Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeTuesday, Jul. 07, 2009
Richland youths expected home today after fleeing Honduras
By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer
A Richland youth group should be back on U.S. soil today after being escorted from Honduras by armed guards in the wake of a military coup.
The group of 21 teenagers and adult chaperones from Richland Church of Christ began their long journey home over the weekend, driving through the Central American country largely on back roads to avoid roadblocks.
They were scheduled to fly out Monday night and should arrive in Portland this afternoon, said Scott Koopman, the church's preacher. His 17-year-old daughter also was on the short mission.
Families of the teens and chaperones have been staying updated through information posted on a blog. Group members also have made brief calls home.
"I think everybody's excited for them to come home and anxious to see them," Koopman said. "It was good to hear their voices (on the phone) and hear firsthand that they're safe and sound."
The group left for Honduras on June 26 to work at a church and school in the northern part of the country. They were supposed to be there about 1 1/2 weeks. But on June 28, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a military coup.
The State Department advised Americans to restrict their travel in and to Honduras and warned of roadblocks and demonstrations.
The area where the group was staying seemed to be removed from the political turmoil, Koopman told the Herald last week. But group leaders felt it was best to cut the trip short.
The group set out on Saturday, driving more than 10 hours out of Honduras, Koopman said. They encountered one roadblock but were able to get through it safely, he said.
The group still was able to help out at the church and school despite having to leave earlier than planned, according to the blog. It's updated by an American family working in Honduras this summer.
The teens and chaperones did everything from install a sidewalk to teach Bible classes to children, the blog said.
Koopman said the idea behind the trip was to teach the teens about the importance of serving others. The political crisis they were plunged into means they'll be coming home with other lessons too.
For one thing, they'll have "a greater appreciation for not only what we have physically but the stability of our government and the ease with which we (travel) around," Koopman said.
The church has arranged to pick the group up from Portland in two 15 passenger vans, Koopman said. He'll be behind the wheel of one of them.
But several of the seats will be empty on the drive back to the Tri-Cities. Koopman said some families are opting to make the drive themselves so they can see their loved ones off the plane after their long journey home.
-- Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com
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