The Mess in Honduras

Forbes Magazine article on the situation in Honduras Understanding the Mess in Honduras

This is a good article about what is happening, and seems consistant with what I have heard from the people, at least the people in Tela.

Volunteering for this years trip

I continue to follow the news out of Tela, and currently 2 of the organizers are there in Tela assessing the situation and taking note of the projects for this years trip. It just doesn't look good for me. It is too difficult to think about going to a country in political unrest when I have young children at home.

Yesterday, I ran into a fellow PT who has volunteered in Honduras at least 2 times. We didn't have long to chat, but we agreed to have some coffee in the near future. We will check in with each other on how we feel about heading to Honduras this year. We had planned to go this year and bring our oldest children along with us, if not more. But plans have changed.

So....what to do? Find another organization to volunteer for? Go alone? Take my family on a real vacation?

Lots to think about.

Our next Honduras Trip

The earthquake back in May was alarming, but news quickly reached us that everyone was OK. Thus, preparations for the next Hands to Honduras trip commenced. One of the plans I was involved with, along with my husband, was building an outdoor adaptive play structure for use by the kids at the Rehab Center. To be honest, the team wants my husband and his welding and building skills more than they want my PT skills this year!

So we have tentatively been moving along with the plan to take the entire family to Honduras next January.

But, it is not looking so good right now. The political unrest in Honduras is alarming, and my heart breaks every morning as I read about the lack of resolution to the political problems going on in their government. How can we possibly go to this country and help when our own government is advising us not to go? Will this work itself out quickly and will we be able to go in just 6 months?

I have been reading the news from the Miami Herald, a good source on Honduran information, and sharing it with my kids. We have learned a great deal about leadership and government these past few days, but what I really wanted to do was take them to Honduras.

I will think about peace, and love, and hope. I send these to the people of Honduras who are so beautiful and warm and vulnerable.

May they all sleep safe tonight.

News from US Embassy

Continued Political Unrest in Honduras.

http://honduras.usembassy.gov/pubanc09_contpolunrest2updt0705.html

It is strange to read through this and think about the curfew. It is hard to think of all the wonderful people I met in Honduras being scared and shut in at night. It is hard to think about a country that was already in dire need of help and direction, being shut off from aid. I can't help but feel we are punishing the people who need our help and support the most.

Earthquake hits Honduras early this morning

Thursday May 28, 2009. An early morning (3 am I believe) shook Honduras this morning. So far, we know that a major bridge is out, but we are not sure that it is the one we needed to cross in order to get to Tela from the airport. As far as I know, no one has been in contact with the Rehab Center or with Hotel Sherwood.

Having seen the lack of structural soundness in many of the buildings I saw back at the beginning of the year, I am amazed that we have not gotten more reports of structures collapsing, but I am sure glad we aren't.

I hope that all of my friends, patients and in general all of the people in Honduras are safe this morning. I eagerly await news from Tela. What projects will now become the priority of the next trip?

2010 Honduras Trip

How very exciting! The "tentative" date are in!"Tentative" dates for 2010 trip:
Week 1: Jan. 23 - Jan. 30

Week 2: Jan. 30 - Feb. 6

Week 3*: Feb. 6 - Feb. 13*

(Week 3 will be finalizing the projects. There will still be work to do, or some volunteers might like to make this a partial week of work and travel.I'm thinking the 2nd and 3rd weeks sound good, with the time to travel in there! I didn't get to see much outside of Tela in 2009.

Back home, but not forgotten

I will eventually be hitting people up to buy coffee. The tiny print says "Vermont & Honduras Partnership, Non-Profit Chapters of Partners of the Americas." This was a fund raiser BEFORE the trip started, and it was a success. The coffee is really good (I am having a cup right now)! I can't seem to make it as strong as they did down at Hotel Sherwood! That was some strong coffee, and it was served with hot milk, YUM! All of the volunteers should have returned to Burlington last night. It is officially over, yet for me, it has just begun. I am so anxious to get together with other volunteers, see their pictures, and hear their stories. I have already started my list of people to hit up for donations next year!

I have given one little presentation about Honduras and my experience to my kiddos art class. They just happen to be taking a 6 week class called "Exploring the World through Art - Central and South America." Very nice fit. I had Honduras money (limpera) and pictures, toys and a mask, a Mayan statue and calender, and a map of Honduras. The kids asked really great questions. I hope to do at least one more small presentation, again to kids.

Although the big trip has passed, there is still much to do. So stayed tuned, as I explore how else to help throughout the year.