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September Update



September, 2017
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

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