When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the nationally mandated quarantine necessary to stem the spread of the virus wreaked havoc on the welfare of the many remote communities that make up the Episcopal Mayan Deanery. These are the communities with which we have worked and worshiped during our Honduras mission trips since 2004. While people were able to avoid infection to a large extent, their sources of income disappeared. If they had jobs outside their home community, they were unable to go to them. If they depended on running one of the myriad little neighborhood enterprises that are a common means of support, they couldn’t get supplies and merchandise to sell. If they produced a commodity, like coffee, they couldn’t take it to market. Within weeks many families were on the verge of starvation.
Fr. Marco Varela is the priest-In-charge of the Mayan Deanery. We have worked with him closely during Honduras mission trips. When we learned from him of the severity of the situation, Trinity began requesting contributions to provide hunger relief for these communities. We began sending hunger relief money in April 2020. Fr. Marco obtained special travel permission to allow him to deliver basic food supplies to the isolated churches. In fall 2020, back-to-back hurricanes devastated Honduras, destroying roads and bridges. Landslides and extreme flooding left thousands of people without homes and any means of support. This exacerbated the situation and continues to delay economic recovery and humanitarian aid efforts.
We have continued to send money for food relief as Trinity members and friends have generously contributed to the appeals for help. As of August 2022, we have sent nearly $23,000. All of this money has been used to purchase bulk food supplies, delivered by Fr. Marco to our brothers and sisters of the Mayan Deanery.
Fr. Marco wrote to thank Trinity (translated from Spanish):
“Dear Oakley and the people of Trinity Church,
“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each one of you.
“We greatly appreciate the great help that you are sending for the families of this deanery. Thank God and you, for there are many families who have been given food. According to the testimonies of many families, due to the crisis that occurred in the country, it is difficult for them to buy basic food supplies. Thanks to you and the donors, they have been able to eat meals that you could not buy before, such as cornflakes and spaghetti. The families have also told us that they have been able to use the money saved from buying food to buy school supplies for their children. All that is thanks to God and to you for the enormous help you give us. We desire that God bless those giving hands and that God will continue to pour out blessings on each of you.
“You are always in our prayers and hearts.
“Blessings,
“Marco Antonio Varela Solorzano”
Watch this video to see the people helped by Trinity’s donations! Our most recent contribution of $4000 in August for food relief has been exhausted. The need has not disappeared, and conditions are still dire. Please consider donating to Trinity’s Honduras Hunger Relief Fund by using this link and selecting the Honduras Hunger fund.
–by Oakley and Margaret Pearson, Honduras Missioners
