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| Jimena, age 5, carrying firewood to her house |
Greetings to you as we enter this beautiful fall!
What are you looking
forward to as this new season arrives? The leaves are turning, and the fields
are ripening. Kids are back in school, and schedules are resuming. A new season
– and for you?
We have just returned
from 5 weeks in sunny, HOT, Roatan and are very content with the time we have
spent there. This was a time of being, instead of doing. Our time was spent
with people we have known for several years so the “Hi – who are you?”
questions didn’t need to be asked. We were able to ask more deeply “How are
you?” Like here, some people are thriving and some need encouragement.
Sometimes our
encouragement required reassurances that living sometimes is tough. Sometimes
our encouragement required firmer responses. We want to thank those who keep us
in prayer. Frequently discerning a response to those who are in need – lovingly
empathizing, lovingly suggesting stay-the-course, or lovingly pushing –
requires more than what we could do on our own and we are thanking God for His
direction in our interactions.
It is difficult for us
to be “being” people. In fact, lots of times we were frustrated because we felt
we weren’t making good use of the time we had. And then we would get to the end
of certain days and we would know we had been used to make a difference.
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After Bible Study, with Greicy,
Greicy's son Dylan, and Geyzi.
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We both enjoyed the
times when we were able to spend time with our students. Several of them are
becoming independent and are delightful young adults. Jessie, Josian and Karla
will graduate from high school in November.
In August, they were out at work placements so we surprised each of them
with a visit. Oscar was very pleased to
bring his girlfriend to meet us. That was very special! We also had many visits
with Greicy and Geyzi. We have known these two girls since we first came to
Roatan. Both girls are making good
choices for their lives. We are sure proud of them all.
In the fourth week of
our stay, I was visiting with Sandra.
After we exchanged pleasantries, she said to me “We have no water. It is nasty!” Water used to come from the
wells in the colonias to different sectors according to a schedule of every
four days. Then it was every eight days
and then water delivery became more unpredictable. After more discussion, I
found out Sandra’s sector hadn’t received water for twenty days and the water
in her storage containers had run out at day fourteen. With the hope of water
to come soon to Sandra’s house, Larry stopped in to his favourite plumbing
store. A deal for a new, large water tank with fittings was made with delivery
the next day. We hustled up to Sandra’s house. I showed Sandra a picture of
what we had purchased. She laughed – and then she started to cry. She had been
praying for help and God had answered her prayers! We were both in tears. We
are learning – we left it to the family to make the connections. It did take
several days - but, so did the water. After twenty-six days, Sandra received
water and happily filled her tank – and all her other containers. Water started
to arrive at 7:00 in the morning. Sandra started her pile of laundry soon
after.
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| Ready for the water. |
An unpleasant family
situation came to our attention. Because we knew this family very well we felt
we should take action for the safety of the kids in the household. This is
something we don’t like to do. At this time, some resolution has been made
although as one of the kids told me today – “it takes time here, Miss Susan.” At least, we feel that the situation is better
for the kids now.
The most frequent
question we have when we meet people here is “when are you going back?” While
Larry is pleasantly surprised with the progress of the crops, he still
anticipates that the corn harvest will be late. We will not go back until after
Christmas. That gives us lots of time to connect with many of you and find out
what you have been doing. We also have some renovation plans…..
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Oscar and Larry confer about
repair materials |
At this time
we are asking for prayer for:
🍁 - Son Rise church/pastors as they serve
- 🍁 - the school students
as they wrap up their year
🍁- the special family we are involved with
🍁 - the serious water situation in Roatan
🍁 - a time for refreshment and good connections here for
us during the fall
Thank you to
those who have supported us through this time while we have been in Roatan.
Without your help, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.
~ Blessings, Larry and Susan
** for more info about the water problems see
roatancampbells.blogspot.com (Sept. 2019)
