This post is also available in: Spanish
By Ilich Aviles, a YAMENer living in Honduras, originally from Nicaragua.
Ilich reflects on finding hope and security in a country with the highest murder rate in the world, according to a 2011 study by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. After a record year in 2012, the first half of 2013 saw a small drop, but gang violence and other general crime continues to be a major problem.
Today I woke renewed after a long weekend of sharing with my community, enjoying conversations, walks, movies and games that filled my life. They reminded me how to receive and give all the love that is set before me.
But that was my weekend. This is my Monday.
At the bus stop two rapiditos (small urban buses) did not stop, so I walked with my host mom a little more than usual in order to get a rapidito. When we finally boarded, we found two young people from our church already there, warm and cheerful. They were my peace amid frustration.
Walking towards the collectivo taxi, I was in the middle of the road when a bus went by, splashing dirty water from a puddle, wetting my pants, shoes and papers I had in my hand. Inside I shouted “Son of a Bogota!” but kept walking.
I observed that the street was surrounded by military police who looked around with aggressive faces showing distrust. I wanted to say, “Good morning ” to one of them, but stopped when I saw his finger on the trigger of his rifle. I glanced at him but was afraid to even exchange glances.
I boarded a collectivo, and joined in a conversation with the five other strangers on board. They discussed the number of military police on the streets, and how despite that fact, crime was still increasing.
Apparently the police killed two young gang members over the weekend, and a gang killed a woman Saturday night. Then followed the question that so terrified me: Where?
In the Rivera Hernandez and the 6 de mayo – just a few blocks from where I go each morning to do my volunteer work with MCC.
I kept hearing and feeling fear, but at that moment one of the passengers looked at me and asked me: “You are a teacher, right? Because you look like one and I see that you always get off after me in the colectivo. Several times now I have come with you.”
I could not remember the face of this man, but his words were my peace. I was comforted knowing that I am not a stranger. From then on I could enjoy my journey to 6 de Mayo without thinking about danger or insecurity.
Map of the MCC Honduras team
Later that day, there were only two passengers in the colectivo. I observed through the window a man filming with his camera, apparently a journalist. The other passenger said, “There’s the dead person.”
My mind reacted instantly and I felt that decisive moment; my life in Honduras would not be the same after seeing evidence of violence and insecurity in the sector. I felt fear and a part of me refused to see, but even with the awareness of what there could be, the other part of me wanted to confirm facts and observe.
The taxi passed and I leaned over to see what was being filmed, and there was nothing more than a horse with a cart. That was my cry of peace.
When I arrived at the tutoring center, I noticed that the door was locked because the teacher had not arrived. I thought about how risky it was to wait outside the center after being so aware of the news of the weekend, but then one of the girls from the center yelled to me, “Ilich” and greeted me with a big hug! Life returned to me in the embrace of that little girl. She told me how to get inside one of the gates that was already open, and there we waited for the teacher.
When the teacher arrived, she confirmed to me all that had happened over the weekend and this morning. Talking to all of these people about the relentless violence gave me a lot of despair, even pessimism.
But the children reminded me that today is Monday!
For me Mondays are more or less like this, with updated news report from the weekend and a seesaw of emotions, until the children say “Today is Monday!”
That cry is the hope that feeds my week. Today, Monday, is the day of singing, dancing, praying, and learning from the Bible.
In the presence of war, there is so much peace!
In the presence of so much evil, so much humanity!
This makes life a land of hope and despair that leads me to Jesus
The wine and the bread
The pain and the joy.
This post originally appeared on the Honduras Connecting Peoples Blog
For more on violence in Honduras and other parts of Central America, check out this post: “Gangs in Central America”