🎄Go. Tell.

Hello to our family and friends!                                                        December 2023

 Is it just me, or have you noticed too? It seems Christmas preparations have started so much earlier this year. Our neighbour down the road had his swinging Christmas-bell light display ding-donging outside his house in mid-November. Radio stations started their "all Christmas songs" formats weeks ago. The delivery company vans furiously flash up and down the road. It's like we want to wrap up the preparations early maybe so we can have a long time to savor the fun.   

That gets me to thinking..... those extra minutes we have now could be put to good use. We have time to 🎶Go Tell It On The Mountain 🎶 and Go Tell The Good News ev’rywhere-ere-ere-ere.   We have time to talk to that neighbour with the bell and encourage him to join us for a Christmas event at church. We have time to talk to those people who seem extra chatty in the stores and agree that “yes, everyone is more friendly at Christmas because we are open to the love of Jesus in our lives”, and “wouldn’t it be great if we were open always?” Go. Tell.  

We are excited about sharing the Good News again soon in Roatan when we go for our winter session in January. In reality lots of times it seems like we are the learners as so many have experiences where they see God in their lives and they are eager to share with us.

This is the time of the year when school wraps up for the year. We are involved with kids from Modelo public school (photo in the top banner includes 4 students we watch over), students at Instituto Roatan, Sandy Bay Adventist School and the cute kindergarten school in the colonia. Graduation ceremonies were held this week for Enrique and Grace (grade 9) as well as for Matthew and Nazarat in kindergarten. We were excited to hear that Vashny had received an honours certificate for her studies this year in grade 6. This is Vashny's first year with bilingual studies, and we are so proud of her. 

We were able to help Pastor Dino and his wife Carolina take a much-needed study vacation in Carolina’s hometown in El Salvador. It was a time of refreshment for them as they attended a pastors’ conference and then just spent time with family and friends and even played tourists in the city.  Dino goes full steam when he is involved in church work. We were pleased to see him take the time to unwind. Larry says both Dino and Carolina look more relaxed in this photo than we've seen them for a long time. 

Larry and I will be in Roatan for two and a half months this session. We are looking forward to real face-to-face/heart-to-heart visits. It will be our first time to meet Greicy and Nahun’s little one. Yeisy Milagros was born in early October. Greicy sent me a picture of Mili’s big brother and sister reading to her a few days after she was born. I hope she will let me rock and read to her. 

Larry will spend time doing his thing wherever he is needed. Elias keeps saying he wants Larry's advice on a new van - or car - or .... Dino wants to join us visiting in the Colonia. We will both check in with our students and arrange for enrolments and tuitions. School will start-up in early February, so there will be opportunities for back-to-school shopping. Once school begins, I am hoping to be involved with more reading and English instruction. As we have learned – we may make plans, but once we arrive in Roatan, God directs our hands and feet. 

We are so thankful to our supporters for being with us throughout this year. We know that we are held in prayer – we can feel God’s direction and protection. We feel that we are the connection between those who are able to provide support and those who need support. 

We also want to wish you all Merry Christmas.  We hope to catch up with many in the next few weeks and give this greeting heart-to-heart. We are hopeful that this Christmas you have the gift of time, that you like others have had a jump on the preparations and so you have time. Go! Tell!

 Merry Christmas! Larry and Susan

 

 

👀 About the Campbells, 2023 - Reinvented Again

   

Dinner out with Chris and Laura.

A few weeks ago, we were asked to provide a short introduction to ourselves and the work we do. I realized that what we had provided 4 years ago in this blog needed a bit of an update. So now, here we are - 2023. 

We are delighted to be able to share with you a bit of how we serve in Roatan, Honduras. We call our blog Roatan Campbells’ Connection, and that’s what we do – we connect our resources with people who are needing assistance whether monetary, physical, or spiritual and try to lovingly help. We return to Roatan two or three times per year to check in on the people we serve. When we are home here in Canada, we can communicate through social media and provide messages of encouragement and even send funds if an emergency arises.

We are most proud of the students we have watched from preteen years through to adulthood. We have helped them enroll in private bilingual schools so that they have been able to make choices when they graduate. Where parents may have only had grade 5 education, these students have graduated from high school and are fluently bilingual. We are involved with a school in our community. Last year we provided funds to remodel a room for a computer lab and provided 10 computers for the students. Now we are in the process of helping grow the school so that grade 10 – 12 students can receive education in their community.

This past year, Susan worked at the school reading stories in English with the goal of improving pronunciation. Larry makes connections. He uses the various skills he has as a farmer to solve problems. He bargains for deals and installs wiring, doors, or toilets. He also connects people who need work with jobs.

How can you help?  We continuously check in with single-mom-families for needs. There is no food bank – we try to fill the gap. We provide monthly support for three moms at a cost of $200 per family. We also anticipate needing support for 7 students next school year. (beginning February 2024). See the main body of the blog for how to donate. 

Roatan is a tropical, tourist island. We are retired people. There are times we just kick back and are in awe of all that we have been blessed with. It isn't hard to be thankful that we have been given this gift to be able to serve and live in Roatan.

