GASTONIA, N.C. — Two Gastonia men who were working as missionaries in Honduras found themselves stuck in the country after the borders closed due to the coronavirus.
Michael Stepp and Terry Peters were able to get on a charter flight to Miami and landed late Tuesday. They are now back home with their families.
They both said they spent the last week helping an orphanage and local food shelters in Honduras, when they learned the country shut down.
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The two were expected to leave Saturday but their flights were canceled. They were working with the United States Embassy to find a way home.
“My big thing is to make it back home to my daughter for her birthday and to be home with my wife. She was laid off work. Right now, my only source of income is the only income we have,” said Stepp.
Both men said they needed to get back as soon as possible to support their families.
“My wife and two sons, two 3-year-olds, they expected the worst. We didn’t expect it to change this rapidly. We are working the best we can,” said Peters.
The two men said they were safe and not in any danger, but they weren’t the only ones affected.
They said there were hundreds of Americans in the country in a similar situation.
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