A letter from Carlos Cardenas Martinez in Nicaragua
June 2014 - An Election Accompaniment
A mission of accompaniment that deserves to be remembered as a lesson learned
And theytook offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house” Matthew 13:57.
At the end of November 2014 I accepted a kind offer from our global partners, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the ACT Forum of Honduras, who together were organizing a mission of international accompaniment of the electoral process in Honduras.
Because it had to do with the country of my birth and where I lived up through my youth, I thought it could be a special experience to participate together with my 25-year-old son, Carlos Roberto. He was born in Nicaragua and has just recently graduated from university and will soon be starting his career. On the drive there we had many hours to talk about the mission, what it meant to me as a citizen of Honduras returning after 40 years, and how this accompaniment work deserved our thoughtful commitment to transparency and justice to give testimony to how the elections are carried out.
We also discussed the importance of his coming as a young person and taking on a serious role like this one for the first time in a country that he knew little about. It was such a positive experience for him that just a few months later he accepted a similar invitation to observe elections in El Salvador.
Honduras has a particularly stressful political environment in which a polarized and fragmented population is facing the aftermath of a recent coup forged by foreign governments in June of 2010 against their constitutionally elected president Manuel Zelaya Rosales. It was a setting in which, not unexpectedly, violence could resurge after the elections, regardless of who won. We agreed that we needed to be prepared with our own contingency plan, agreeing on a meeting place in case of a hotel raid or the need to seek refuge.
One thing that I remember sharing with my son was that I was a boy growing up in a very poor family led by my father, a construction worker who occasionally got temporary jobs that did not cover the basic needs of such a large family. We were eight siblings. I spoke of my despair of going to bed hungry and the concern that there would be no breakfast waiting for me in the morning, and living this day in and day out. And being the second oldest, I worried and hurt to hear the cry of the younger ones asking for their milk and food in front of the cold stove that we didn’t light because there was nothing to cook. Sometimes we would light it just so the neighbor would see the smoke and not know about our bitter situation. My dream, because of the poverty I experienced, was to go to distant lands, learn foreign languages, and one day return triumphant to my country and help my siblings, my family and my people.
Since I settled in Nicaragua I was blessed to join CEPAD and the evangelical churches community, which has given me the opportunity to serve as a volunteer in different peacemaking experiences like the accompaniment to elections in Honduras.
Now, 40 years later, I see that people hold me and my family in high regard for being part of this mission. Many have greeted me in recognition of my being a part of a great global coalition of Christian churches that has the capacity to influence other groups of opinion in advocating for justice and human rights in a society that has been torn by political conflict between the old Honduran oligarchy, the military, and forces for progress and democracy. We identify this clearly as the value added in being a part of the body of Christ, made up of more than 140 denominations in the coalition known as Action by Churches Together (ACT) or ACT Alliance.
Up until Election Day our stay was filled with coordination and information meetings. The day of the elections we headed out in our brand-new election observer vests with badges identifying us as verified international election accompaniers of the Lutheran World Federation. Privately our conversations emphasized the peaceful, respectful and transparent process that took place at polling stations and also our frustration at not having access to electronic check imaging system results from the level of the polling stations and the transfer of partial information.
At the end of the day there was much speculation about an alleged massive online fraud. It was clear that this had been planned professionally and with much anticipation, knowing that no international or national observation, regardless of their full access to the polls, would have access to the electronic registration system and final aggregation of the figures. Although there were outbreaks of violence only in some cities, the announcement of the final results produced discontent among the opposition, and a situation of crisis and violence was about to break loose.
We planned our return as soon as possible, leaving the capital, where there was much persecution and rumors of people from the resistance movement being captured by the supporters of the coup and the Libre party. In fact, before the election the Honduran population was politically labeled into two groups, Coup supporters and the Resistance.
As father and son we learned that in high-risk situations, frank and open communication is key. We needed to avoid controversial discussions with other participants, but it was also important to recognize that the ecumenical and inter-ecclesial action was key to the protection of over 150 international observers or companions who were in Tegucigalpa in those tense days of November 2013.
We thank LWF and ACT colleagues in Honduras for their unconditional support in ensuring our safety and the mission’s success. We thank God for our coming out unscathed and pray that those in power may lead the country to peace, justice and equity for the Honduran nation.
I want to express my gratitude for your reading my newsletters and invite you through prayers to be part of these accompaniment journeys for peace and reconciliation for this people severely affected by violence and suffering. And whenever possible also through your valuable financial support and exchange with our mission.
Carlos Cardenas
Nicaraguan Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD)
Managua, Nicaragua
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 44
Read more about Carlos Cardenas' ministry
Write to Carlos Cardenas
Individuals: Give online to E550030 for Carlos Cardenas' sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507540 for Carlos Cardenas' sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
