Tegucigalpa

This past week I spent time in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. I was able to travel around the city, visiting different museums and observing the culture. I visited two different private schools and met several of the missionaries who work in the city. It was really interesting to be in the middle of the city in light of the current political situation. The walls and buildings downtown were all covered with graffiti in protest of the government. The feel of the city was drastically different than my time in Roatan. It was clear from the moment our taxi arrived at the guest house that the city was not a "safe" place. The house is protected by a giant metal gate that is double locked at night, so although our surroundings might be dangerous, the house itself serves as a fortress. It was good to feel safe inside the house, but it was hard to adjust to the different environment.
When I was walking around the city with our group, I noticed the obvious distinction between the affluent and the extremely poor. There were people begging on the streets who clearly had next to nothing. At the same time there was a huge mall with high end stores and American restaurants. It was nicer than most of the malls I've been to in the U.S. and was filled with wealthy people. It was almost harder for me to see the wealthy people than the poor, mostly because I wasn't expecting to see this side of Honduras. When I think of this country, my first thoughts are of poverty and suffering, not of affluence. It's hard to understand why there are so many people here who have no choice but to beg for food every day, yet there are those who have more than they would ever need. I think the reason that it was so hard to see the wealth that existed in that mall is because I myself identify with those people. I have more than I could ever want or need, yet the mentality of consumerism has influenced my mind. At times I feel that I need more things, that my life will be better if I have more. The reality is that the cycle never stops and I will always be left wanting more.