"What Does That Sign Mean?"

“What does that sign mean?”

This was the question our pastor, Charlie Baile, asked when he was here in January.  He has left but the signs and their meaning remain, “Do not kill”, God.

Our pastor said that he had never seen a billboard with 'Do not kill' and asked why we have it in Honduras.  That’s a very reasonable question and the answer is that Honduras has the highest homicide rate in the world.

The homicide rate for countries is given per 100,000 persons in the population and the rate in Honduras is 90.4. That is well over double the rate of any of our neighboring countries and almost equal to the combined rates of our neighbors; El Salavador (41.2), Guatemala (39.9) and Nicaragua (11.3), which have a combined total of 92.4.

The rate in Honduras is about 4.5 times the rate in Mexico which is 21.5.

The homicide rate in the US is only 4.7 and so Honduras is over 19 times as lethal as the US.  I think that such a great difference actually makes it almost impossible for our friends and family in the states to be able to really comprehend the level of violence here.

In the murder rates for cities, Honduras takes both the number one and the number five position which is rather amazing for such a small country.  The US doesn't even make the top ten and finally shows up at number nineteen for St. Louis.

Honduras has a population of about 8 million people with about 20 homicides committed everyday which is one murder every hour and twelve minutes!  What you have to realize is that the murder rate is the top of a mountain of crime, corruption and violence.  For example, stealing is at such an epidemic state that often the person being robbed is blamed for the crime for not taking better precautions.  The corruption in the police force is so bad that people are actually afraid of involving the police as it may make matters worse.

What has been created is a level of tension that the people, including us, live with continually.

The NPR has a decent article about the murder rate entitled, "Honduras Claims Unwanted Title Of World's Murder Capital"

The Guardian has an interesting article entitled, "Honduras is world’s number one for killing environmental activists" which suggests that people are being killed over land issues.  This is definitely happening here but the problem is complex.  On the one side is just the greed of people to take more by trampling over anyone in their way.  On the other side, there is a huge problem of squatters in Honduras taking over private property and then the land owner forced into a legal and physical battle to get back what he paid for from the people who paid nothing for it.  Tough issues... and murder is still not the right answer.

In all, we see a general lack of value of life.  When you don't value another's life then other things like personal property and property lines have little meaning.

Even with such high murder and crime rates, we find that the majority of people are just trying to live.  They want to make a living and enjoy their family but they are forced to do this under a dark shadow and constant need to be alert.

So, what does all this mean for us and our work here?

A couple Scriptures come to mind and the first is John 1:5 (in four different translations):

   And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

   The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

   The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

   And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. 

One meaning here is that the darkness of sin cannot put out the light of Jesus or even understand it.  So, even in the darkness we can live in boldness to shine the light of Jesus knowing that the forces of evil cannot prevail against it!

Another section of Scripture that comes to mind is Isaiah 58:10-12 (one of my favorites):

And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

    and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

    like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Our best defense is a good offense!!!  Stay in the work of the Lord and He Himself will protect you!!

So, we are determined to continue in the path the Lord has given us and try with all our might to keep our eyes on Him wherever we are!

Thank you for your prayers and support that hold us up in ministry here!