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July 2000
Dear Friends,
This letter finds us very busy with many activities that are
quite normal for us. Gloria has been coordinating the work-team
program, as expanded by the Christian Development Commission (CCD)
following Hurricane Mitch. Tim is
coordinating work in the communications field in CCD and the Heifer
Project program in Honduras. Heifer has expanded considerably,
with several new projects that are reaching many people. I (Tim)
just visited an area where 50 farmers had planted pasture and
built fences and were ready to receive one cow each. The potential
is tremendous in this area that small herds could bring real change
for the participants.
At this writing I am helping to host a work team from three
Philadelphia churches. We are working in a small village on a
church building within sight of the border with El Salvador. Yesterday
we walked over to El Salvador, crossing the river that divides
the countries on a long plank. As we walked along the dirt road
with fields of tomatoes and other vegetables on each side I was
reminded of the fierce fighting that took place in this area and
ended only 10 years ago. The civil war in El Salvador lasted for
12 years and devastated the area for years after. Three armies
used to patrol the area, and human rights violations, fighting
and deaths took place daily. Some of the area
was burned off to assist in searching out opposition. Now peace
has come and people on both sides of the border have new optimism
for improving their lives. I was impressed by the reforestation
on El Salvador’s side of the border. Beautiful pines dominate
the horizon. But despite the new optimism and opportunities that
people have they are still faced with the same problems—inadequate
health care, limited educational opportunities, and an economy
in which hard work can lead only to a subsistence level of existence.
Young people dream of life in San Pedro Sula, Los Angeles, or
Seattle.
Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras in October 1998, causing huge losses
in lives, houses and infrastructure. I was reminded of that fact
yesterday during the walk along the border. A lot of international
aid has come to the country to rebuild houses, provide food, and
to rebuild the bridges and roads that were lost. However, after
receiving all the international aid the country is left to face
the same problems that have always existed.
CDD now has a new municipal development strategy to strengthen
citizen participation on the local level and develop leadership.
The emphasis is on grassroots democracy in which communities present
their developmental needs to the municipal authorities and then
enlist support from governmental agencies and private organizations
to respond to these needs. In this model, people lobby municipal
governments to act on their behalf and not for the economic sectors
that have been privileged in the past. This development strategy
is sweeping across Central America and is seen as very positive.
One of the members of the work group, a Presbyterian pastor,
preached in the small lamp-lit church on the mountainside. He
told the church packed with young people the story of Zacheus
running to climb a tree to view Jesus (Luke 19). Jesus might be
coming by right then, he said, and we should run not walk to find
the hope that only the church can offer in caring for others in
such a personal way, in justice for all, and in the love we feel
from God and neighbors.
I’ve often thought the work of CCD is like a tree atop
which we can look for the justice and love that would be part
of a better life.
Our letter would not be complete without some family news. Marsha
and Pamela are headed into their sophomore year at Earlham College.
They learned to deal with Indiana winters and marveled at spring,
but more than anything they found out about their own strengths.
Grace, as seen in the picture, has gotten big and is a first-year
high schooler
Thank you for your letters, for your interest in Honduras, and
for the support and the prayers that you share with us for a better
and more peaceful world.
Yours,
Tim and Gloria Wheeler
email: twheeler@hpi.sdnhon.org.hn
The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 238
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