Roatan Campbells' Connection

I have a love/hate response to some things in this country.  With these things there is no in-between, passive feeling.  It is either a big love or a big hate and sometimes I flip between the two in a heartbeat. Right now my focus is la feria – the fair.   When I saw that first ride – the Aladdin-go-round – waiting expectantly – solo - on the empty lot at the entrance to the Colonia, I hoped it was just an attraction for some upcoming store opening.   But, there was no mistaking the intent when the long poles arrived on the flatbed truck and were assembled into the skeleton of a Ferris wheel.   Perhaps that’s when the love/hate reaction began - I think it’s the very Ferris wheel I first rode at the Ridgetown Fair in 19mumblemumble.   As I stood trying to imagine what the other heaps of plastic and steel would become, I met a few friends with their children.  The moms too had that love/hate double-emotion type of respons...

Update - November 2015 Hello Everyone! When we are here in Roatan, it is easier to see God’s provision for His children.  For those who see no hope in providing for themselves, and call out to their Heavenly Father, and receive, there is no doubting God’s provision.  We are the observers and the encouragers on the sidelines.  Because we are of the entitled and self-sufficient, we often miss out on seeing God provide for us as well.  Well, this time it was different.  While Larry and I had hoped to return to Roatan this fall, we couldn’t justify the expense of the overinflated airline tickets.  With much fall work to be accomplished this year, there would not be time before Christmas.  So, we had given up hope of returning before the new year.  But God provided! The guys completed a harvest with record yields in record time.  The harvest was completed on Saturday, and Sunday Larry stumbled on airline tickets for a one-day-only opportu...

For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.                   ~ Deuteronomy 7:6 It has been three weeks since we’ve returned from Roatan.  The crops are ripening and business needing attention here on the farm is being attended to.  We are definitely enjoying opportunities to connect with family and friends.  It is great to be here!  Weatherwise, it is unseasonably hot for September in our part of Canada, in Chatham-Kent. As I write this, I am being refreshed by a glass of ice cold water.  But.... We’ve had reports from the tropics and it’s HOT! From July through October the temperatures are between 90-100° (34-36°C) day after day with drippy-at-nine-in-the-morning humidity. It’s best to stay out of the sun between 11-2 (siesta time!) and when you need to be out, a hat or sunbrella is a must.  Howe...

Now that we have returned from Roatan, there is more time to sit and write.  Lots of times when I write, it is a bit lopsided as I describe what I’ve been up to. The other half of this RoatanCampbells team is the busier one.  He’s the one who needs to change his shirt three times a day when Roatan is its hottest. His favourite activities include cement, bzzzzzzzzzz, “how much?”, and of course ladders.   When people phone or come to our gate to ask for help, they frequently need help with something that requires a bit of “out-of-the-box” thinking. That’s where Larry shines. As much as possible he tries to use each opportunity to mentor some of the guys he is working with. Their work can be cement, building, roofing, plumbing or electrical work.  The pencil, paper, and calculator get a good work-out when ideas are being fleshed out. A day may start with nothing planned. And then…… Cement work -  Building projects…… With on...

Home Visits “Bella vista!” is what I usually say when I arrive.  That’s sometimes all I can say for a few minutes as I stop to catch my breath.  A good technique I have found is to step out and take a few appreciative snaps with the camera as my heart rate slows down.  Then I can get to the business I’ve come for – a home visit. Sometimes Larry joins me for home visits – then I’m really out of breath because he walks fast and doesn’t stop to smell the roses on the way  UP, UP, UP.  Sometimes I’m solo.  Stopping to smell the roses usually includes several little pre-visits along the way.  Home visits help us get a sense of how people are getting along, and whether a need expressed previously is really a need.  It is a really good opportunity to share the love of Jesus, to pray, and provide encouragement.  For the visitee, it’s an opportunity to extend hospitality.  On some occasions, the visit has a purpose.  I mak...