🌞🌴And Just Like That - We're Home Again

Greetings! Hola!

And just like that – we’re home again. You all know how much we enjoy being in Roatan and return when we can because we miss the people we share life with. What we don’t miss is the noise. From about 4:45am when those grackles start their cackles, through until after we are zzzzzz, there is a constant assault on our ears. We enjoy the sounds of people calling out on the street and kids playing whatever the sport of the day is. We have even begun to tolerate the cheesy country music blaring from Carlitas’ store (and more). But what we dislike is the sound of those souped-up motos that roar by, and the delivery trucks roaring to a stop next door, and taxi horns blaring because someone stopped and honking will make them hurry and go. It is constant. All day. Every day. So – for the past week we have been enjoying SILENCE. Home Sweet Home.

Do you recognize Oscar? He’s center in the picture above. It’s hard to believe that the skinny little guy we studied with for several years is this adult man. We are so proud of all our kids and really enjoying celebrating so many successes with them. Oscar is a manager at one of the restaurants at the cruise ship port in Mahogany Bay. He is also one of the featured voices on the podcast El Cayuco. (He always was such a schmoozer!) AND, in one month he and beautiful Saira will be married. They are both busy 20-somethings but did squeeze a visit in with us – a church date! and then lunch in West Bay.

Keliani going in to work.

We are also celebrating with Keliani. Keliani graduated from high school last November. When I visited the house one day in February, she was occupying herself by making covers for her siblings’ schoolbooks. That needed to be changed. We tweaked her resume and then off we went. We dropped into 5 locations. And that was it. Keliani was sure #5 was going to call her back. I was a little less convinced, but Keliani didn’t want to look anywhere else. And - #5 called her for an interview. She started the next day. She works at a designer meat and specialty foods market called Farm Foods. The store pet is a black sheep. And Keliani loves it – both the work and the sheep.

Greicy, Nahun and family

While in Roatan we were able to catch up with Greicy, Nahun and family. They have returned to their house in Roatan from the mainland. While prices for living are much lower on the mainland, there was no work. Back in Roatan, Greicy has work at the nearby clinic – she loves nursing!  Nahun has had work at the clinic too working with Larry and Franklin in construction. I was just so pleased to have them nearby. The move was good for everyone.

And what kept Larry occupied for 7 of the 9 weeks we were in Roatan? Our good friend Peggy, (Peggy’s Clinic) had a small team of builders coming to build a small bodega (shed) for the clinic. The small bodega grew to a good size as plans were made. Franklin was hired to prepare the cement pad. He conferred with Larry and soon Larry, Franklin, Nahun and a new friend Milton were mixing and pouring cement. The team appreciated that Larry could calculate and arrange for materials to be bought and in place before they arrived. Larry appreciated that the team had raised funds for the project. ☺️ The local team of Larry, Franklin, Nahun and Milton plus the team of 5 from the US worked together at the block work. The US team left the local team to finish the block work, parge the walls, add the roof and doors. The guys even upgraded the nearby outhouse to a small block bathroom featuring a new toilet and running water. Peggy thanked me for sharing Larry. I thanked Peggy for keeping Larry occupied. Win-win.

While not requiring hands-on attention, we did have a few opportunities to visit Jonesville Adventist School and our friend Director Leticia. The “bathroom project” was completed for use before school began. Funds were provided so that general maintenance could be completed before the first day of classes. Teachers in the Adventist schools are local missionaries. This means that not only do they teach, but they do whatever is needed. The teachers picked up paint brushes and rollers and applied several gallons of paint to make the school welcoming. A back door was replaced with a window, and the kindergarten playground is being upgraded.

If you were to join us for church, you would be greeted with this sign at the road – R Church, Roatan with the statement of intent “Love God. Love people. Expect change.” The first two statements have been our intent over the years we have been in Roatan. But the final statement “Expect change” was something to ponder. I think we have hoped that we would see change in the people we love. But over time, I see we too are changed because of what God has allowed us to do. Amazing thought! Expect change. Love people. Love God.

As always, we are so thankful to those who hold it all together here for us in Canada. This winter provided extra work for our snow removal guy and checking the house for heat. Thank you! There isn’t space enough to show and tell all we enjoyed this season, so if you are interested, check out our blog at roatancampbells.blogspot.com where you will see our updated Show and Tell and an expanded blog on The Bodega Project.

Blessings! ~ Larry and Susan – Home Sweet Home – enjoying the quiet.