January Update

Hello family and friends,

I am excited to write to let you know how we have spent this past month in Roatan. It has been a great month of reconnecting with many people. In many ways it has been a month of waiting, dashing between raindrops, waiting and just splashing on. As a positive - there’s nothing that softens your hair like rain water. Right, Larry?

One of our goals for our return was to spend more time with Son Rise Church. It is a JOY to see how God is blessing this church. We are very conscious that anything we do could alter the focus of this young group from their focus on God to looking to others for provision. Right now, all leadership and teaching comes from within the church. Woohoo! Happily, both Pastor Ivan and Pastor Saul have had three years’ Bible training so are very capable. We are not leading anything. We are not teaching. We have asked that translation is not provided and have asked that we not be acknowledged from the pulpit. We just be, and that’s good. It is strange not to be needed. There are a few areas we will be helping, but it’s just that – helping, not leading.

New Year's Eve at Church - Teen Boys leading part of the worship

One thing that is really being encouraged at Son Rise is marriage. Friday, Lionel and his significant other, Maria, plan to be married at the municipal office. We have been invited to join the family. We have known Lionel since we first came to Roatan and think that he wants us to be there because we are important to him having watched how God has changed his life. Lionel says that marriage is what God wants for couples and he is a man of God. Good things are happening. We’re praising God in all of this!

Back-to-school preparations are in full swing, with public school beginning next week and the kids at ALFA on February 12. We sometimes join in the shopping trips, with excitement about uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies. The private school kids are registered. As a priority for us, we are arranging transportation for 7 or 8 students to get to the public high school in Coxen Hole.

Happy Birthday, Jimena.

With Jimena and her mom, Sandra, home here in Roatan, we have been able to see them a few times. Jimena’s hair is growing out. She’s cute as a button. A week ago she celebrated her 4^th birthday. You can only imagine how thankful Sandra and David are for her life. Jimena was to have an appointment and treatment last week in Tegucigalpa, but with the political unrest this was postponed a week. If I understand correctly, she will be travelling back and forth for the next while spending more time here than there at the hospital. To give you a bit of an idea what this travelling means – Sandra and Jimena leave their house at 5:30 am, take a taxi to the ferry (20 minutes), the ferry to the Mainland (90 minutes), a bus from La Ceiba to Tegus (8 hours), and another taxi ride (1 hour) to the friend where they stay arriving around 9 pm. This is with a 4 year old. The return to Roatan, though no easier, is happier at least.

Our friend Deizy made a trip to Tegus last week to discuss next steps in her treatment. She too has returned to Roatan to await a return to the hospital for surgery in April. Deizy often sends me voice messages – in Spanish. I am waiting for Google to come out with a voice translator!

Larry has been climbing around the house, checking little hiding places for termites. Those little critters haven’t a chance! He’s also been working with Carlos, one of our students. Carlos is an excellent gardener and as fussy as Larry. Larry has had Carlos sanding and staining on beams on the exterior of the house. Carlos is saving to buy a phone. Then he will need to work to use it. For me? I have two days a week with students coming for English lessons. Two boys are new to lessons. Karla and I have been sewing together. And, there have been several trips to the bank.

The Best of Times

For the past two weeks, Juan has been on Roatan. He is currently living with his brother in the Colonia but parks his motorcycle here. It is so good to spend some time with him, but there’s always that fine line in “parenting” an adult child. He is also tired of hearing our chorus and variations on the chorus “Get a Job”. (easier sung than done!)

There are many things coming up for which we need prayer. Please join us in prayer for:

1.The people attending Son Rise, that their focus remains on God and that they can continue to encourage one another.

2.Continue to pray for Jimena that she is healed and she can stay permanently on Roatan with no more yo-yo-ing between home and hospital. Pray also that her father is paid for his work.

3.Pray for the students that we encourage in school. Pray for their teachers as school begins.

4.Please pray for us that we respond to God’s leading, discerning His voice from the other voices. 

We plan to post a number of photos on our blog  roatancampbells.blogspot.ca . (see January - A Month of Photos).That seems to be the best for sharing pictures. As always, we remind you that we enjoy so much hearing from you.

Thank you so much for your continued support and interest in what we do here in Roatan.

Blessings on you all, Larry and Susan