April, 2020
As we send out the current newsletter, the entire world is dealing with the COVID-19 virus. Millions of people in the United States are out of work, and families here are facing financial difficulties as a result. Thankfully, however, we in the United States have food and basic necessities. This is not the case for many in Honduras. So we made the decision to re-direct virtually all Society funds in Honduras to providing emergency food to those in desperate straits. The following is a report from our correspondent in Siguatepeque, Honduras:
Since the country shut down right around mid-March, the government has been using the police and military forces to keep the population in their homes. It seems to be the only way to save the country from a dangerous avalanche of COVID-19 infections across the nation. With limited health provisions and hospitals, the 400+ cases have already overwhelmed the system. Many people are left with very few options for survival in this situation. There is no public transportation, and all access to Siguatepeque has been cut off by police barricades. Even some neighborhoods have set up their own restricted entrances for protection.
The small pulperia stores have been allowed to remain open if they follow social distancing restrictions and if the owners wear facemasks. But they are not always stocked with enough food. Furthermore, when there is no cash flow, the people are unable to purchase anything. One day each week, on a rotating basis, each adult is able to leave their house and go to one of three larger grocery stores that are open from 9am-5pm. They can also go to a gas station and a pharmacy. Each person is allotted to a specific day, depending on the last number of their national identification card.
Thankfully, as of now there are no “reported” cases of COVID-19 in Siguatepeque. However, this may not mean much, as there are no tests available. All persons who are seriously ill are taken to San Pedro Sula (3 hours away) to be attended. Yet, there are only 13 ventilators for the whole population of Honduras. So if the virus spreads very far, we will be in a precarious situation.
The lockdown has affected us all—but particularly the poor who live day to day on each day’s income. Right now, most of them are simply unable to buy even meager food provisions. As the weeks have stretched on, the situation has become precarious for these people. “Give us this day our daily bread” has taken on a new meaning.
Two of the Society’s directors, Luis Vega and Alfredo Lainez, have received special permission from the government to travel outside their homes in order to prepare and distribute survival packages to the needy. These packages consist of three things: (1) a large red garbage-size bag stuffed with rice, beans, oil, bouillon, cheese, spaghetti, and corn flour; (2) a clear bag filled with sanitation items like soap and Clorox; and (3) an egg crate with 30 eggs. Each package costs the Society between $20-$25 and will feed a family of five for a little over two weeks. The food parcels that are going to more remote places are packed with extra food, in case the quarantine is not lifted and it becomes more difficult to distribute further parcels to those locations.
Luis and Alfredo are adhering to all the mandated protective requirements and are stepping out in faith to be the hands and feet of this ministry. With such great needs all around us, we have had to make hard decisions as to whom to help first. The biggest factor has been acuteness of need. Next, all other things being equal, we have focused on particularly helping our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have checked with local pastors to learn of families in need who have fallen through the cracks. We have also given extra consideration to present and past beneficiaries of the Society.
Each of these emergency food packages also contain a Bible tract, and each parcel has been received with gratefulness and even tears. People are humbled to the point of falling on their knees in gratitude. While adhering to the social distancing requirements, Luis and Alfredo have been able to share the gospel and pray with the families being helped. In this desperate situation, many people have been open to hearing about the hope of Christ—people who previously had not been willing to listen. Luis is writing a Bible tract that will speak to the present situation. He decided to write it in response to the many conversations he has had with people while distributing the food packages. Among the population, there is much fear of death, so the tract will address the hope of eternal life in Christ. Lord willing, we will be able to print the tracts this coming week, and they will be ready to distribute in the next round of food distribution.
As we look to the unknown future across the globe, we know that here in Honduras the fight is far from over. Sadly, our neighbor to the south, Nicaragua, has done nothing to prevent the spread of the virus, so this presents a hazard for Honduras. Also, many Hondurans are being sent back from Mexico, where there is even more contamination. So the months ahead will be very telling. We trust God in protecting and providing, but the precarious health system does bring us to our knees to plead with God for refuge in this storm. Thank you for allowing God to be known in real ways here through your generosity and prayers.
Julie Nyhoff
The Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210 • (717) 349-7033
Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Honduras Donations