Prayer Request from Honduras

I don’t know if you’ve heard about the recent events in Honduras regarding their ousted president, but what I’ve read online in the news is a very different story from what I’ve heard personally from friends in Honduras.

 

It seems that our far-left media wants us to believe that what happened there is a very bad thing, however, the so-called “coup” was a legal action by the government of Honduras (think: checks & balances) to curb a president who had broken Honduran law again, and again, and again…

 

Here is the latest update (along with 10 specific prayer requests) I received from some missionary contacts of ours in Honduras:

Last week, the present and past governments of Honduras agreed to begin talks led by President Oscar Arias (Nobel Peace Prize winner) of Costa Rica.  The talks are aimed at solving the crisis in a peaceful way.  There were 2 days of talks last week, and they are scheduled to resume this weekend.  Mr. Zelaya was encouraged by Secretary Clinton to take the route of dialogue rather than trying to return as he did on July 5, a tense moment that ended in chaos around the international airport.  For the last two days, Mr. Zelaya has delivered ultimatums and has implied that the talks have already failed.  He has said he will only wait until Friday or Saturday (July 17-18) before attempting to return using other means (which he did not elaborate on).  Mr. Zelaya is in the constant company of officials from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.  Mr. Chavez has also labeled the talks with Mr. Arias as useless and has threatened Honduras using, as Mr. Arias calls them, “verbal bullets.”  These “bullets” and Mr. Zelaya’s ultimatums have produced a lot of tension and unrest in the population as the uncertain looms overhead.  Mr. Zelaya has called on his supporters to stage an insurrection from within which he says is justified since he is recognized as the rightful president by the UN and OAS.  The present government has reiterated that the talks cannot result in the reinstatement of Mr. Zelaya as president; however, Mr. Micheletti has offered to resign if bloodshed can be avoided as long as Mr. Zelaya is not reinstated.  Dialogue is difficult, given the pre-existing conditions by both sides, but it is the correct route to take.  The UN has recently thrown its weight behind the talks and Mr. Arias just as the US and other OAS members did last week.

Apparently, there are protests now planned for the next two days (Thursday/Friday) in answer to Mr. Zelaya’s call for action.  It has been reported that these protests may be more violent in nature.  Classes have been cancelled, at least for some of the schools.  Even if nothing major happens, these types of threats keep the country immobile.  Honduras is hurting.

Hopefully, this explains a little of the present situation.  Honduras was assaulted by Hurricane Mitch, a natural disaster, almost exactly 10 years ago; now, Honduras is faced with a different type of assault which has resulted in division, hatred and violence.  Certainly, the democratic system has failed to address a lot of the injustices in this country over the years.  This creates a tremendous emptiness and vacuum that allows people like Chavez a foothold.  Mr. Zelaya and many others have been pulled into that same ideology.  It is time for the injustices and corruption to be addressed and for changes to be made, but not in the form that Mr. Zelaya has been attempting here.  Please pray with us for a solution to the present crisis as God leads you.  Below are several points for prayer we’ve included:

1)       That the present leaders will be humble, rather than arrogant, and accept their part of the blame here, leading correctly and righteously & with wisdom.

2)    For checks and balances to be placed on Mr. Zelaya, should he return; for his alliance with Mr. Chavez to be weakened.

3)    For the talks in Costa Rica; for protection for Pres. Arias and Costa Rica; they are taking a risk helping Honduras through this crisis.

4)    For the OAS, UN and US to be fair in their judgments, not judging at a glance; to be willing to back up and condemn the actions of a defiant president (not just his ousting); defending Honduras from being unwillingly forced to follow an ideology the majority do not want here.

5)       For security forces and the military to remain united to prevent chaos and loss of life; for borders to remain secure; for people infiltrating from other countries to cause unrest to be discovered and stopped; for any infiltration of arms/weapons to be used by protesters to be discovered and stopped.

6)       For peace, safety and protection for all, particularly in the next 2 days as different groups are making public threats to follow through on the insurrection Zelaya has called for; for protection from loss of lives.

7)       For the division here in the country … that God would somehow bring healing and reconciliation … even close friends & family are divided over this issue.

8)       For non-interference militarily on the part of Venezuela & Nicaragua.

9)       That God will use this situation to bring a paradigm shift in the present and future leadership of this country particularly with regards to being leaders above reproach who lead with transparency & honesty, who are concerned for all social classes, who diligently work to bring Honduras out of a chronic state of poverty, who can see the tremendous potential of this nation and its people, who lead Honduras out of the “victim” mentality … that true change will be borne from this crisis that will move Honduras to a different plane.

10)  For Jesus to reign and for Christians here to remember that their battle is against spiritual forces, not their fellow countrymen or leaders.

Thank you again for your patience with these updates and for your prayers. 

Doug & Jan Houston