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Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

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Honduran coup to cut short Richland church group's trip

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

Twenty-one teenagers and adult chaperones from a Richland church are cutting their mission trip to Honduras short after a military coup in the Central American country.

The group from Richland Church of Christ flew to Honduras on June 26, two days before President Manuel Zelaya was ousted by the military.

The group plans to begin the long journey home today, according to a blog that's keeping families updated.

The group is staying in a small town in northern Honduras and will be escorted to the city of San Pedro Sula several hours away, the blog said. The students and adults will fly back home from there.

"We're pretty concerned," about the situation, said Scott Koopman, the Richland church's preacher. His 17-year-old daughter, Amanda, is one of the students on the trip.

The town where the group has been staying seems to be far removed from the political turmoil, Koopman said. The only direct impact on the group so far has been some trouble withdrawing money from the bank, he said.

The group decided Thursday morning to leave the country. The U.S. Department of State has advised Americans to restrict their travel in and to Honduras and warned of roadblocks and demonstrations.

The Richland youth group planned to spend about 11/2 weeks helping with projects at a church and school in the town, Koopman said. The students each came up with more than $1,000 to pay their way.

The group had travel insurance, and the insurance company is working out the logistics to get them home, the blog said.

Koopman said family members of the students and chaperones on the trip are anxiously awaiting their return. The families are worried but are "being prayerful about it," he said. "One of the (blessings) of being Christians is that when we get into a situation that's helpless from our position, we put it in God's hands."



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