🌷Spring - Looking Forward and Back

For many months Larry and I were discouraged that there was no good way to travel to Roatan. I think lots of you heard our grumbles. When  we were finally able to travel, we knew the wait had been worth it. Our 9-week session, from January to mid-March became the sweetest time we have ever spent. We had a contentment in just BEING – not meeting any timelines or fulfilling any expectations. I expect that you too have had times when you found that your “no plan” was the best plan.

We have recently had several people asking what is next. Our house is listed to sell. We have had several showings, but no offers. And that is quite alright with us. We know our house is in a unique location – perfect for mission work but maybe not for a person looking to spend time on the beach. We know our house will sell when the time is right. If it sells, there are many rentals available for us to explore. If it doesn’t sell, we know where we will lay our heads the next time we return.

We hope to return in July. During February, we were able to register eight students in private schools. Four of these students are at the Sandy Bay Adventist Bilingual School. This school is just inside the Colonia and transportation is not required for children living in the Colonia. 

We have been quite impressed with the dedication and creativity of the staff of this school to always provide for the students including online classes and one-on-one time during the lock-down.

We popped into the school on several occasions in February and March. As conversation progressed with the director, we were able to encourage her to tell us about her vision for the school. She shared that it had always been the plan for the school to continue to grow. 

Initially a K-grade 6 school, the school had been on target opening grade 7, 8 and 9 over three years. With the pandemic and overall economic challenges the plans have stalled. The director is looking for help with continued expansion; we are wanting a school that provides a quality bilingual program through to grade 12.

Larry is very excited about this building project. The shell of a room for grade 10 is in place.  In July he hopes to have funds in place to complete that classroom – windows, doors, interior walls, and furnishings. The director also has a vision for a computer lab and science room to open at the same time as the grade 10 classroom.  Much discussion with the director and her board is needed before final plans can be made.

During our recent time in Roatan we were able to spend much time with the families we had only been able to text for such a long time. We had many opportunities to visit with Greicy and her family. As the days passed, we were so impressed with the maturity and confidence we recognized in her. 

The week following our return, it was announced (finally) that public schools would indeed open for in-person learning, one or two days a week. It was Greicy who alerted us to families that would not be able to attend school because they were unable to purchase the required uniforms and school materials. We sent funds, and to our delight, Greicy accompanied these children to the local tienda to shop for what was needed. This is what we had done for so many years with Greicy and her family and in turn, she now took this responsibility. We are so excited – we have been replaced! 

We continue to look forward to what we can see as our mission in the future. God continues to plant a yearning in us to return. Again, we are so thankful to all who continue to share this with us. I’m sorry you didn’t get to enjoy any of the warm, balmy, flower-scented, gentle breezes - you are the hardy ones! With this late spring, we all would like some tropical warmth. (I thought we packed some for you ….) Many blessings to all of you. 

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Larry has lots of adventures. This is a recent one - Adventures with Elias – The New Van. (Larry has many adventures with Elias.) Shopping for a van for Elias was just the perfect activity for shopper Larry. For Elias, there is potential for many tourists to enjoy an island tour in this comfy bus with his tour company Let’s Go Roatan Tours.