Las Colonias

Las Colonias

Friday 16 September 2016

September 2016 Update

Happy Independence Day Honduras! 
This day commemorates the day that the countries of Central America became independent from Spain, in 1821. The kids in school spend weeks preparing to march in the celebration parades. Larry suggested to Oscar that after 11 years in school, he should have it right. I’ve just come back from watching the second parade in two days. Fantastic! Hondurans love their country!

What’s new here for us? Well, the newest is the Eat and Study night at our house for about a dozen young teens who are hungry. I’m hopeful that the kids come for more than the food that Larry prepares, although it has been a hit. They are also hungry to dig into the Bible and that’s what we’ve been doing on Wednesday nights. We are currently going through a study “Who Me? Joseph?” learning more about Joseph’s life and looking at scripture to see how to deal with (or not deal with….) rivalry, temptation, abandonment and other issues. Oh yes…. And there is a little social stuff going on too……



Each time we come to Roatan, we are surprised to find that our focus is a bit different from the time before. We may come with a notion of what we will be doing, but there has always been a change. Our goals always remain the same – serve and model Jesus - but how we are used is always different. This time has continued this pattern, and while it is sometimes puzzling and change can be uncomfortable, when you “let go and let God (lead)” you know you are where you should be, doing what is needed.
And so – from January through to April, we were engulfed by a whirlwind of school needs. Most mornings and afternoons, we would meet with students helping them with homework, computer, and English as well as getting everyone set up with what was needed. It was a time that I knew most days where I would be and what I would be doing. Larry was called on to assist with quick jobs for different ministries, and also made many upgrades to our house and property. He provided another adult when the students’ needs were pressing.

We left for four months. Those students who had needed assistance had been provided with tools to work without our assistance, and now - they are independent! The past weeks at schools have included wrap-up week, review week, exam week, and now parade week. Next week is a week off because….? Since we leave at the end of their week off, the kids will need to continue to work through their final quarter independently. For the first week we were here I felt like I had nothing to do. But, because my days were clear, I was free to provide assistance as a supply teacher at two local mission schools. It has been such a great time to see what is done at these other schools, to provide assistance, and also meet two bunches of really great kids. Even as I walk through the Colonia now, I see some of these kids, and recognize that God has provided introductions to a new “batch”.

This session, it has been Larry who has seen much activity. The six weeks we are here should be just about enough time to complete the house build that has occupied much of Larry’s time. Much of the physical labour is provided by the owner, Marciel, his helper, as well as Franklin and his brother, Elder. However, Larry provides the know-how including helping to develop the plans, ordering material in small orders to arrive just-in-time (so that it is available to use but not be stolen), and practical how-to-do-it advice. He may also be the get-it-going-guys guy. The house lot is way up, and way back, so providing the know-how has also required plenty of physical labour just to get there. This has been a labour of joy – both for Marciel and his family, and for us.

Thank you to those who have been praying for safety on the housebuild worksite. The whole team shared some sort of bug which had four adult men lethargic/in bed for a week. This seems to have passed. The hole for the septic is being dug this week, and window holes will be cut soon in anticipation of the windows arriving next week. Marciel hopes to move by mid-week so he can avoid paying another
month’s rent on his two room apartment.

We have prayer requests and ask that you join us in these. There are so many struggling. In some ways physical needs seem less pressing. This is getting to
the end of the good time of the year with construction work available for many as well as work in the tourist areas. We see changes in people’s conditions with improvements in houses and bills being paid. But, the idea of setting money aside for a rainy day – rainy season – is foreign. In the seven years we’ve been
here we’ve seen decreased church attendance and decreased interest in Bible studies and even in Bible reading. So, our prayer requests:
1. That God is the center of the lives of these people particularly those we spend time with.
2. Please pray for two special families experiencing much stress that they respond in
God honouring ways.
3. For Marciel, Belkis and Marceo.
4. For us – prayers for finishing this session well and in response to God’s leading.

Thank you to those who are carrying on for us at home. We understand that shortly after returning, harvest of beans will begin.  We continue to be excited each day. This is a fantastic adventure we are allowed to experience. 

God’s blessings on each of you. Send us a note to let us know how your days are too. It is so refreshing just to hear about normal, everyday living and being.

With lots of love, Larry and Susan
PS – You can see lots of pictures
and read about certain events on our
blog at: roatancampbells.blogspot.com

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In this update, we want to highlight Marciel. He is a hardworker. We first noticed him when we lived at the beach. He would frequently come down to the dock on
his bike, and settle in to catch fish for the family. He was the groundskeeper for the people who lived in our house first, and we got to know him much better during the year he maintained our yard. He is trustworthy, and we knew we could count on him
during the times when we were away. He attends and continues to work at community of Faith church in the Colonia in maintaining the property. 

Since we have first known Marciel, his primary job was caring for his wife. She was a diabetic and her life was very tough. She was able to get dialysis treatment two
days a week. She also required hospitalization frequently. In February, Reina died. Marciel’s daughter, Belkis, was at our house the next day practicing English. With no emotion, she told me “My mother is dead.” Reina died on the Mainland with
extended family, and the family here never had the opportunity to say good bye.

