Las Colonias

Las Colonias

Thursday 13 July 2017

Update July 2017 from Down-on-the-Farm

Greetings from the land where the maple trees sway!

It is summer in Canada and definitely a great place to be with hot summer days and warm gentle breezes. We receive many reports from Honduras.  The common report is “it is hot!”  While missing many people and opportunities as we spend an extended time here, we aren’t missing that heat. Also, apparently, the power company is having challenges with providing power at times, so those electric ceiling fans don’t move much air. That’s not good!

Nathan Lawrence Effa, born Canada Day 2017!
Big sister, Eliana is so proud!
We have already been here three months with another month and a half before boomeranging to our little island. There’s been reasons for our extended stay – the BEST being the highly anticipated birth of our grandson, Nathan Lawrence Effa, born on July 1st. He’ll always have fireworks for his birthday! 

Larry has been doctoring, with the results being if he is getting tired out, he should slow down.  The doctor may have mumbled something about getting older….. The farm crops look great despite the challenges with cold and rain. Larry and Paul will be harvesting the wheat crop in another week.  And the year continues. 

Owing to the wonders of technology – yahoo! – we are able to be in contact with quite a number of chatter-techies.  (Technology is cheap.  Many people have a cheap smartphone and can rustle up the few lempiras needed to buy a data package.) Thus, sometimes I think we are better informed here than we are when in Roatan.  As a bonus, it is relatively easy to translate using written text to google translator.  There are occasions when we have to giggle at some of the messages that come as a result of poor spelling, slip-ups with typing, and then Mr. Translator ! I expect this confusion happens both ways.  Lo siento – I’m sorry…..


We have many conversations with the students that we support.  From this we found out that one family’s computer, necessary for school assignments for three kids, had a problem.  Happily, we connected with friends who were in the States at the time and together resolved the computer problem with a new computer.  We are able to check in about assignments and within a week or two information about the most recent exams should be sent. We are able to keep up with how Jimena is reacting to her cancer treatments, as well as who has work, and who is without work.  We missed one wedding and one birth – so far. For our bilingual kids, it’s an opportunity to practice writing in English.  Sometimes, it’s just an opportunity for encouragement – both ways.

I wanted you to meet Sandra and her daughter, Jimena.  We met Sandra and her extended family several years ago, and were able to help the family build a house.  The first day we were back in Roatan last November, Sandra’s sister came to the gate with a need.  Jimena needed to go to see a doctor at the public hospital in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras on the mainland.  Her need was “grave”.  She needed to fly with her mom in two hours, as the doctor would see them early the next morning. They got to Tegus… Following tests, Jimena was diagnosed with leukemia and admitted to the hospital to begin treatments which will likely last for two years.
So far Jimena and her mom have spent six months camped out at the hospital in Tegus.  Her dad, David, and brother, Steven, remain in Roatan.  We get frequent updates from Sandra.  There are days of ups and days of downs.
Last week, Sandra posted the picture above on Facebook with the following message: "There are moments that we think we can't take any more but God is great and when we are at the end of our strength God starts to work in our lives. Thank you Lord for being with us at every moment. Thanks for being faithful, something we don't deserve."
If you would be able to assist with our monthly support for Jimena, please let us know. 

We did not get an opportunity to share about an event that gives us such encouragement.  This is an opportunity for us all to say “Yay, God!”  We were so excited to witness as four boys from the Eat and Study Bible Study publically professed their faith before the congregation of R-church.  Exequiel and Jonathan were baptised, and Carlos and Kelvin restated their profession of faith.

When we go back, we will be in Roatan for a month.  We will catch up with the students we support and provide the regular homework, computer, English lessons.  Definitely there will be checking in with various families.  And – we have that excitement – as we anticipate what God is doing and where He will invite us to join in.  Anticipating the unanticipated!
Please join us in prayer for:
1.      Jimena and her mom
2.      Our preparations as we get ready to return to Roatan in August
3.      Of course – little Nathan
As always, let us know how we can pray for you, too. We would really like to connect with you this summer, too.

Blessings,

  ~ Larry and Susan      roatancampbells@gmail.com