😎 About Roatan - Facts and Thoughts

🌞Roatan is an island about 65 km off the east coast of Honduras, Central America. We travel from Toronto via direct flights (5 hours, winter months) or international through connections in the US the remainder of the year. The island can also be accessed from the Mainland by air or a 90 minute ferry jaunt.

🌞A surprising fact for Canadians is that it is 3,110 km from Toronto to Roatan. It is 4,200 km from Toronto to Vancouver, BC.

🌞Roatan is approximately 80 km long and less than 8 km across at its widest. You can see water to the North and South at the same time along some stretches of the road. About roads - there is one main paved-mostly road that runs East-West across the island. The road makes a loop from North to South in the western end, but when you go East? You drive to the end and turn around and come back. There are many little roads branching off the main road. Most little roads go up, up then down, down and require careful driving in rainy season.

🌞 Roatan is a tropical Caribbean island running along the edge of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. At the highest point it is 270 meters above sea level. And lowest?  That beautiful, blue sea. When you are on the land you are either going up or down. Most of our friends live up. Because the island is made up of dead coral, for the most part it is not fit for growing crops or vegetables. (there are small pockets of exceptions.) Most food is transported by ship from the mainland. However, various bananas/plantains, coconuts, and avacados and mangos in season are enjoyed.

Larry tried growing small gardens while we lived at our house. He had marginal success. However, one year a watermelon grew in our driveway. We had to leave before it was ripe, so Franklin and family enjoyed the treat.

🌞Roatan has 2 seasons: 1. rainy season (varies year by year - usually late October to the end of January.) Some days you could get 100 mm (4+ inches) of rain and some days no rain. The total amount of rain varies year to year with the average being about 1400 mm (55 inches) in the four months. 2. The other season is hot season -with hot-hot in May and mid-August to mid-September when the sun’s rays are directly overhead. (Another delightful fact - this September record high temps are being experienced! I guess we can be happy to not be there?) February and March are really delightful tropical months. Come visit! 

🌞The population of Roatan has increased dramatically in recent years with estimates of over 100,000 people. Local people are native Caribbeans and also Spanish from Mainland Honduras. Many expats from North America and Europe also call Roatan home either permanently or seasonally. On Cruise Ship Day, the population can swell by thousands depending on how many cruise ships - sometimes 4 or 5! - come in. Most local people speak Spanish or Carib-English. Most tourists speak English. Local people who work with tourists learn English.

🌞Tourism is the major source of employment. People work directly with tourists, or indirectly in construction, transportation or the food service industry. Many tourists come as divers to enjoy the coral reef and the spectacular sea life. Others come to enjoy the beautiful view of the blue, tropical waters. Sometimes we are in the blue, tropical waters!

 

🍍Campbell Connection July Photo Journal

It's a bit of a warm one this afternoon, so we are not out and about. Instead, one of us is vegging on the couch and one of us is at a table with this computer and a little desk fan providing a bit of artificial breeze. Not too bad really. And this makes the perfect opportunity to share a collection of photos showing a bit of what we've been doing.

We are at the halfway point in our time here. So far we have been able to settle into our new home-away-from-home, develop and re-establish some routines, and catch up with lots of people.

We are staying in a new apartment building only a few steps down from where we started out in our first years. Much has changed on this little street and the changes are good. In this location we are able to walk to see many of the people we haven't seen for several months. We have a nearby grocery store, vegetable stand, and when we need to go further the buses are nearby.

Our Place - Alpha's Place

Friends in Need 

Maria has a new propane tank.

Ashley and her three boys have groceries and supplies.

The Children's Ministry at Son Rise has new materials.

School Stuff

We've spent some time at Sandy Bay Adventist School.

Long-Time Friends

Cute Kid Stuff

And finally,

Dilan and Jasiel take their chick for a ride; Owen quacks us up; 
Kissinger is not happy Mom (Laura) won't let him torment the dog.

Happy Canada Day 2023

 

July 1, 2023 

Happy Canada Day 2023! Good morning! Are you sitting out on your deck, coffee in hand, just relaxing - just being? Think what a privilege it is to be able to do that in our “home and native land.” We have choices in this country. We can choose where we will live and work. We can choose to vote and have a choice when we come to the ballot box. We can choose our church, our school, and our next vacation destination. Our grocery stores are full. Our country is rich in resources. It is varied in beauty. We have so much to celebrate!

Larry and I are off again for a three-week trip to Roatan, Honduras soon. It is because of these trips that we can encourage you - it is a privilege to live in Canada! Whether you call Honduras a third-world country, a developing nation, or underdeveloped nation, the contrast we see when we step off the plane is harsh. Many of the choices we Canadians expect are not available to those we spend our days with. And that is why we return.

Our goal is as always – we hope that we are light – providing encouragement to a small group of friends. Larry is hoping to firm up plans with a local group to begin a project at the Sandy Bay Adventist School. And we know - Larry always attracts jobs. I want to check in with people that we support to confirm the way we help helps. Is there more we can do? One single mom has reached out with needs. Does she really subsist with her 3 boys in that mud and stone house? I would like to help provide some remedial reading and math for a few children who are falling behind. Are our students doing their homework??! (They tell me they are!) Opportunities find us. Our job is to discern where God wants us to put our hands and feet.

