PARKERSBURG — The group of 16 missionaries from the Morgantown Church of Christ that arrived in Honduras on March 14 to spend a week in the Central American country finally made it home on March 27.
The group included an Ohio Valley University student, Brandon Brammer; a recent graduate who still lives in Parkersburg, Devinne Sparks and a Parkersburg native, Richard Moore.
Moore, who is a church elder, said fear of the coronavirus spreading had escalated quickly and Honduras closed its borders, making it impossible to travel into or out of the country by any means.
The trip was not a total loss, though.
According to Sparks, the group was able to build a home, get supplies to the local orphanage and distribute 170 food bags which provided people with two weeks’ worth of food supplies.
Moore said West Virginia’s congressional delegation was working with the church members to ensure they could get to the airport safely and their flight would be allowed to enter and leave the country.
“My staff and I have done everything we can to facilitate travel through commercial airlines and the state department,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito R-W.Va. was also glad to hear everyone made it home safely.
“It’s great news that these West Virginians have safely returned back home. My office worked around the clock with these agencies like the U.S. Department of State and others and I’m so glad our efforts were successful,” Capito said.
Capito said her office has heard from a number of constituents similar situations where they have had trouble getting flights home to West Virginia due to actions being taken by foreign countries in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
“My focus remains to make sure all West Virginians are safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty and my office will continue to stay on top of issues like these,” Capito said.
Manchin agreed, saying he was thankful these West Virginians made it back safe and sound.
“I am and I will continue to work with the state department and other agencies to ensure that every West Virginian abroad makes it home safely during this terrible pandemic,” said Manchin.
Moore said no one in the group is showing symptoms of COVID-19.