dental care to thousands. Not coming to share the good news of Jesus. The people at the dump are not being fed. The feeding center has not even been started because it is too near the Nicaraguan border and much too dangerous to go work down there.

The second poorest country in the western hemisphere is not receiving help this summer because of the greed and selfishness of one person. And many that have jobs at the airport, such as the luggage handlers and the money changers and the shop owners, are once again wondering how they are going to feed their children. With no one flying into the country these people are not making any money.

This one person could say it is over. Let us do what is best for the country. But no. He wants to be in complete power. To come back to power and continue his plan to become dictator, The majority of the people support the new government. That does not seem to matter to him. He wants his way, while the country suffers.

Marc and I prayed and cried as we had to make the decision to cancel the big group in July. While it was a very difficult decision, we know it had to be done.

And while I am so angry, let me include the airlines. We did not create this mess. Our people would rather be in Honduras working than canceling their tickets. Are the airlines being helpful at all? No. Even though, the state department is advising no travel to Honduras until at least July 29, the airlines are not refunding money for tickets purchased. They have so graciously, they think, waived cancellation fees and issued travel vouchers good for one year. With so many restrictions that we probably cannot meet all those restrictions. We may eventually lose some of those tickets or have to pay more to change the names of them or have to pay more if ticket prices go up or have to pay more for a number of other reasons. If the country is in a bigger crisis and the airport closed, the airlines may refund some money. We don't want a bigger crisis in Honduras to get money refunded.

The former president is saying he will come back to Honduras and be president again. Chavez is saying, Honduras will be invaded to assure that happens. Please continue to pray for a quick and peaceful end to this. Pray that mission groups and others will soon be back helping those people that so desperately need help.

Terri