What a pleasure to say that we are once again together and at home in Honduras. We had the opportunity to see many of you during our time of deputation in Canada and the US and thank you for all the hospitality shown. We also appreciate your generous support for the work in which we’re engaged. Upon our arrival, we took off running and are finally pausing to catch our breath.

Why so many children?
I (Leanne) recently returned to Honduras from a supervision trip and asked the neighbor who picked me up what was new. He scratched his head a bit, saying “Oh, not much,” but then added “except that our country has sunk to the point that a young girl was killed for resisting gang membership.” My heart sank. Can you imagine the trauma of this family? Their 13 year-old daughter wanted to do the right thing – stay out of the local MS gang – and the consequence was death. Sadly, this wasn’t a one-time occurrence; it’s a strong contributing factor to the surge of children attempting the long and dangerous journey to a perceived opportunity for a better life in the US. Migration from Central to North America is not new; but this year’s increase, especially of unaccompanied minors, is unusual.  Since October 2013 (beginning of the US fiscal year), the US border patrol has detained more than 42,000 unaccompanied minors, creating a logistical crisis for their care. Thousands more have been detained in Mexico and are being deported to their countries of origin, primarily Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Ana Garcia de Fernandez, first lady of Honduras, is part of a task force that visited detention centers for unaccompanied children in the US and Mexico. Back in Honduras, the task force has overseen the organization of centers to receive the thousands of children (and adults) who are being returned from those countries.

There is no single factor that has contributed to this exodus of children. An economic downturn, increased taxes, and lower agriculture productivity have sharpened the sting of poverty; long-term corruption at all levels of government has resulted in the decline of education and medical services and allowed drug trafficking to flourish, contributing to high levels of extortion, violent crime and a general sense of insecurity. Families don’t want to be separated, but desperation often forces them toward difficult and dangerous choices. 70% of the children interviewed report having been abused at some point in their travels.

Our hearts break for these children and their families. The programs with which we’re working in Honduras contribute to healthy communities and churches, with increased agricultural production, improved health and more economic opportunities, to decrease the desperation to leave. The “Strong Families” program of ASJ, supported by both World Missions and World Renew, works with at-risk youth and their families, to improve the potential that these youth will succeed at being productive members of their communities, rather than fall into the gangs that seek their membership. But compared to the great need, these efforts are small. We are members of other platforms that work toward more systemic changes in the government, where issues of corruption can be addressed. Please join us by praying for the safety of those who travel and for the well-being of their countries of origin. And those from the US, please support just immigration policies that also address the causes of migration.

Please join us in prayer.

Praise!

  • Together we’re thankful to be able to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. We shared cake with our church family and in September we’ll take some vacation time in Vancouver and Alaska with Reuben and Malyssa. Praise God for his faithfulness to us over the years!
  • We praise God for your generosity during our previous fiscal year. You have been wonderful partners in ministry. 

Concerns:

  • Central America usually has two harvests, but this year’s first harvest suffered great losses due to severe drought conditions. Please pray for adequate rain so the second harvest will be particularly abundant.
  • Caspar will soon begin implementation of a Cohort program, a missionary mentoring adventure. Pray for Nathan Groenewold, who will soon come to Honduras, and for the selection process of a Honduran to join him in missional ministry.

 

Shalom, from the Geisterfers,

Leanne and Caspar Geisterfer

Latin America Team Leader
World Renew Honduras