Comments on: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle…unless you live in la ceiba

By: caleb yoder

caleb yoder — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:33:41 +0000

Thanks for your story. I happen upon this a long time after your post but take interest since I lived in Honduras for 3 years with MCC in Colonia Rivera Hernandez, San Pedro Sula. I left in fall 2009. I think you were already in Honduras, but i never made it over to La Ceiba that often, so I never got a chance to meet you. Reality is often heartbreaking and complex– there aren’t simple solutions. Living in Central America is a wonderful opportunity to think about how the church can stand up for/with the marginalized. My neighborhood tended to only come up in the news because of violent killings– there was one with 13 young people in a soccer field in la Felipe Zelaya which is part of the same sector. Underemployment is a big problem as well as simply not receiving wages (in the construction sector). Wish you blessings and many learnings

By: TimN

TimN — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:48:44 +0000

Jeff,

Of course, you are welcome to list YAR on anabaptistblogs.com. I was surprised how few women were on the list. I only counted two, and both appeared to be blogging with their husbands. Is this representative of what you’ve seen out there?

By: Jeff McLain

Jeff McLain — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:26:57 +0000

would love to list you on http://www.anabaptistblogs.com - you cool with that?

By: Richard Sittel

Richard Sittel — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:10:05 +0000

Hmmm, when I saw the new garbage trucks for the first time last week I thought “Geez, it’s about time!” Now that I hear the whole story I’m not so sure. There are so many problems here in Honduras, starting with the schools and education and spanning employment, corruption, greed, drugs, pollution, and now garbage. I’m not sure there is a good solution to the garbage mess, and if you found the perfect solution you could never get anyone to listen. Look at all the kids who just don’t go to school because they don’t want to. They have a serious attitude problem that goes through rich, poor, young and old. I’m glad at least you haven’t given up. Thanks for enlightening me!
Rick in La Ceiba

By: db

db — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:31:30 +0000

I know you are with a religious entity, but the whole “As God Wills” view most Hondurans have will not help them out of the situation they are in and not sure prayers will at this point either. I think there needs more than prayers…there needs to be an uprising of the poor…but we know that won’t happen either. The rich will just keep on shooting them down like they did after the coup.

When I lived and volungteered in La Ceiba, i always put all my recyclables in separate bags for those garbage guys trying to make their hard life a bit easier. Sad to see them lose their jobs.

My husband went to the dump a time or two as he is an environmental engineer. I am sure the Mayor or his friends/family are not also getting the money from the garbage routes…I am sure they are making the money from the recycling too.

Take from the Poor and give to the Rich…Honduras is one messed up Robin Hood adventure. But once you live there, you can’t help still loving it!

Keep up the good work!

By: TimN

TimN — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:27:47 +0000

Matthew,

Thanks for sharing this story. It is a powerful testimony to the adaptivity of humans. It is also a reminder that pity is often not the best motivation or lens for working with communities. In my own experience visiting the dump in Guatemala City many years ago, I admit that my primary feeling was pity. Your narrative goes much deeper.

I appreciate having this story shared more or less first hand. I realize that, aside from when I’m writing from a CPT project or about Chicago, most of what I write about is based on what I’ve read in this news article or another. I think more story telling is good for everyone.

I hope you’ll update us on what happens in Los Laureles.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:37:19 +0000

Hey MatthewK, thanks for sharing. I really appreciate your (albeit tedious) piece.

If Honduras is anything like Paraguay (where I live), then no scavenging means no recycling. Here in Asuncion, it’s not uncommon to have people going through the garbage at 4:00 am, separating the sheep from the goats (or at least glass and bottles from the less-reusable waste). Aside from this there are no serious recycling efforts in the society’s conscience.

Que Dios bendiga a los laureles. Fuerza para ti al caminar y cuidar de las personas en sus verdaderas necesidades! Cristo está contigo.