When Lynne Quinn, of Glenwood, first decided to take her daughter on her church's annual mission trip to Honduras two years ago, she thought it would be a valuable learning experience.

That was the case and the trips have become much-anticipated rituals for both Quinn and her daughter Anna, now 14.

This year, however, the trip has turned into a learning experience about world history and politics now that the church's trip has been canceled in the wake of the political upheaval in the small central American nation.

"It's unbelievable how this has evolved," Quinn said. "It doesn't feel real, but this is real life. This is reality for other parts of the world even though it feels like a movie."

This was to be the third straight year that St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Glenwood would send a group to Honduras -- specifically to El Hogar Tegucigalpa, the nation's capital city.

The mission trip, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, was set to begin June 27 and last until Saturday, July 4.

On previous trips, youths from the church helped with light construction in villages, assisting at a local orphanage and bringing donations from the United States to Tegucigalpa.

This year's group of about 15 children and parents arrived at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, as planned, June 27 at 4 a.m.

But they found that their flight had been canceled due to weather complications in Miami.

"We spent all day trying to figure out how to get to Miami to make our connecting flight," Lynne Quinn said. "Finally, we just gave up for the day and planned to come back the next morning."

Rumors of unrest

Even as the group was trying to make arrangements that first day, they heard rumors of unrest in Honduras.

President Manuel Zelaya had been pushing for a referendum on several initiatives, a move his opponents decried as an unconstitutional attempt to lengthen his term.

"We have a contact at the orphanage and they said there was a lot going on," Lynne Quinn said. "But after talking with everyone, we decided it was still safe to go."

The group returned to BWI the following morning, June 28, and flew to Miami. But in Florida, Lynne Quinn received an alarming telephone voice mail.

"The orphanage said Zelaya had been arrested and we probably shouldn't come," she said. "We tried to ask others what they thought, but no one had heard about it yet."

In the end and reluctantly, the group opted not to get on the plane to Honduras.

"It was so hard to see that plane take off, and it was a tough decision, but I was looking after other people's children," Quinn said.

Their decision seemed to be justified when the news came that Zelaya had been overthrown in a military coup and flown to Costa Rica. His ouster sparked clashes in the streets of the capital, and dozens have been arrested and injured.

Correct decision or not, the aborted trip disappointed participants. Lynne Quinn said the mission has become a major event for several of the church's youths, including her daughter.

"Some of them live their year to go back," Quinn said. "My daughter has just blossomed ever since she got involved."

Anna said the trip has become one of the highlights of her summer. "It's just something that's become so important," she said. "I've had so much fun."

For now, this year's trip remains in limbo. Lynne Quinn said there are currently "no plans" to go, but the group wants to.

"We have 15 bags filled with donations, plus $3,200 to buy food," she said. "We could just send it down, but you can't guarantee it will get to the orphanage unless you hand deliver it."

For both mother and daughter, the larger issue has become the safety of those already in Honduras. At least one group with the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland is already in Honduras, including the trip's organizer.

"I'm scared for them," Anna Quinn said. "It's so bad down there for them right now. I hope everyone's OK."

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