OK.... I was out yesterday in a community called Mirador de Oriente. I was there to take pictures of potential house sites. We have been working in this area for the last 4-5 years and have built close to 100 homes here. Groups will recognize the communities as Nueva Oriental and Villa Oriental. One problem we have encountered here (and by "here" I mean Honduras) is that we are often lied to. I know, hard to imagine. People lie in order to be able to benefit from something being offered (sarcasm font is on!)
Well, a few weeks ago I was in this community and was approached by a woman who told me that she had purchased a lot there and was in need of a house for her and her children. I asked her where she was currently living and she said that she was renting a place in another community. I went to see the property and discussed with her that it was possible. Yesterday, when I was there, she asked again. Now, what you need to know is that we have had some difficulty in this community (and in others also) with people lying about their situation in an effort to have us build them a home that they were never intending to live in. They wanted a free house that they could turn around and rent or sell. Well, TORCH is not in the "business" of building second homes so that people can rent them out or sell them. We want to help those who truly need the assistance. Most in the community know that and I will often have those that live there help me discern where the "real" needs are.
So.... a young man who has been very helpful to me in the past informed me that this woman had a home elsewhere and was wanting this house as a rental. There were probably a half dozen others there (including the woman asking for the house) when he told me this and as you could imagine, it created a little bit of commotion. This woman was being called out for lying to me. As I said, we have built a lot of homes here and the community, as a whole, is very appreciative and understands our desire to help those who need it. Most often it is others in the community that share with me who there is really in need. Well, I reaffirmed our goals and purpose for our work there and reminded them that I needed their help to help me discern the truth. After a few more minutes of discussion (the woman claiming that what I was told wasn't true and the young man insisting it was, the others not knowing one way or the other) I let everyone know that I would look into it further and try to discover the truth. Everyone seemed OK with that and I continued on my way, taking pictures and talking with other people about houses.
After a short time, the young man came back to me and I thanked him for helping to make me aware that there might be a problem with that ladies possible house. He then told me tht he was worried that if people there kept lying about their need, that we would stop coming to help. He said there were too many there that honestly needed assistance and he would hate for the dishonest ones to drive us away. I assured him that I knew all too well that there were always going to be those that would take advantage of "the stupid gringos" and their desire to help, but that TORCH Missions would continue to do their best to help where it is needed.
The other thing I told him was that when it came to lying to take advantage of something, it happens everywhere. Especially when it comes to money. The woman who wants the house is simply trying to better provide for her family. Would a home built for free that she could rent or sell do that? Of course. Even people that are already wealthy lie to get more. They cheat on taxes, take advantage of others, sell things dishonestly, etc. All of us (at least I believe all of us) have lied about something in order to "profit" (not necessarily from money) in some way. This is not limited to the poor. One thing that has become more and more evident to me as I live with the people here in Honduras is that extreme poverty stinks and it would cause most anyone, even the most honest amongst us, to be dishonest. I don't blame them for attempting to make life a little easier. Whether it is to secure an extra pair of shoes, an extra bag of groceries, a better home, or just a second toy for their kids, the people here are like people everywhere. They do what it takes to survive. Wouldn't you? Don't you already?
Please continue to talk to God in regards to our work here.
Talk to you later.
Well, a few weeks ago I was in this community and was approached by a woman who told me that she had purchased a lot there and was in need of a house for her and her children. I asked her where she was currently living and she said that she was renting a place in another community. I went to see the property and discussed with her that it was possible. Yesterday, when I was there, she asked again. Now, what you need to know is that we have had some difficulty in this community (and in others also) with people lying about their situation in an effort to have us build them a home that they were never intending to live in. They wanted a free house that they could turn around and rent or sell. Well, TORCH is not in the "business" of building second homes so that people can rent them out or sell them. We want to help those who truly need the assistance. Most in the community know that and I will often have those that live there help me discern where the "real" needs are.
So.... a young man who has been very helpful to me in the past informed me that this woman had a home elsewhere and was wanting this house as a rental. There were probably a half dozen others there (including the woman asking for the house) when he told me this and as you could imagine, it created a little bit of commotion. This woman was being called out for lying to me. As I said, we have built a lot of homes here and the community, as a whole, is very appreciative and understands our desire to help those who need it. Most often it is others in the community that share with me who there is really in need. Well, I reaffirmed our goals and purpose for our work there and reminded them that I needed their help to help me discern the truth. After a few more minutes of discussion (the woman claiming that what I was told wasn't true and the young man insisting it was, the others not knowing one way or the other) I let everyone know that I would look into it further and try to discover the truth. Everyone seemed OK with that and I continued on my way, taking pictures and talking with other people about houses.
After a short time, the young man came back to me and I thanked him for helping to make me aware that there might be a problem with that ladies possible house. He then told me tht he was worried that if people there kept lying about their need, that we would stop coming to help. He said there were too many there that honestly needed assistance and he would hate for the dishonest ones to drive us away. I assured him that I knew all too well that there were always going to be those that would take advantage of "the stupid gringos" and their desire to help, but that TORCH Missions would continue to do their best to help where it is needed.
The other thing I told him was that when it came to lying to take advantage of something, it happens everywhere. Especially when it comes to money. The woman who wants the house is simply trying to better provide for her family. Would a home built for free that she could rent or sell do that? Of course. Even people that are already wealthy lie to get more. They cheat on taxes, take advantage of others, sell things dishonestly, etc. All of us (at least I believe all of us) have lied about something in order to "profit" (not necessarily from money) in some way. This is not limited to the poor. One thing that has become more and more evident to me as I live with the people here in Honduras is that extreme poverty stinks and it would cause most anyone, even the most honest amongst us, to be dishonest. I don't blame them for attempting to make life a little easier. Whether it is to secure an extra pair of shoes, an extra bag of groceries, a better home, or just a second toy for their kids, the people here are like people everywhere. They do what it takes to survive. Wouldn't you? Don't you already?
Please continue to talk to God in regards to our work here.
Talk to you later.
posted by Mark at 11:31 AM
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