Conserve Water. Water from the tap is often more scare and precious in Honduras than it is in the U.S. This is especially true when a group is sharing facilities. While showering, turn the water off while soaping up, and try to shower no more than once a day. The water sitting in the basins of pilas (the concrete basin-and-washboard structure commonly behind buildings) is also precious. Always scoop water out with a clean bowl, instead of contaminating the water with your soapy hands or dirty cup. Watch the locals if in doubt.

Drinking Water. Team members should drink purified, bottled drinking water that is made available to teams by local staff, and is readily available at stores and gas stations in Honduras. Brush your teeth with purified water also. Restaurants that UMVIM and pastors suggest are usually more conscientious about pure water, but if you’re ever in doubt about the water or the ice, please ask. Or bring your own water with you to a restaurant. Stay hydrated during your stay. It is an easy way to prevent ill health.

Food. Take what you want; eat what you take. If you are being served, it is okay to say “just a little, please” (un poco, por favor), or “no more, thank you” (no màs, gracias). Avoid food purchased from street vendors. The local pastor will advise your group about which are the safe restaurants and local food stands. Don’t eat raw vegetables or unpeeled fruit unless you know they have been washed or have been treated in a water and chlorine solution.

Smoking and Drinking. In the culture of Honduras, smoking or drinking alcohol are behaviors that are taboo for Christians. For an UMVIM team member to do either is a shockingly poor reflection on the Methodist Church in Honduras for people in the church and community. Please be sensitive and cooperative to the witness that the Honduras Methodist Church wishes to give to the community around it. Please do not smoke or drink alcohol at any time during your stay in Honduras. If this is a problem for a team member, he or she should not participate in the mission trip to Honduras.

Bathroom. Toilet paper in Honduras is not put in the toilet to be flushed away, but in the wastebasket next to the toilet. The water treatment systems cannot handle toilet paper. It is rare to find a toilet in Honduras that can take toilet paper, even in hotels. Ask if you are not sure. Many restrooms will not have toilet paper, so carry Kleenex travel packs with you. Some showers only have cold water. Complaining about it (or even making jokes about it) can be insensitive to locals who don’t have a choice but to shower in cold water all the time.

Electrical current is 110 in Honduras, the same as the U.S.

Pedestrians, beware. Be more vigilant than you’re used to when walking along streets in Honduras. Pedestrians do NOT have the right-of-way, like they do in the U.S. Don’t assume a car is planning to slow or stop for you. It probably won'’t.

There will be both unexpected developments, and times when what you expected would happen, won’t. Remember the Spirit works in these times! The unexpected is an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move!

The contents of this page were most recently updated on Thursday January 22, 2009