April 07
in Honduras
--Janet Alcántara

"God speaks a word; a company of women spreads the good news." —Psalm 68.12


SEMANA SANTA. What is Holy Week like in Honduras? I don't know! Taking advantage of the church office closure, I visited my dad and his wife in Panama. My brother Ted (who sends out my newsletters; I hadn't seen him in 12 years) coordinated a visit at the same time. I was touched by Dad and Lorna's eagerness to share everything with us. The most exciting moment? When Ted and I hurtled down a steep mountainside in torrential rain on rented bikes with next to no brakes. Adventure!

PHOTOS. I haven't included photos in my newsletters because until Christmas I didn't have a digital camera; I then had to figure out how to use it, and to remember to pack it with me to the communities. I still get so focused on the work that I forget about pictures until everyone has gone home or it is too dark. But, see, I'm getting better. May I introduce you to three women in three congregations I visited this month?

  • Alba, a widow, has four of seven adult children still at home plus a passel of grandkids, too, so is constantly hopping. She is President of the Monte de Olivos (Mount of Olives) congregation in El Olvido.


  • Toña, an energetic woman who never stops working for the church, is President of the Monte de Getsemaní (Mount of Gethsemane) congregation. She prayed for years that her boozing, womanizing husband would become a Christian. He did.after abandoning her.


  • Letty became a widow six years ago; she raises four grand-children whose parents are working in the States. She is the President of the Women's Group, and because of her faithfulness, is also the de facto President of the congregation of Cristo Liberador (Christ the Liberator) in San Nicolás.
Will you pray for these strong and faithful Honduran women?

In faith and service in Christ, --janet

Deaconess Janet Russell Alcántara/Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras/ dcsjanet@hotmail.com

See pictures below: ↓

Ambiance
FancyLeft.Funerals FancyRight

In the States, Super Bowl Sunday puts a dent in church attendance. In rural communities here, the social demands of funerals and birthday parties frequently make scheduled church activities grind to a halt for lack of participants.

FancyLeft.Coffee FancyRight

Because for many years most coffee was exported, Hondurans became accustomed to drinking a brew of coffee plus roasted avocado seed extender. Despite more options nowadays, traditional coffee still consists of that mixture, which produces rich, flavorful, smooth, thick-textured coffee.but no jitters!

FancyLeft.Animals FancyRight

In the country, folks live in close proximity to their livestock. Chickens, especially, have free run of the house. In Letty's kitchen this week, I had to laugh: not only did she have children underfoot as she tried to prepare supper, but a pig threw himself down in front of the stove, two dogs and a cat watched the proceedings hopefully while a dozen chickens wandered in and out, pecking up bits of dropped food. The next day, I found the way to the room where I was staying blocked by the pig, who, taking refuge from the afternoon heat, stretched himself blissfully on the cool cement floor inside the house.

FancyLeft.Geography FancyRight

Lago (Lake) Yojoa, where we have congregations in three mountain communities, is located north-west of Tegucigalpa. East of Tegus (nickname for Tegucigalpa) is "Wild West" ranching country, and home to congregations in La Cañada and San Nicolás. Search for us on Mapquest!

Feel free to write. Email responses are quicker.
Regular mail takes 2-4 weeks.
Janet Alcántara,
I.C.L.H., Apartado. 2861,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, C.A.



photos in Honduras/April, 2007

Dona Alba and Granddaughter Yoeli Iglesia Monte de Olivos

Doña Alba and granddaughter Yoeli  ||  Ilesia Monte de Olivos, El Olvido, Lago de Yojoa


Doña Toña Iglesia Monte de Getsemaní, Santa Cruz de Yojoa

Doña Toña  ||  Iglesia Monte de Getsemaní, Santa Cruz de Yojoa


Doña Letty Iglesia Cristo Liberador, San Nicolás. Olancho

Doña Letty  ||  Interior view of Iglesia Cristo Liberador, San Nicolás. Olancho.