What is going on according to me...

Last night we had a cultural adjustment meeting with the president of the school board and his wife. They have been living in Honduras for 19 years and have been missionaries their whole life. Mr. Caudill growing up in Cuba. They are very knowledgeable people and after our culture session a few of us asked them to clarify some of the happenings. So using what they told us and from what I hear from the news I will try to summarize what in the world is going on here.
A little background. Zelaya and Hugo Chavez are buddy buddy. Hugo Chavez is the president of Venezuela but more accurately would be described as dictator. This summer Zelaya tried to re-write the Honduran constitution so that he could be elected for another term. The Honduran constitution allows for presidents to only serve one term so there is not threat of dictatorship. Because Mel was acting in a way that was breaking the constitution the government took action. They were trying to prevent exactly what Mel and Hugo wanted, so they had Mel impeached. This is what is known as the coup. Micheletti was the president of the congress which is the person next in line to be president, like the vice president. So that is why he is president.
The problem with the impeachment is that Mel was not tried right away for his illegal actions. Why things were not done differently, I do not know. But as you may or may not know he attempted to fly back into the country and hung out at the Nicaraguan border, stepping foot in once. It was kind of a chess match to see what he would do next. Over the summer Chavez paid people, not even Hondurans necessarily, to protest. He paid them a day's wage and they would walk the streets of Tegucigalpa protesting on behalf of Mel. Again Chavez is very behind this.
So why did Mel come back? Chavez and Mel saw that the country was running just fine without Mel. Yes the world was/is not recognizing Honduras and its government, but the country was peaceful. They realized that the elections would happen in November, Micheletti would hand over the power in January, the world would eventually realize that what happened was legal and start funding Honduras again. This could not happen for Mel. So he came back.
He came back with the aid of Brazil. Brazil is the 2nd richest country in the Western Hemisphere and is on the up. It wasn't by chance that Brazil was chosen to help. He came across the Guatemala border in a car with South American license plates. And he has been in the Brazilian embassy since, creating all sorts of problems. What has to happen is A. Mel turns himself in to be arrested or B. Brazil gives him political asylum meaning that Brazil uses an embassy car and brings him to the airport, puts him on a plane, and flies him to Brazil. He cannot be attacked when that is taking place or while he is at the embassy because attacking an embassy is attacking a country. That is why the troops only surrounding the embassy cutting of the water and electricity. At one point for about 15 minutes they even tried using a really annoying noise to get him out. Now it is the waiting game...
Another question is why is the world supporting Mel? Really why are they? Mel's actions were not legal. He is a very corrupt man. Mr. Caudill worked for many years bringing water to the rural communities of this country. Before Mel was president he too worked for one of the government water organizations. Mr. Caudill met with Mel to present a joint project to bring water to three communities close to where Mel was from. The way that Mr. Caudill presented it was three times cheaper than what Mel had planned. But when Mr. Caudill presented it Mel just simply laughed in his face not giving him the time of day. Why was Mr. Caudill's plan 3 times cheaper? Mr. Caudill wasn't pocketing two thirds of the money whereas Mel was. Mel claims to want to help the poor when really he is stealing from the poor. So again, why is the world supporting such a corrupt man? It has to do with money. Not that Honduras has much money, it is the 3rd poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, but the world has to be benefit ting somehow.
So that is the story. Other random facts. We read somewhere that every day that Honduras has a daytime curfew it cost the country 50 million dollars. We also read the Micheletti thinks the country can survive for 6 months on the food it has here. We can't. Every time there is a daytime curfew all of Central America suffers because the borders close and no trucks can pass through and you have to pass through Honduras. Micheletti definitely isn't perfect. But in the end, he is following the constitution and will allow the elections to happen.
What is going on here right now? Things are pretty peaceful. There are a few demonstrations but people are at work trying to lead as normal of a life as possible. Earlier yes there were cars and stores that were ruined. Tuesday they lifted the curfew and grocery stores were madhouses. There are pictures on yahoo.com. We don't have school yet today. Why? Our school represents families with money. Our kids run a great risk of being kidnapped. Last year in one week there were 4 kids from other bilingual schools who were kidnapped, one killed. Parents are not jumping at letting their kids out quite yet. Hopefully Monday we'll start up again.
What are my thoughts and reactions and how am I dealing with living in this historical time? All I can do is pray. I hope that you will join me in prayer. As I have said, there is a lot of corrupt tendencies in this area of the world. Pray for a peaceful resolve. This has never been scary for me. The only fear I have is for my students and their families. This has divided families and brought fear to our kids. As they were getting off the buses on Monday, they were questioned and targeted. Pray for them as we begin school again.