Country Facts
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Size: slightly larger than Tennessee
Population: 7,483,763
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Ethinic Group: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
AIDS population: 63,000 (2003 est.)
Literacy: total population: 80%
Unemployment rate: 27.9% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.7% (2004)
Government: democratic constitutional republic
Economy (Agriculture & Industry):
Economy: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Industry: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Currency: lempira (HNL)
Culture
Food: Honduran cuisine makes extensive use of coconut, in both sweet and savory foods, and even in soups.
Sports: Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Honduras.
Arts: Honduras is influential in Central American music, having the first music academy in the Americas: Victoriano López. In San Pedro Sula we can find the José Francisco Saybe theater, home of Círculo Teatral Sampedrano (Theatrical Circle of San Pedro Sula). Theater which is also the biggest one in Central America.
Holidays
• September 15, 1821, Independence Day
• September 10, Children’s Day
• October 3, Day of the Soldier
• July 20, El Dia de Lempira
Customs/Courtesies
• Hondurans are often referred to as Catracho or Catracha (fem) in Spanish
• Give a firm handshake when greeting a man and less firm when greeting a woman. Establishing eye contact in an inviting way is important.
• Be aware that the acceptable distance for Hondurans is closer than that of most North Americans.
• One of the wonderful characteristics of Hondurans is their warmth.
Buckner in Honduras
In 2006, the Honduras government invited Buckner by special invitation of the First Lady, to visit the orphanages and needs of the children in Honduras. Additionally, Buckner crossed the borders of Honduras for the first time on an exploratory trip to visit orphanages in the city of San Pedro Sula Buckner hopes to have three additional mission trips in the year 2008 including a Shoes for Orphan Souls Trip in December.
Three government officials which included the sister of the First Lady, Director of IHNFA, Children's Social Services for Honduras, and coordinator for humanitarian aid for the First Lady came to Dallas in April 2007 to visit Buckner and share the needs of the children in Honduras.
Buckner services and country support include:
• Humanitarian Aid: Buckner sent down mattresses for the adolescent girls' home as well as donations to cover gifts for the children on the "Day of the Child." In 2007. Buckner sent 5,000 pairs of shoes for the children in Honduras in 2008.
• Mission Trips: Three mission trips are scheduled to Honduras in 2008
Typical mission trips include
• Church Group Trips
• Shoes for Orphan Souls Trips
• Medical Mission Trips
• Construction Trips
