What does the current quarantine look like for us?

What has quarantine looked like these past 11 days for us here in Honduras?

The government has ordered an absolute shutdown of the entire nation, NO ONE is allowed to be out of their homes unless they are going to the hospital or have a special permission because they work in a medical facility. Tristan had to go get our clinic personnel the letters of permission - a 4 hour process but thankfully it worked!

NO public transportation

Most gas stations are shut down - only selling gas to those that have a letter of permission to be out.

Some restaurants are open - delivery only

Grocery stores are delivery only (meaning if you live in the city you’re fine but they don’t deliver far out).

            Thankfully we have a car - so we texted in our grocery list, received some clarifying questions back from our shopper, and then 4 hours later Tristan met the delivery person at the police barricade at the end of town - carried our groceries through the barricade and then headed home.

Pulperia’s (corner stores) are open - and thankfully stocked as that is everyone’s only source because they can walk to it. (just the basics are available).

Education:  the Department of Education has ordered that all schools be closed and that students continue working from home, via internet if they have it. Universities are doing the same. Of course, this is a challenge even in a first world country, but for our communities it’s even more of a challenge - no internet in the house - difficult to communicate to the teachers - parents who don’t have a high education themselves nor the resources to make school fun. *this attempted format for school widens the gap of opportunity for our poor students.    

Banks: Banks have been closed for over a week now. They are just now opening up 3 days a week - and only a few people inside at a time. Honduras is very very much a cash society - very few have ATM cards, credit cards, or online banking. Therefore the lines were 4-5 blocks long yesterday - out in the sun, wrapping around the buildings!

Honduras is being strict on the rule of not leaving your home -if you’re out without a legitimate reason, the police are detaining people and putting them in a school gym for the day and chanting “I won’t leave my home”.  J

Borders closed:

Over a week ago Honduras gave a 6 hour heads up that the land and air boarders were closing. We had 6 volunteers here with us.  This last week Tristan has spent HOURS each day working to find a way to get them flights to leave. We tried the military, the embassy, commercial, explored charter planes…in the end the country opened up a few flights to get Americans home. The embassy is now hinting ‘get out now if you want, now’s your chance’. We do not know how long the borders will be closed - but we have no intention of going anywhere. We are called to be here to serve our staff and community through this time.

Daily Activities: I am so thankful we have a campus of 12 acres to be quarantined to! ((we have friends in the city stuck in their small city homes with no yard)).  We also have a community of our other missionary team that’s stuck here too - so we have people to interact with!   So, school for the girls have continued, Gabe’s childcare hasn’t come so I have lots of Gabe time, Tristan’s working on projects, we’re doing leadership development classes with our staff via video calls, house cleaning, Zumba exercise, movie nights, bonfires, house projects, etc. We are also doing  a daily devotional & prayer time as a staff which has been good for my soul & sanity.   

Our prayer is that Honduras’ quick response to shut its borders and quarantine will save Honduras from an outbreak. Only time will tell. Honduras, like other poor countries, does not have the capacity to handle something on this scale.

We continue to pray for you all as you are dear to our hearts and we know it's a big problem in your life too! Please continue to lift us and Honduras up in prayer also!

Movie Nights in the Mission House

Church with our staff team & stranded volunteers

Girls craft times

Slip N Slide

Worship together