✨ Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

December, 2018

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, jingle all the way ….

Oh what fun it is to fly from Roatan to Canada, eh?

And that is what we will be doing very soon. We’ve certainly felt blessed to have had this opportunity to return to Roatan. We had no special projects awaiting us, but have filled these three weeks brim-full with good connecting time.  We attended two graduations and congratulated three other graduates. Report cards were collected from the school – only three stops at the school required. Despite being on school break, a group of students have come to our classroom three times a week to study. Also very importantly, Larry enjoyed some down time after the fall harvest.

Yesterday afternoon was the best of times! With our departure soon, we set off to wish Merry Christmas to some families.  We delivered Christmas treat bags of candy and marbles/hair bows to some of the younger kids from the church. Most of the kids do not receive Christmas toys as presents. (Did you know Santa does not visit this island?) Families will go to church with new clothes and shoes – that is a Christmas treat. In the picture above, Besi and Marvin’s kids are eager to show off their gifts.

Carlos' Graduation

Special to us was the invitation to Carlos’ graduation from grade 9. We have watched Carlos in school since grade 2, so seeing the responsible teen he is becoming is very rewarding. After this school break Carlos will continue in school. Our friend Luis invited us to join his family for his daughter Brandy’s kindergarten graduation.  We continue to be excited with families as their kids progress in school. Many parents went no further in school than grade 6 (and many less than this). We are now seeing many kids continue through to grade 11 or 12 and also local university. This is a reason to celebrate! Kenia and Alberto’s daughter Keidy graduated from Kinder. Because of the cost of the graduation ceremony itself, they chose to celebrate at home. We are so pleased that Keidy loves school and are cheering her on from the sidelines.

Over the three weeks, I was able to visit several times with Greicy and her family. We had many good discussions. They want to know more about life in North America – “how do people celebrate Christmas in Canada?” I asked about customs in Honduras. Greicy is almost three-quarters of the way through her nursing program. It is hard and many hours. And she loves it! Her family continue to be so supportive of her. Thank you to those friends who are supporting Greicy. This is a financial and emotional boost for her. 

As far as Larry is concerned, Roatan has arrived! In our town of Coxen Hole, a new hardware store has opened.  Larry compares it to Home Hardware. I am sure that we will have some reason to stop in - frequently. I can’t wait.

Our prayer requests at this time include:

ó  For our students that they find pleasure and success in their learning and find meaningful work when they finish school

ó  For protection and guidance for one of our families in a difficult situation

ó  For God’s direction for us for a few projects currently in the waiting stage

ó  For the people of this island that Jesus becomes the focus of their celebrating

As Christmas comes closer, the sound of firecrackers popping startles us. Sometimes it is a single pop! Other times it is a rat-a-tat-tat as a whole package of crackers is lit. These are just crackers, but on Christmas Eve (and also New Year’s Eve at midnight), the sky over our Spanish community will be splashed in colours and the sounds of the fireworks signifying a real celebration. This reminds us of the sounds of another celestial celebration at Jesus’ birth. The angels sang their songs of worship to God - Glory to God in the Highest - to the shepherds out in their empty fields. Our Christmas wish for you – and ourselves – is that we can see and hear and worship over the flashing and popping of the distractions of our celebrations and worship our Saviour.

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.

Merry Christmas to you all!   ~ Larry and Susan

 

(You can read about various Christmas traditions we experienced the year we were here Dec. 25. See:   roatancampbells.blogspot.ca       Go to 2017 – January – Navidad-ing a Different Way)

🌴 A Really Great Week One

Steven entertains Jimena with his puppet play

I had this idea and I'll see how it works. We arrived in Roatan this past Monday, so really, we haven't been here a week. Usually we arrive on Saturdays, so in our minds we think we have been here for a week now. Sooooo, if we call today the end of the A Really Great Week One, then tomorrow is the beginning of a new week. And since we will leave on a Monday, instead of only being here three weeks, we will (in our minds, at least!) be here for four weeks. We'll give it a try. 

