It has been a week and a half since hell broke loose in Honduras. With there being no end in sight, it has felt like an eternity. This beautiful country with its palm trees, beaches, jungles, and mountains is in such great turmoil.
The protesters have set up road blocks on the major roads which have cut off most of the country from the major cities. Up until yesterday, there have been 4 road blocks on the road from the hospital to La Ceiba (the closest city where we can by food an hour and a half away) making it impossible to even buy food. The local little stores called Pulparias and the local gas station are completely cleaned out of food and gasoline. No one in this are has access to buy food. An attempt was made last weekend to have food shipped in from La Ceiba by boat but all the stores were closed.
A curfew has been put in place to order everyone on off the streets between 6pm and 6am to bring some order to the chaos. The police who had been activated by the nationalist party to control the demonstrations and enforce the curfew went on strike yesterday which may or may not be a good thing as there may be less shooting from both parties but the curfew is no longer enforced.
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| a protest blocking a road in La Ceiba |
It all started with the elections on Sunday November the 27th. The two most popular candidates are the current president, Juan Orlando Hernandez, running for a second term (the nationalists) and Salvador Nasralla (the opposition party). The polls initially showed that the opposition party was in the lead and then the computer system went down for several hours. When it was re-booted, the current administration, the nationalists, were in the lead. This has resulted in the demand for a recount and riots in the streets by the opposition party supporters.
The protesters have set up road blocks on the major roads which have cut off most of the country from the major cities. Up until yesterday, there have been 4 road blocks on the road from the hospital to La Ceiba (the closest city where we can by food an hour and a half away) making it impossible to even buy food. The local little stores called Pulparias and the local gas station are completely cleaned out of food and gasoline. No one in this are has access to buy food. An attempt was made last weekend to have food shipped in from La Ceiba by boat but all the stores were closed.
All visiting medical providers have been advised not to come and those long term missionaries going home for Christmas have had to take a boat from our beach to La Ceiba and then take the ferry to Roatan just to bypass the protests.
The protesters have set fire in the roads, burned a mall of 150 stores, and burned toll booths. Many people have lost their lives including a pregnant whose baby was shot and killed in utero.
A curfew has been put in place to order everyone on off the streets between 6pm and 6am to bring some order to the chaos. The police who had been activated by the nationalist party to control the demonstrations and enforce the curfew went on strike yesterday which may or may not be a good thing as there may be less shooting from both parties but the curfew is no longer enforced.
December 20th is when the results of the investigation into the election are going to be declared. This may be bring peace to the country or results in even more demonstrations by the opposition party if the nationalists are declared the winners.
I'm not going to lie that I am scared. Only God knows what the results of this are going to be and when we will even be able to make it out to buy food again. I was telling one of our Honduran nurses yesterday that I honestly don't want to be here right now and wish I was in the comfort of my home in the States watching it from a far. She reminded me that no matter what we suffer here, it is only taste of what Jesus suffered while here on earth to save us. God has provided for us all so far and will continue to take care of us. Thankfully there have been no protests in our local area.
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [e]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Prayer requests
1) that the power of darkness on this country will be overcome by the peace of our Almighty God
2) that these demonstration would soon come to an end so people can get in to the cities to buy food
3) for protection on all the Hondurans and missionaries here
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