Hello everyone!
In a few days, Larry and I will be squeezing our bodies into
jeans, sleeved-shirts, socks – things we haven’t needed for 5 weeks - as we
make our trek back from the tropics to more temperate climes. There’s a combine
seat waiting for Larry, and three little grandkids waiting for cookie making
and swinging. But, we feel like we are just
getting into the swing of things here in Roatan too! It’s hard on our hearts! We will enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas in Canada, Ontario, Ridgetown, down-on-the-farm and then back we come for the winter in Roatan. We are blessed!
I
want to make our thank yous first in this letter. Thank you so much to all of you for your
support, encouragement, and prayers.
Thank you for the emails and messages. Also, special thanks to those who
have cut our lawn, collected our mail, checked on our house, handled money
stuff, and kept things going while we were away. You all are part of this adventure in Roatan
and we couldn’t be here if not for all you do!
We want to share some special praise reports and also
update you with how things are for a few people you have been introduced to
recently.
There
has been a change at Son Rise church with two new (new) pastors bringing
excitement and love for the people they serve.
They are patiently restoring relationships. We have been welcomed and are just beginning
to feel at home again with this church.
Sunday
was a special time for us at church. Oscar confidently and humbly prayed, read
the psalm, and provided a short commentary for the congregation. Oscar is one
of the students we have worked with for 6 years, and both Larry and I were like
proud parents as he spoke! Oscar will do great things for God, we’re sure!
We are praising God for how He has provided for our Eat and
Study group as well as answering prayers at Son Rise for a Youth Group. On Friday, we hosted our last Eat and Study
evening at our house and introduced Pastor Dino and his wife Carolina to those
in the group who didn’t know them.
Pastor Dino welcomed all in our group to come to the church each Friday
evening to begin the new church youth group.
Hurray! God has made this
transition so smooth.
Many
of you will be wondering about Chris Palmer and his family. Chris is our friend from the beach who recognized
his need to change his life and spent a year in rehab and discipleship. He and his wife continue to serve at the
rehab center. Last week, Chris and Laura returned to Sandy Bay and gave their
testimonies. Chris told of the power of
scripture in drawing him away from his old life and into a life free from
addictions and free to serve. Laura
spoke of the joy in the release from addictions and at last having her family
together. The congregation of Son Rise
welcomed the Palmer family and prayed in thanksgiving for the restoration of
this family. We are thrilled! Praise God!
We
also want to update you about Jimena’s progress. She and her mom have been able to come back
to Roatan from the hospital in Tegucigalpa for 6 weeks. It has been such a
positive time for the family to be reunited.
When asked about Jimena’s progress, Sandra reports that the doctors give
positive responses to her questions but Jimena will still need another year or
more of treatment. We are praising God
for this opportunity for the family to be together and that Jimena is able
to be out and about playing with her brother and cousins. It has also been a
very challenging time for the family.
David (Jimena’s dad) works collecting garbage. Although he continues to work 6 days a week,
he has not been paid for over a month.
This is something that happens here.
Please pray that David receives a fair wage for his work.
We thank God that He allows us to witness His work
here. There are days when we wonder what
we are doing here. There are days we do
nothing! Really! We just are here – cleaning the shed, or
doing laundry or sitting with the fan blowing on us. Then there are days when it begins in the
morning and continues and then, we are just about to eat our supper and we hear
“Miss Susan/Larry” at our gate, and the meal waits.
We have several prayer requests:
1. Please thank God
for providing for the families we work with.
It is the low season for work. However, they continue to eat and have a
home, and this is all God’s provision.
2. Please pray for
Franklin. Just when we think he has hit
rock bottom there is more. Pray that He recognizes his need for Jesus.
3. Please pray for
the dads of the children we work with.
Pray for responsibility and leadership in the family. Pray that they can
find work to provide for their families and their own self-esteem.
4. Please pray for
us as we again re-enter the land of excess.
Within
the week, (maybe tomorrow?) we will publish a final blog for our season
here. It will be a picture blog. You can
access it at
roatancampbells.blogspot.ca “A
Month of Memories” (I like alliteration… ) We are looking forward to sharing with you in
person, and also hearing lots of news from you!
Blessings! See you soon, Larry and Susan