DANGER in Honduras

    I know how much bad press has been generated lately over the situation in Honduras with violence and all the "children" fleeing to the states.  I just wanted to let all of you who know and love me that I am perfectly safe. I have been in Siguatepeque, San Pedro, Copan, Trinidad, Santa Barbara, Tela and Tournabe in the last several weeks and there have been no reports of violence in any of those places.  As I speak to people in the tourist industry, hotel and restaurant owners, the mayor of Trinidad and others I understand that the violent situations are in the bigger cities, San Pedro being one.  But like most bigger cities, there are simply areas where you just don't go.  All in all, things are quite safe, even there.  The tourist industry and the mission trip program of the Episcopal Church have both been hit hard by all the bad press, and it is certainly not helping the struggling economy here.

     It's good to remember that bad news sells and the more dramatic the better.  Sensationalized news is always better news.  I'm not trying to downplay the problems that exist.   They are truly horrible in many situations.  There is violence and the drug cartels still rule with an iron fist.   But the majority of the "children" that are fleeing Honduras and Central America are actually young adults in their 20's.  They are fleeing the failing economic situation and the lack of opportunity as much as the violence.  The news coverage here shows the freight trains they ride.  They call them La Bistial, the beast.  Most are young men in their 20's.  The situation is bad and all the bad press is hurting the economy which just exacerbates the problem.

     Still, there are so many beautiful places here that are perfectly safe to visit.  The clinic at Tournabe got off to a slow start, so Kat Dailey and I went out to walk around and stir up some business.  We were perfectly safe and met some wonderful people.  When I was there in May with my sister, I stopped to ask for directions and had a very large Garifuna man say, "I'll show you" and then he proceeded to get in the back seat.  No problems.  Copan, no problems even after dark.  And the Hondurans are always careful to look out after the skinny little bald headed gringo.  I'm fine...I'm really busy, but I'm fine.  Come visit!

     Please pray for the Diocese of Honduras.       

Tela Medical Mission with St. John's Montgomery

Loved being in Tela with the group from St John's again last week and spending time with the wonderful people of Espiritu Sancto. It was an incredibly busy week with attending to more than 350 people on several days in a row. We saw 165 in Tournabe, a Garifuna village, the last day. Thanks to everyone who took part in the mission. A special thanks to the Daileys who work so hard to put the trip together every year and to Kat who brought me my new MacBook Pro which is making life here a little easier. And thanks again to the owners and staff of Ceasr Mariscos Hotel who take such good care of us. They are like family. It's raining tonight in San Pedro

Tonight I am in Copan Ruinas, the ancient Mayan city of Honduras. I am here with a wonderful group of young people from St Luke' s Birmingham, Al. We spent the last week teaching vacation Bible school and working on a construction project in Trinidad, Santa Barbara. It was really hot! And the construction project was really difficult. It was a small space and we had to mix batch after batch of cement on the ground, but the guys stuck with it and worked so hard without a single complaint. We experienced the incredible giving spirit of the Honduran people, did alot of good work, saw some awesome places and enjoyed the love of children and church members. I am so thankful for this group. It was my first group in my new position here with the Diocese of Honduras and they were just fantastic to work with. Thanks be to God