I just want to give you a peak at some of the opportunities and fun we have had this week as we have settled in. It is rainy season, and most days it has rained in the early morning, and then cleared, with some short bursts of water dumping out of the sky at various times in the day. So far we haven't had to hoist an umbrella while we are out and about. 

Roof repairs provide constant employment
during rainy season.

While walking to Bible Study down the beach, I met Luis.
He said to me "You go back up to road. Can't go this way. 
Too much rain."  Since I seemed determined to continue, 
he came to help me cross the make-shift log bridge
 that spanned the gap to the foot bridge.  
Luis is always there to help.

Sandbags and quickly dug ditches help manage the excess water
 during heavy rains. We missed the 12-inches-in-2 dayssoaker last week.

We are anxious to get out to see people and have made several visits. Larry accompanied me up to visit Arezzi and Victor - a very pleasant visit but definitely up-up. Arezzi was in town for the afternoon but Victor was eager to show us some of the leaks in his house. While the adults visited, the kids played. Owen took advantage of the distraction, to check out a can of black spray paint.

SUCCESS!  Apparently, 
"wait until your mother
gets home" is a strong
motivator. 

With a bristly scrub brush, and many
dunkings in the rainbarrel.......

Victor and Arezzi have some major leaks
in their house. Apparently it is particularly bad
when the wind is from the east. Or from the west.

School has ended. Some classes ended a week ago, some Monday, or Tuesday - definitely everyone was done by Friday. And now the kids are free all day.  While out and about I saw kids - lots of kids. ?

Looking for treasures in the ditch.
(Larry will tell you that he spent lots of time
exploring the ditch and the creek - it's universal!)
And - do you see the little guy climbing the tree?Treasures up too!

Futbol/soccer - the passion of so many kids.

Enrique plays games on the phone with Emi. (sweet!)

An intense game of marbles.

And some kids just can't get enough
school. They're back for English
 computer, and the occasional game of UNO.

The Ladies of the church gathered Tuesday
for their regular Bible study. Several stayed
for the day to complete craft projects.

Crafts and food were sold Saturday morning
at the first Christmas Boutique.

With his ladder tucked away, Larry found a little project
to occupy him while I attended the church craft show.
I can't wait until we locate a new climbing plant. Rainy season
is perfect for planting new plants.  Right, Larry?

Larry also rustled up some food at the Mennonite Church BBQ.
Yummy!! 

Without a doubt, the best place to finish the day is
up on "the perch".

The view is great, and so is the company.

Back from Roatan - September Newsletter

September, 2018

Hello all!                                                  

In the last update, I was predicting we would be home before the road construction season ended.  And….. sure enough!  Late last Saturday night as we were whisked along the 401 on our way to our bed, the Robert Q had to detour due to a Saturday night road closure.  We sure felt welcomed home!

The time we spent in Roatan was H-O-T! We thought we were prepared from the heat we’d experienced in Chatham-Kent this summer but as soon as we stepped off the plane we were hit by the sauna-like heat and humidity. On a positive note, sweat is such a natural skin conditioner! Most afternoons were uncomfortable and while we could have turned on Mr. AC, the price of power makes it prohibitive to run, and, if you are inside in the AC you begin to find excuses to not go out.  Since our purpose for being in Roatan is to go out, air conditioning provides a temptation to put off what we are called to do. This makes me think about comfort. In my study recently, the author cautioned that “comfort is an idol”. Mentally, I started listing some of the comforts we enjoy (since we’re not enjoying AC.)  The list was long! Somehow, I had started to think we deserve to be physically comfortable. Maybe you think this too? Surely I have earned the right to be comfortable. After all, I am a retired person! But, try as I might, I can’t find any scripture supporting this. When comfort is mentioned it refers to spiritual comfort and it is a gift from our loving Father.  Scripture says that we have a purpose beyond pursuing comfort. Really?! Tearing down the idol of comfort is what I need to work on.  I need to get out of the comfort of what I know, and what I have, and what I feel, and put on my sun hat and GO! even when it means that the sweat runs in rivulets down my back.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. ~ Psalm 119:76

