An ailing Shreveport missionary, who's been stuck in Guatemala for almost four months after a travel incident at the airport, has a court hearing tomorrow. The family here at home isn't sure much will happen at that hearing to bring Zack Wilson home.
They believe the Central American country's government wants to eventually put him on trial for a weapons violation. His family says it was just an honest mistake -- leaving hunting ammunition in a bag he took on his first mission trip.
The good news is, Wilson is out of prison -- but under house arrest -- staying with a missionary in Guatemala City, while awaiting trial.
But the family says he's only getting limited treatment for ulcerative colitis that flared up after he was jailed, and was sent to a hospital for dehydration.
Wilson and the family are mired in what appears to be a long, painful, expensive ordeal that could take more months to resolve.
"It has been a nightmare," Wilson's mother, Rhonna Huffman, says.
What she first thought was a joke -- her son arrested in Guatemala -- turned into weeks and months of worry.
Zack Wilson went to Guatemala as part of a week-long church mission to build a community kitchen for the poor. But his good works went bad as he tried to board the plane home with the others. He was sent to a rough prison for the gun ammo in his bag, and became very ill.
His outlook was grim.
"He said before he went to the hospital and when he was so sick, the day before that, he said, 'Well, this is where I'm going to die,'" Huffman said.
She's been able to Facetime with her son, and talk on the phone, while he's been detained since late March. She says his spirits are improving.
"His faith is great. If it wasn't for his faith and if it wasn't for the person he is, I think he might've just said, 'This is it,' you know," she said.
Added to the emotional toll is the financial one. With Wilson's medical and legal costs, and the need for an interpreter, the family's already spent more than $12,000, much of that through donations.
Wilson's health insurance is not accepted in Guatemala. Cash is demanded up front. Huffman says her son's first injection was $2,400.
Wilson also had to pay for everything he needed in the prison, from food to toilet paper. His wife and two children are struggling, since they're not only without him, but also his income from a job at a church, and his e-commerce business.
And physically, Huffman says her son has lost 40 pounds. They're pinning their hopes on the mercy of the court.
"My hope is that they find favor -- that Zack is ill enough. He needs to be home on American soil to get the treatment he needs."
You can help Zack Wilson and his family. There's going to be a yard sale at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Saturday begnning at 8 a.m. The church is at 5850 Buncombe Road, south of 70th. They need donations of items that will sell. You can take those by the church on Friday.
There's also a GoFundMe account. Again, the family says they've already spent all the money they've raised so far.
The family says diplomatic channels are open to hopefully gain Wilson's release.
Congressman Mike Johnson's spokeswoman, Ainsley Holyfield, gave this brief statement: "The congressman is following the situation very closely and has spoken with both U.S. officials and the Guatemalan government. He is doing everything he can to assist Mr. Wilson and his family."
As for laws on flying commercially with gun ammunition, the website gunpolicy.org says Guatemala requires licensed gun owners to apply for a free, temporary transport permit to travel with ammo.
Here in the U.S., the TSA bans ammunition from carry-on bags. It must be transported in checked baggage, as do weapons.
The family isn't sure if Wilson's ammo was in a checked or carry-on bag. The group flew out of Houston.