CRC Hopeful for End to Honduran Crisis

Christian Reformed Church missionary workers Caspar and Leanne Geisterfer are hopeful that resolution will come soon to the political crisis in Honduras.

Caspar Geisterfer, who serves with Christian Reformed World Missions in Honduras, says he was in the country in late June when the Honduran Congress and Supreme Court voted to remove President Manuel Zelaya from office.

Not long after, Honduran soldiers, at the request of lawmakers, removed Zelaya from his presidential residence and flew him out of the country. Roberto Micheletti, who has presided over the National Congress of Honduras, was appointed president by Honduran lawmakers.

The current strife began when Zelaya started to push an effort that could have kept him in office beyond his current term, which expires in 2010.

On Wednesday, United States officials announced that Costa Rican President Oscar Arias—a Nobel Peace Prize winner—has agreed to mediate an end to the political crisis in Honduras.

"This could be over in a short time. It's on the right track," said Caspar Geisterfer, who works with about 60 Christian Reformed Church of Honduras congregations. "Charges have been dropped against Zelaya. Positive stuff is going on."

Geisterfer and his wife, Leanne, who is Latin American coordinator for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, are currently in North America. They hope to return to Honduras soon.

Currently, none of the CRWM or CRWRC or any other church employees at work in the country seem to be in danger, says Caspar Geisterfer. A few other CRC workers are waiting to return. Partners Worldwide, which has affiliations with the CRC, also has workers in Honduras.

CRWRC has been working on economic development projects in Honduras since 1974. Progress was being made, but then Hurricane Mitch hit and devastated the country in 1998, setting back development many years. CRWRC continues its work to improve the spiritual and economic well-being of low-income families in both rural and urban centers.

CRWM works to strengthen the Christian Reformed Church of Honduras (HCRC) and other church-linked groups to do word and deed ministry. This means that the CRC is helping the people of Honduras to grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally and economically. In his position, Caspar Geisterfer travels to churches all over the country.

Overall, he says, CRWM works in conjunction with the Christian Reformed Church of Honduras to create and promote healthy congregations and to train leaders for effective service. It also provides funds for projects in evangelism, education, church construction, and church development and provides personnel who serve the CRC of Honduras as consultants and trainers.

While they are watching the political situation with interest, the Geisterfers say they are not worried about a major crisis occurring at this point.

"If we were in the country right now, we wouldn't find the current situation cause to leave," says Leanne Geisterfer. "We tell our people who are there to be careful as to where they travel and to stay out of certain areas."

CRC officials are, however, making sure to monitor the situation closely.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Zelaya, a leftist whose removal from the country was sparked by his efforts to change presidential term limits, to negotiate rather than try to force his way back into the country, say news reports.

The removal of Zelaya has been widely condemned abroad, and has posed a diplomatic challenge for US President Barack Obama.