Usually I don't like to post things like this. Mostly because it upsets my mother, but also because I like to think things in Honduras are getting better and I don't like to talk about the things that are not so great. It has been suggested to me by other people here that I should not share these things, but I think this specific post can give you some information to understand a little bit about how ministry in a dangerous part of Los Pinos has to be done with, let's say, finesse.
Molly and I planned to go into Los Pinos this week to visit more families. As you know, we are very cautious every time we enter Los Pinos. For more than a month recently Molly was unable to visit her families who are housebound. That was really tough.
The sector where Molly works is pretty far is pretty far from where the families whom I know all live, but I look forward to getting to know this area better, when safety concerns allow.
Last week Fany told me that it was all over the news that the gangs in Los Pinos are killing women who dye or highlight their hair. She said that the gang members want only the women they date to be able to lighten their hair. All other Latinas should have their natural hair color, which is generally black. I asked Fany what I should do, since I have highlights. She said it only applies to Latinas. They don't care how outsiders color their hair, apparently. But we also decided I will wear a ponytail or a baseball cap in Los Pinos. This was all over the news and everyone was talking about it, which is exactly what the gangs want.
On Friday 2 women were killed right behind one of the houses that Molly visits. The gangs wanted the news to know that the women were killed for wearing leggings and "indecent" clothes. It was on tv and in newspapers.
Today I got to see Carlos (big Carlos) again. He and Ariel went with us to visit the pastor in Los Pinos about our Mother's Day party and also we went to a school. In reality, we barely got out of the car except to walk a few steps to the doorsteps of those places. We could not go and visit any families today. The families themselves called Molly and told her not to come for safety reasons.
The boys told us that they cannot wear red, purple, black or blue (which surprised me because everyone wears blue Honduras soccer jerseys) shirts. They said they purposely dressed the way they did today - one was in brown and one in white. I, too, made sure not to be "indecent". I wore a boring tee-shirt and those breathable pants that no Hondurans would be caught dead in. They are meant for hiking or outdoor activity. I love them because they are comfortable on a hot day. But fashion comes before comfort for the women of Honduras. I did not look indecent (or even cute) in any manner by Honduran standards.
I am hoping this is all heat related. I know Chicago used to go crazy in the heat and murders would skyrocket the hotter it got there. It's been in the mid 90's every day for months and nobody has water. That can get really frustrating! Not an excuse to kill someone, but it can make a healthy minded person a little grumpy.
Tomorrow a cold front is supposed to blow in. We are supposed to get rain from tomorrow evening until the end of the 10 day forecast. I am praying that actually happens and cools everything off! Both physically, and gang-wise. The forecast says that the chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday is 100%, but the weather forecasts here are about as reliable as... All the rest of the unreliable things in Honduras.
Pray for rain because we need it. Everything is burning. People are getting sore throats and messed up eyes, even those who don't wear contacts. Our fruit trees are dying or dead. The water only comes once/week and then it is only drops. The electricity is getting shut off because there is no hydroelectric power. The problems from lack of water go on and on. But I just want it to cool off, physically and criminally.
It is hard to sit back and relax when you can't do your "job". It's frustrating when you can't reach out to the people you love and care for because the gangs have taken control. Molly and I both have patience and wisdom, and lots of knowledgeable people looking out for us. We always err on the side of caution. But it is still hard to know that we cannot do home visits.
In the meantime I am going tomorrow with Erika to see about what vocational classes are available, how much they cost, and when she can start them. Wednesday we are meeting with a group of women just to get to know them and learn a little about their needs. I would like to go and visit Osiris! But we don't know when we will be able to do home visits in Sector F again.
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