Most are not. There is nothing like the "Potatoe" Famine ravaging the region south of the border.
You haven't been to the poorest parts of Central America lately, have you?
You tell me - is this anything "like the Potato Famine" or not:
http://www.christiansincrisis.net/news/06132005.htm
The women traveled to Chiapas to learn about persecution of Christians in that southern area of Mexico. They also went there to encourage and pray with those suffering for their faith.
The state of Chiapas is a hotbed of persecution of evangelical Christians. More than 35,000 Christians have been driven from their homes over the years. Some have also been beaten and killed. Churches have been burned down to the ground. Most of the persecution is orchestrated by caciques, who are local landowners who control the countryside with Mafia-like tactics. Despite the persecution, Chiapas has more evangelical Christians per capita than any state in Mexico.
For the many of the women, one of the highlights of the mission trip was entering a prison in Cintalapa, Chiapas to pray with 34 evangelical Christians who have been imprisoned for over seven years. They have been charged with killing 45 people in an attack in the small village of Acteal in Chiapas in 1997. Open Doors believes the Christians are not guilty of the charges and has been working for reversal of their sentences by providing legal assistance.
“I feel it was God’s blessing to allow our team of women into the full security prison to meet and pray with our brothers from Acteal,” says team member Lisa McPartland. “They greeted us with ‘mi hermana’ or ‘my sister’…many with tears in their eyes. We prayed with them and we prayed for their wives and families back home. We also gave them copies of The Purpose Driven Life (written by Rick Warren) in Spanish as well as toiletries and other items.”
Patti Peviani reveals her emotions during the prison visit.
“We presented a skit for the men, doing our best to offer our encouragement despite the language barrier. They thanked us, many with tears in their eyes but still the best of that experience was yet to come.
“Their pastor/lawyer offered his words of encouragement and an update on the legal aspects of their situation. You could tell by their eyes and body language it wasn’t good news. After his update he said, ‘Let’s pray.’
“All the men fell to their knees and many of them prostrated themselves in such a humble way. Their crying and pleading to the Lord was a moment I keep thinking about over and over.
“We, too, fell to our knees praying, crying and pleading along with them. Our voices were not in unison because three different languages were being offered up to the Lord. But, to me, it was not chaotic at all. It was like God was giving us a glimpse of heaven and what it will be like spending our days praising Him together. God was real and present to meet every need.
“Every emotion was deeply experienced during those praying moments. We felt sadness, grief, elation, excitement, love, admiration.....and supernaturally covered. I felt as if we were in a Bible story and we were part of the scene. Today I feel honored and so thankful that I was able to be part of such a significant moment.”
Team member Karen Spain adds:
“Visiting those men in prison was about the most humbling experience of my entire Christian walk. I couldn’t help be reminded that so easily that could be any one of our own husbands, brothers or fathers. We need to continue to pray for these men and their families.”
Later the women visited the wives and families of the prisoners in the mountain village of Acteal. They presented the children with toys and the wives with books, food and other supplies. The Tzotzil-speaking women showed their gratitude by cooking a large meal for the women. Open Doors is helping support the Acteal women by providing food, cooking essentials and transportation to visit their husbands in prison.