Pastor Saul, Larry, and Pastor Ivan 

Celebrating birthdays with Jessie, and Karla

P People Updates – Please pray: Baby visit time with Kenia Kenia and Alberto Five years ago, Kenia and Alberto welcomed baby Keydi and they became a family. Kenia was 15 and was not at all prepared to be a Mom. We provided for milk for Keydi, and she still calls us Grandma and Grandpa. A few weeks ago, Keydi’s sister Keysi was born. What a difference! Alberto has work. They have a small room off the side of Alberto’s sister’s house. And they are confident. Keydi wants to learn to read because she wants to read Bible stories to Keysi. In the picture you see Kenia with Keydi and Keysi. The white cloud around the bed (shared by this family of 4) is a mosquito net. The house is well ventilated. Please pray that Kenia and Alberto return to church. Chris and Laura Lunch out with Chris and Laura Chris and Laura came to see family on Roatan during their  2 week vacation. We had several opportunities to visit. They continue to serve at the Rehab Center on the Mainland, where Chris is involved in various projects including raising chickens and preparing a field to plant watermelons!  He also assists with outreach and even teaches clients. Laura cooks lunch and dinner for the center. Pray they continue to make good choices!  Deizy Deizy continues to struggle as a result of the treatments she had during the past year for cancer. She is unable to attend church and her only outings are to go pick up medicine and visit the doctor. She was recently assessed in the hospital in Tegucigalpa and is scheduled for surgery – in a year.  Please pray for healing and peace while she waits. Jimena Jimena and Sandra Jimena is healed!  Her mom says it is a miracle from God. At this time we are praying for Jimena’s dad, David, who is not a Christian.  I encouraged him to reflect on the miracle of his daughter’s healing, but there is a separation between him and God and he is unwilling to explore this. Pray for Spanish speaking Believers to come into his life. Greicy I am adding an extra page to our newsletter this time to reintroduce you to a special girl. We are very impressed with Greicy’s determination to improve her life. If you feel convicted to provide financial assistance for her, don’t hesitate to let us know. No matter what, please pray for her to turn to God her sustainer, when she is lonely or without resources. We want to thank those who have held things together for us while we were away. And we thank God for his protection and constant provision.  We are blessed!   ~ Larry and Susan About Greicy I wanted to use this extra page in the newsletter because I’m thinking there is someone reading this who will want to keep this page to refer to again.  I’m thinking there is someone who would be able to give up a comfort to make things a bit more comfortable for Greicy. We met Greicy and her family the first time we went to Roatan.  She was part of the small group that met at our kitchen table to learn English beginning in September, 2009. She is one of the reasons we got involved in the education needs of kids and was one of the first students enrolled in bilingual school. The family experienced a major crisis. Greicy handled the turmoil by running to the mainland with a young guy. She returned to her mom’s a few months later and at age 15 Greicy had her first baby. Emi is now 4, and her little brother Dylan is 2. At this point, Greicy’s story could reflect that of so many here, except that she is a very determined young lady. She also has an exceptionally supportive family, with whom she lives. With her mom and younger sister providing child care, Greicy finished grade 11 in night school. Last January, she boldly took the entrance exam for nursing school and passed! Classes began last March and Greicy should graduate in June next year. Honduras requires people in health care give one year of service free – so when Greicy gets a job, she will need to work one year without pay. This means she is still two years from independence. When I say things are not easy, I am making the understatement of the year! Greicy will be the first to say, that her choices have made her life hard.  When I hear of her challenges, I don’t even know how to make it easier. This family frequently has no food. No food means that - No Food – empty tummies. Happily they do not need to pay rent, but there is always looming the power and water bill.  Greicy also needs to pay for transportation, to pay monthly for a data plan for her phone so she can do her homework, and provide for her two kids.  When I talk to her, Greicy isn’t asking for help. She has accepted what is and has dreams tempered with reality. However, I am asking for a few people to come alongside to help Greicy with her bills. If you would like more information, or can offer help, please let us know.  Thanks.