Please pray: * that we make good use of the short time we spend in Roatan;

                    * that we wait on God to direct our hands and feet – and hearts;

                    * for the family needs we leave here.

We also need to pray for each other, that we don’t forget the privilege it is living in this free country.

“God keep our land, glorious and free.”

~ Blessings to all, Larry and Susan    

PS – Check Facebook for regular updates and pictures while we’re away. To know more about us, see our blog at: roatancampbells.blogspot.com

🌺 Celebrando a las Madres 🌺

Lourdes - y lejos ella va!
Laura celebrando el primer cumpleaños de Kissinger.

(* Por favor, perdone mis errores en la escritura en espanol. 😉)

Porque es el Dia de las Madres queria crear una galería de fotos de mamás siendo mamás para honrar a estas mujeres enérgicas y trabajadoras. Que Dios los bendiga a todos con fuerza, paciencia y alegría cada día.  🌸 Because it is Mother's Day I wanted to create a photo gallery of moms being moms to honour these energetic, hardworking women. May God bless you all with strength, patience, and joy each day. 

Feliz primer dia de las madres Geyzi (con bebe Eythan Daniel), y Michell (con bebe Ian Noah.)  🌸 Happy first Mother's Day Geyzi and Michell.

Mamas y sus hijos celebrando. 🎉🎉🎉 Maria con sus 7 hijos celebrando el cumpleanos numero 22 de su hija mayor, Jessi. Jeanie con Grace, Hannah y Alison en su cumpleanos. Arezzi con 3 de sus 6 hijos en una reciente celebracion del Dia de la Madre.

Mamas con sus mamas. Patty con su mama Concepcion. Concepcion es tambien abuela y bisabuela. Tanya, Flor, y Sandra con su mama Rosinda. Greicy con su mama Cruz. Rosinda y Cruz son abuelas tambien.

Madres muy ocupadas. Ashley, Mayra, Sandra, Julisa, Besi y Arezzi tienen mucho que celebrar este dia de las madres. 

Mamas en movimiento. Elisa y Frances siempre estan en su trabajo. 

A las nuevas mamás, y las mamás con experiencia; las mamás en su trabajo y las mamás en sus celebraciones- queremos animarte y felicitarte en tu día. Que Dios los bendiga a cada uno de ustedes y los llene de felicidad y amor de parte este día. ¡Feliz día de la Madre. 🌸 To the new moms, and to the moms with experience; to moms at work and moms at their celebrations- we want to encourage you and congratulate you on your day. May God bless each one of you and fill you with happiness and love this day. Happy Mother's Day!

Acabamos de recibir esta hermosa foto familiar de Laura con sus tres hijos y su esposo/padre, Chris. Bendiciones sobre bendiciones. 🌸 We have just received this beautiful family photo of Laura, with her three sons and husband/father, Chris. Blessings upon blessings! 

🌞 Sun and Warm Breezes Photo Update - March 2023

We wanted to give you a chance to come join us - come on a tour of our island and the people we get to spend a little time with.

Your Island Tour

We are always amazed that there are so many little surprises awaiting us when we are out and about on this beautiful tropical island. Here is just a tiny snippet of what delights us.

Where Are They Now?

We are just so proud of the students we have spent time watching and coaching from the sidelines. Where are they now? Two are currently in the US working. Geyzi helps her man working on the family farm on the mainland and will soon be a mom.(no photo). Jacee, (see picture, top left), has recently graduated from highschool and is currently working in the new ROA Market in the day and is in his first term at university (Honduran online) studying business at night. Carlos, (top and bottom center), works at one of our favourite restaurants and has recently bought a four-wheeler to get back and forth to work. Oscar, (top right), just celebrated his one-year anniversary as a teller at Banco Lafise. Suemely, (bottom right), is working in the family-owned second hand clothing shop. Bottom center includes Jessie, who along with Carlos works at the Beach Grill. She is also studying business in the Honduran university online. Greicy, bottom left, is a full-time nurse at Clinica Esperanza and also cares for her two children with the support of her husband Nahun. Can you tell we're pretty proud?

Back-to-School 2023

Lots of fun helping some students get ready for school. The school year runs from mid-February to mid-November.

Top left and around: registration at the Adventist school; Hannah;
Owen, Genesis and Vashy; Keliani - day 1; grade one class at SABS;
Jasiel, Dilan and Eymi. 

Monkeying around 

What can I say? It isn't all work.

The Kids

We get to see and interact with lots of kids in a day. Usually we are welcomed with eager smiles. Adriana (top right) was not delighted with the gringa lady. 

Future Plans?

We will be going back to Roatan when there is a break in the farming work. There are things we can do and people we need to see. Future plans include: assisting with creating a block culvert for the ditch in front of the Adventist school so the school yard and parking can be expanded; assisting students with reading and school studies; and........ whoever - whatever God puts in our path.

Roatan - come for the sunsets, stay for the sun and warm breezes.

Most nights we snapped a picture or two. How to choose what to share here?

First night

Last Night