April 2008

Dear Friends,

The tug on my arm as I walked down a mountain path was a clear way to get my attention. The boy was from El Chilar, a Chorti Maya indigenous village on the steep mountainous border with Guatemala. He asked me, “Aren’t you going to visit my house this time?” Wilder Osmin Lopez is about 8 years old, the oldest of four children. His mother was abandoned by her husband. This fact will affect Wilder in his growing years in ways you might not realize, such as food availability and educational opportunities.

Single motherhood is common in Honduras. Women are abandoned all the time. Clearly, the social fabric wears thin in situations of poverty, causing family disintegration. Over the last decade chronic poverty in Honduras and lack of opportunities have led to massive migration. Ten percent of the population is said to reside outside of the country. Economists point to the benefits of this situation—26 percent of the GNP comes from money sent home from abroad. But two factors highlight the downside of immigration. First, family remittances are used mostly for consumer needs and not invested in longer term development processes. So the country becomes dependent on them for survival and not as a path to real improvements. Secondly, the male immigrant often forms a new family and eventually leaves the first wife and children to fend for themselves. When the mother has to provide for her children, grandparents have to raise the children at a time in life when they have physical and economic limitations.

Traditionally, machismo, or male domination, has caused single motherhood and family disintegration going back to the colonial period, and it is still strong today. Without independent income sources or decision-making power, women are relegated to a secondary position. Child bearing and domestic work become their primary responsibilities. Community development is doubly difficult when there is a strong machismo effect, since the participation of women is severely limited. Community participation is normally low due to limited organizational or leadership skills, low educational levels, and low self-esteem. The lack of participation by women either slows down the development process or places it in jeopardy. But when the opposite occurs—and there is good participation by women—this can greatly enhance development processes. The participation of women is often thought to be the key to real change on the village level. Women are always in the communities. They take care of the children and want improvements for them. As a result, they are often more open to new ideas than men, who are more content with the status quo.

Floridalma, mother of four, was abandoned by her husband when her youngest son was 8 days old. The family's survival depends on the single cow—kept under look and key—that they received through a community development project.

When I arrived at Wilder’s home, his youngest sibling looked like he’d taken up residence in his mother’s arms. Only a few months old, it was easy to detect the direct life-line of existence. Floridalma’s husband ran off with a younger woman eight days after Floridalma gave birth. By her own account, she became depressed. Neighbors helped take care of her cow, which she had gotten through the community development project, until she got back on her feet. With no assistance from her former husband for either herself or her four children I noticed that when we went to take a look at the cow she pulled out a key to unlock a chain around the gate. I had never seen a cow under lock before in any of the projects in Honduras. It was then obvious how important the cow was to her. Producing six liters after calving, Platiada was due again soon. She would be the life-line for survival of Floridalma and her children just as Floridalma was for her infant. I realized that here was some hope in the eyes of Floridalma for herself and for her children and that God was present in the alleviation of her pain and suffering.

The prayer on our page in the 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study says “Dear God, thank you for those you send to remind us of a better way. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and minds that are open…” The community development project provided opportunities, but it was Floridalma’s inner strength that lifted my spirit.

This year finds us especially busy with mission teams. People are interested in being in solidarity with people like Floridalma, and for this we are very grateful. We scheduled a busy first part of the year because this year we are scheduled to go on home assignment in August for the rest of the year. We have felt the presence of God in many activities as people have moved into their new houses and have marveled at the efficiency of the eco-stoves that have been built. In the community of Bonete, Presbyterian mission teams have built 43 houses and started 12 more. In Chonco, 27 houses have been completed.

On a personal note, we marvel as we near the graduation of our youngest daughter, Grace, from college in May. She is headed to medical school. Daughter Marsha will be doing graduate studies in entomology now that she has received her masters and has set her wedding date for August.

Thank you for your interest in our presence and for your faithful support for mission work.

Yours,

Tim and Gloria Wheeler

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.262