In June, Marciel was able to buy a lot of land. He was making a new start. With Belkis and 10 year-old Marceo, the uncleared land was stripped of trees, and the rock was cut down to prepare a shelf for a house to be built – as God provided. Marciel’s plan was to build a one- storey, one-room casita and later add other rooms. We had been directed by a donor to find a project. And now….. Marciel is finding just how big God
provides! He has a two-storey, sturdy house that is all but completed. The upper storey will be living quarters for Marciel and his immediate family. The lower level
will be an apartment to rent. 
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Marciel’s House Build – 2016








Saturday 10 September 2016

Feliz Dia de los Niños!

Dia de los Niños is Children's Day and today is the day. Well, actually, since September 10 is a Saturday this year, it was celebrated yesterday, and today and even tomorrow. Anything for kids. These Spanish people LOVE their kids and LOVE to celebrate.  It's a win, win for everyone I think.  

I asked around to find out the origin of Children's Day.  No one knows. Mr. Google has several suggestions each with a grand and noble purpose. One suggests the day was initiated by a pastor in the States who called for a day to bring all children into the church to be blessed. That sounds like a great idea. I don't see anything of that here.  Another suggestion is that as a result of the first "World Conference for the Well-being of Children" each country was called on to designate a day to celebrate their children. Somehow, Canada missed out on that holiday. After 7 or 8 years here, I think what Children's Day actually reminds me of is the commercial celebration of Christmas in North America.  The kids are just as excited for Children's Day here as kids in North America are for Christmas.  


Schools provide a gathering place for the kids to come to celebrate their day and teachers are the ringmasters. The kids do not need to wear their uniforms or bring books. There are no classes - just a day of celebrating. I can't imagine spending a whole day of school with a class playing games and eating!  I guess that's why there is Teachers' Day at the end of next week..... At our local public school, parents were asked to send 100 lempiras for each child (about $5). The kids went to school at the regular time - 7:00 am or 1:00 pm and for 5 hours played games and ate chicken and candy. For their money, students received a box of Bojangles chicken and fries (like KFC only much better - everyone like Bojangles!) and a toy. Several classes had piñata smashing if a parent brought in a piñata.


The glitch in the school celebration is of course that some families could not afford the 100 lempiras for each child in the family, so for these kids, they did not go to school, and they were not feted - sad. 


The kids we know at ALFA school were also looking forward to Children's Day.  Now, you have to understand, our youngest child is in grade 6 - our children are getting older but they don't want to give up the opportunity to celebrate. Our oldest, Oscar, is in grade 11.  He was lamenting that his mom would only give him part of the money he needed to join his class on a special trip.  I told him his moaning was wrong for many reasons. The kids know that Larry and I do not pay for things for Children's Day.  However, Karla reasoned that making potato salad for 12 was not the same. How can I argue with that reasoning?


This year I joined the group at Casa de Luz as they celebrated with their students. The kids had already had a morning of celebrating at school. Now for the afternoon, they enjoyed hotdogs (in Spanish? perros caliente - dogs hot - makes me laugh!!), chips and juice and more games at their afternoon English school.  With their guest, they played games culminating in  - - -  the piñata smashing.  Jamie, the school director, came prepared. She had plastic bags for each child and two piñatas - one for girls and one for boys. She also had 30 pounds of candy! With sixty kids it's not hard to calculate how that ended!  Each child also went home with a gift bag of dollar store toys.  It's all about the kids on Children's Day!

 



 



Schools were not the only game in town.  Up at the Clinic, the bouncy castle had been brought in to the delight of kids waiting to see a doctor.  That sure is the ultimate doctor waiting "room" activity!


The school and clinic activities were warm-up to today, the real Children's Day.  I happened to be in downtown Coxen Hole this afternoon.  Oo-la-la.  Stores were featuring special deals for Children's Day.  The street around market street was crazier than on a cruise ship day. Families were out with their kids dressed in their finery.  What a day!  I was helping an extracurricular English class at the high school.  The teacher was not surprised that she had only half a class because "It's a holiday. It's Children's Day."

I remember asking Juan a few years ago about Children's Day.  I can't remember his response - just the dreamy look he got thinking about it. Obviously, the magic of Children's Day endures. Today I was asking Victor about the plans his family had for Children's Day now that they live on the Mainland.  He explained to me that his family will celebrate with extended family in the town down the road - tomorrow (Children's Day 3?).  But, he won't be going because he is too old. Since he is the same age as Oscar, I think it is a personal decision when you become "too old".  


While probably the original reason for instituting a special day to celebrate the children of this country was grand and noble, it is hard to see much of nobility in the celebrations with games and candy. We know children who live in conditions that are not noble and children with self-esteem issues that will shape their adult lives. Celebrating kids should be a priority - with every child knowing every day is Children's Day. Woo-hoo!  Bring on the piñatas - filled with carrot sticks and mangos.