A Deeper Understanding

Our goals for this past weekend were two-fold: relax and recharge as a family and renew the vision God had given us for the Garifuna people. Praise God, we did just that! Traveling together with the Wolfe family, another missionary family serving here in Honduras, and Trey Russell we arrived on the outskirts of Tornabé Friday afternoon at the rustic, wood lodge-like El Cocal House, the same place we stayed back in December. We were welcomed by drizzle and a rough ocean, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the warm water to wash away a day's worth of sweat and grime with temps hovering at about 90 degrees.

Talking with one of the Garifuna fishermen from Tornabé.

Saturday's weather was similar to Friday's with light rain the entire day. We had planned to go into Tornabé to visit with the elder Garifuna friend we know there, but because of the rain everyone
seemed to disappear from the streets including our friend. Instead, we all took a long walk on the beach of Tornabé in the drizzle talking with Garifuna fishermen along the way, the only other people on the beach, learning more and more about the people and their culture. The rest of the day was spent indoors in the "great room" reading and playing games as we dried out from our walk.

On Sunday morning we woke to the sun poking its rays through our wood slat louvered windows and the gentle sound of the sea. Not knowing of any churches nearby, after breakfast we decided to have "beach church," with Trey leading us in worship, praying together, and sharing with each other from God's Word. Truly what the early church looked like! Later, we ventured to La Ensenada, another Garifuna community, for lunch to experience typical Garifuna food: fried fish, fried chicken, and fried shrimp with sides of a bean and rice mix and fried, green plantains. No diets this day! Overall a beautiful day to get to know each other more and familiarize ourselves with yet another Garifuna community.

Sunday morning sunrise. The landmass is the eastern most
point of Tela Bay where Triunfo de la Cruz is located.

"Beach Church"

On Monday our original plans (this will be a theme here...) were to meet with representatives from Samaritan's Purse who have working in Triunfo de la Cruz, a community we visited back in December. We received a call about the time we were to meet them saying they would be about 2 hours late because of car problems. Honestly, this was of no surprise to Kirsten and I as we have seen this happen time and time again here. On the more sober side and to note, we know there is a spiritual battle raging for the souls of the people of Honduras, especially within Garifuna communities, and we believe there are unique strongholds with the Garifuna. Not only do they have a history of oppression, being discriminated against, poverty, and extreme health issues, but they have their own religion that is a mixture of African and Amerindian traditions to which they have incorporated Catholic elements called Gubida. Dugu is a common part of Gubida as well and is a close relative to the well-known Haitian Voodoo, originally from West Africa. For this reason, we believe we are up against a raging spiritual battle and believe one of the reasons our friends from Samaritan's Purse were delayed.

Waiting for our meeting in Triunfo de la Cruz.

But knowing our God is greater, we shrugged our shoulders and took to the beach under a palm thatch hut to wait out the next few hours. While we waited Kirsten and I took about a mile walk down the beach to a rocky point. There, at the end of the beach, was the most beautiful sight of lava rock protruding out of the ocean with a steep cliff rising upward to a jungle canopy. Even the sounds were very "jungle-esk" with the sounds of strange bird calls, jungle cicadas (tropical cricket), and an occasional monkey yelling. We looked back down the beach at the small bay and community and began praying over it. It was definitely one of those moments we will not forget.

Meeting with those involved with the fishing co-op in Triunfo.

As noon rolled around, the SP reps Monica and Christine showed up and we headed off to meet with the community leaders and the men who have been involved with the fishing cooperative SP started nearly a year ago in this community. One of the things we are trying to understand about the Garifuna communities is what are their greatest needs (from their perspective)? We sat in a circle in the shade of a huge tree, sipping Coca-Cola getting to know each other. Not all of the men involved with the cooperative are able to attend the meeting, but Monica and Christine chat with those who are there about the business. The men would like to buy a GPS so they can mark the good fishing spots to return to later. Also a horse and cart so they can bring the nets and the Yamaha 175 hp motor home each night. The wheel barrow is getting old, the motor heavy. Fishing has been slow. The boat doubles as an excursions boat for tourist and that too has been slow. Other than that, all is well. We hear lots of ideas for improving the community, including paving the main street in town. Monica comments to them that this was done in Tornabé, yet problems still exist. A band-aid. The real fix? Changed lives from the inside out through a relationship with Jesus. We shared with the group our desire to live in a community and help. They enthusiastically invited us in. "Do you want to learn Garifuna?" they asked. "Do you want to learn how we fish and fish with us?" they asked. Our answer was an enthusiastic "Sí, todo!" (yes, everything). It was nice sitting in the shade sharing life. And we understood all of it!

At the end of our meeting, one of the guys named Fausto, leader of the co-op, asked if we wanted to take a ride in their boat. Of course we couldn't say no, so we hopped in SP's truck and headed back to the beach. We helped them drag the 28' fiberglass boat through the sand, mounted the outboard motor, and pushed it out into the surf. The seas were relatively calm and we headed for a rocky point of land that marks the eastern extremity of Tela Bay. We stop to watch two fisherman pull a homemade trap up through the bottom of their homemade boat (pictured). Then Fausto heads directly for the beach and enters the mouth of a river. Immediately we are in another world. The river is the color of milk chocolate. The banks are jungle like and the air has a damp, fetid smell to it. It's hot and humid. We are warned not to put our hands over the side of the boat and into the water and we have no desire to find out why.

Fausto (left), our captain and leader of the fishing co-op,
with his copilot Barana.

Homemade boat/barge for fishing and catching lobster.

These rocks are the tip of the eastern entrance to
Tela Bay and near Triunfo de la Cruz.

An hour later we are back on the beach and all help drag the boat back up the sand. I'm all in favor of them buying that horse... this thing's heavy! We say goodbye and promise to come again. Back in the van, we head for home. We treat ourselves to Burger King (whoever thought we'd ever think of that as a treat!). Overall, it was a very good trip and gave us renewed desires and made some new connections within a Garifuna community. Going back to Siguatepeque didn't feel like going home. It felt like we left our home with the Garifuna. Our "unrest", we believe, is for the very purpose of getting us back to where God has called us and marked out a place for us. We are confident that through these trips the Lord will continue to show us where He wants us, what He wants us to do, and who He wants us to work with. Thank you for praying for us, for Honduras, for the Garifuna and sharing in the journey!

In His Grip,
Corey, Kirsten, Gavin & Garret