National Advocacy Center
  • Who We Are
    • About
    • Staff & Advisory Board
    • Partners
    • Good Shepherd Sisters
    • Of Note News >
      • Of Note Archives 2022
      • Of Note Archives 2021
      • Of Note Archives 2020
      • Of Note Archives 2019
      • Of Note Archives 2018
      • Of Note Archives 2017
      • Of Note Archives 2016
      • Of Note Archives 2015
    • Contact
  • Act for Justice
    • Road to Justice
    • Human Trafficking Conference >
      • HT Packet & Digital Toolkit
    • Giving
    • Outreach
  • Issues
    • Central America
    • Economic Justice
    • End Racism
    • Human Trafficking >
      • Know the Signs
      • Trafficking Resources
    • Immigration & Refugees
    • Muslim Relations
    • Women & Children
  • Resources
    • Advocacy Tools
    • Analysis for Action
    • Poetry Library

En route from Houston to San Pedro Sula

1/24/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
I remember my first flight about 15 years ago to San Pedro Sula airport. I was eager to learn Spanish and was headed to a school in La Ceiba. Alone and with very minimal Spanish, I arrived at the airport not sure what to expect. When I went to get my luggage, l saw a rooster on the conveyor belt looking about as lost as I felt. 

Grabbing my luggage, I left the terminal in search of a cab to take me into the city where I was to catch a bus to La Ceiba. I suppose I expected a sign saying "Taxis" but I saw nothing to give me a clue. A car came and I mistakenly assumed it was a cab. Later I realized they could have been kidnappers. Fortunately, they were simply a couple of nice guys who gave me a lift into the city.

Dropping me off at the bus depot, I climbed into a bus marked "La Ceiba." However, it wasn't the air conditioned non-stop bus I expected but a local bus crowded and hot. I decided to relax and enjoy the local color. At least, I was headed toward La Ceiba. 

When we arrived, the bus driver told me he didn't have my luggage. In the midst of my disbelief and anxiety, a young passenger came to my aid. He climbed into the underbelly of the bus and came out triumphantly with my luggage. Relieved and overjoyed, I showered him with "Gracias"es.  

Eventually I checked in with the Montoya family with whom I was staying for three weeks. I had a small room in back with a very small fan. I remember holding my hand over the bed and feeling the heat rise.

The family had had two sons, Daniel and David. Sadly they had lost Daniel to gang violence a few years before. Since I had also lost a son, Daniel, I felt a bond with the family and could share with them their grief. 

The Montoya family was very religious. Each Wednesday evening they hosted a prayer service for their neighbors and members of their parish. I remember their church as being very simple and quite beautiful.

Our language school had an outing and I invited David along. He was a very quiet, gentle person. Although we have lost touch, I have prayed that he has stayed safe in a dangerous world.

When the three weeks were over and it was time to leave, I felt a great sense of sadness. I had grown to love not only the Montoya family but the people of Honduras.

Recently when I learned of the Emergency Interfaith Delegation to Honduras, I knew I wanted to return and be of whatever help I could be. I am looking forward to the coming week.
​

0 Comments

    Author

    Lawrence E. Couch serves as the director and lobbyist for the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.


    RSS Feed

    Want more? Sign up for updates, resources, action alerts. Rise Up & Act for Justice.
    Sign Up

    Archives

    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    August 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    Archdiocese Of Washington
    Border
    Catholic Charities
    Catholic Social Teaching
    Congress
    COVID
    COVID-19
    Detention Center
    Family Separation
    First Flight
    Fraudulent Elections
    Fr. Melo
    George Floyd
    Hhs
    Honduras
    Human Rights
    Human Trafficking
    Juan Orlando Hernandez
    Larry Couch
    Martin Luther King
    National Advocacy Center
    Pandemic
    Poem
    Poetry
    Race
    Racism
    Rooster
    Sex Trafficking
    Sisters Of The Good Shepherd
    Social Justice
    Tornillo

NAC Quick Links

Ways to Act

Reach out to your elected officials and others on important policy decisions impacting the common good.
Act for Justice

Stay Informed

​Our email network alerts you to legislative news and directly connects you with lawmakers.
Sign Up

Advocacy Tools

Learn how to personally advocate for change and access other advocacy resources.
Access Tools

Our Issues

We advocate for laws that benefit the marginalized, especially families, women and children.  
Learn More

Contact

National Advocacy Center
of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd

504 Hexton Hill Road
​Silver Spring, MD  20904

Phone 301.622.6838 | Fax 301.384.1025
E-mail us
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Website design adapted and modified by Perisphere Media.