Our Children Safe In The Midst
Inevitably, since Kim and I arrived into the USA, June 20, our friends and supporters have greeted us with this question, “How are your kids in Honduras?” Please know that our 4 Honduran foster-kids are fine. There were many days during the civil unrest that they called us from Honduras in fear, several times crying… wondering what was going to happen to them. But, praise the Lord, they are fine.During the days before and after the controversial vote in Honduras, scheduled for June 28, Tegucigalpa became quiet volatile. Friday, June 26, was “heated” as president Manuel Zelaya (that is known by his nick-name, “Mel”) terminated without any communicated reason the Secretary of defense. Saturday, June 27, became even more “heated” as president “Mel” attempted to intercept the ballots, as they arrived at the Tegucigalpa airport. This vote was so controversial because it was deemed as unconstitutional by both the judiciary and congressional branches of the government. Since, there is no impeachment process in Honduras, “Mel” continued to publicize the vote and to even seek control, as to how the vote would be administered. The world learned of the news Sunday morning, June 28, that the president of Honduras was taken captive early morning by the Honduran military, he was escorted to safety to Costa Rica. The unconstitutional vote would not take place. The democratically elected representatives of Honduras from both major parties all agreed to defend their republic and its constitution. The controversy lies in the means through which they defended their constitution… with military force. Initially, world leaders, including top USA leaders, verbalized that ex-president “Mel” should be reinstated. This situation escalated as an international affair as Chavez pledged Venezuela’s military backing, as did neighboring Nicaragua. The saga thickened throughout the week, as there was talk about ex-president “Mel” reclaiming the office of president by force. This was countered by the newly appointed Honduras president; “Micheletti”, as he promised that “Mel” would be arrested on-site and tried in court. Incidentally, both presidents are from the same party.
Our Honduran house is on a main street within walking distance of the presidential house. During this crisis our children experienced nearly 5 days of military maneuvers, police groups rushing by our house with sirens screaming. Our kids constantly heard helicopters and fighter jets flying just over the roof-tops. They listened to local news reports day after day telling people in Tegucigalpa to leave the capitol city and spend the following days, weeks, or even months in quieter, safer country-side villages. Our nannies that we hired were all talking of leaving Tegucigalpa… adding to the anxiety of our kids. We talked with our children sometimes every hour comforting them, praying with them, and forming a contingency plan should they be left alone or should they need to leave Tegucigalpa. But, after 1 ½ weeks of turmoil… there is civil peace in Honduras, although under a cloud of high anxiety. A curfew continued for weeks during the afternoon hours, then the evening hours, and finally only the night time. Schools have resumed and there are no more black-outs. Electricity, water, cable, internet, and cell phone services are all back to normal (almost constant).
Thank you for praying for our Honduran kids. This is a hard time for them (aside from the civil unrest), as we take our mandatory furlough. Their personal experiences are such that our departure stirs-up feelings of abandonment. They know in their heads that we are coming back, but they feel in their hearts very similarly as they felt when their fathers abandoned them, or when their mother died. Please pray for them. Should Honduras hit the news again, as it certainly will… please let the “headlines” and “top stories” serve as reminders to pray for our family and ministry there.
Also, in addition to prayer, we need funding for our Honduran foster-kids. Our operating budget for them is as low as you will find for any foster, residential or child-sponsorship program. Simple math ($10 per day X ~30 days per month X 4 children) reveals a monthly need of around $1,200 for the 4 of them, which includes healthy meals, clothing, medical/dental, transportation, private education, church attendance and youth activities, and nannies (while we’re away), etc. Kim and I are strongly committed to raising these kids. It is the Lord who brought them into our lives. However, our YFC accounts are negative so we have not been able to receive our foster-care funding. By default Kim and I personally pay the short-fall, even at the expense of not paying other personal obligations, and we wait to be reimbursed. This cannot continue for long. Please give financially toward our foster children during our state-side assignment. They are far away from us during our furlough, but so very near to our hearts.
