I was blessed with a peaceful childhood. My parents rarely fought and other than your typical disagreements, my siblings and I got along very well and still do today. I was fortunate enough to live in a nice house tucked away in a small cove in your typical safe middle class white American neighborhood and attend the best school in my hometown. I had plenty of everything that I needed. Violence wasn't in my vocabulary at all nor was it a constant part of my life in any shape, form or fashion. In America the words 'violence' and 'violent' are usually only used in reference to certain areas where they are part of everyday life. These are areas where it is constant and affects every part of the individuals' lives. If you grew up in a major city like I did (or even if it was a small town like many of my friends) you knew where those areas were and you avoided them. Other than these small areas and some images every now and then in the movies and on the TV, violence isn't really a part of the American culture. It's not constantly out of control. There is a sense of right and wrong and, although many people don't know where it comes from, the Golden Rule is well established in the American psyche of the young and the old. In some form it is taught to every child and it guides most of the decisions that we make as well as how we interact with and treat each other. Honduras is different. Violence is widespread and pervades every part of the culture. Because of this, Honduras has earned the reputation as the most dangerous country in the world. The role of violence in the Honduran culture is especially evident in the kids' play. As I have interacted with the kids in the area surrounding Zion's Gate, especially the kids that come up each day at the end of their day of learning from the nearby school and play on the property, I have been amazed at how rough some of their actions are. I realize that its just kids playing and that they most likely aren't really thinking about it in these terms but I feel like it is something that, from my perspective as an adult, a Christian, a missionary, and a school social worker, can't be overlooked. It is evidence of how impressionable children truly are and the influence that those that they look up to can have. Yet in the midst of all of this anger and hate, there is hope. There is a desire for peace. There is a desire to repair the broken parts of the country. Part of my squad's work here is to point these desires towards Jesus and in doing so fight back against the darkness that has covered this country as a result of the fear that has spring up because of the uncontrolled violence.
