Mexico, Honduras

It's easy for me to look at world events in a somewhat distant, maybe overly Calvinist way - recognizing that struggles and suffering are part of life and sometimes the very means of bringing growth and opportunity.

In other words, I don't get easily upset by world problems.

But then people's first-hand account will bring me up short.

For example (without really thinking about it) I've been sort of pleased to see the violence in Mexico keeping our local churches from flooding the Mexican border towns with well-intentioned (but sometimes ill-advised) short-term service teams.

Yet listen to Leo, in Cd. Juarez; he's one of the ezine subscribers I recently contacted with a blanket email soliciting prayer requests. Turns out his ministry has really relied on those teams coming from America.

Now they struggle just to survive:

"We have 3 orphanages, one recovery center for adults, one Teen Shelter for teens on drugs, an old folks house, and many more ministries. Due to the violence, many groups that used to help us by doing missionary trips, have almost disapeared. We are struggluling to stay open and specially fighting to keep our of this war that has afected many loved ones. People are dying by the hundreds and everyone is advicing that we leave Mexico, but we will not, we will be faithfull to our call. Please pray for us, for we are trully working on a war zone. This recession is really affecting the core of the ministry. Please pray."

And what about this coup in Honduras?

I read a story in Mission Network News that reported that lots of people from the US are having to cancel or pull out their staff, summer interns, or short-term teams.

But (as MNN's article pointed out) how do such things affect the most vulnerable of those they serve, the poorest of the poor? As always, they pay the highest price. Without someone feeding them, they may not eat. Without water, or electricity, their children sicken and die.