Bearing Fruit
Our Mango Tree is in full bloom. The flowers appeared a few weeks ago and soon there were buzzing flies and bees swarming over the flowers. We like seeing this, because we know that if everything goes right, we will be eating sweet, succulent, savory, satisfying fruit in only a few months.
You might remember reading about this Mango tree, which I planted in our yard the year after Mikaela was born. It has produced abundant fruit which is sweet, and worth getting the “mango mouth syndrome” . That is when you are so caught up in gobbling up a dripping mango that you don’t care if the juice is getting smeared all over your face, and dripping down on the front of your shirt.
It was knocked down in the double hurricanes of September 2004, and then again during Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. My friend Peter Busch helped me winch it back up the first time, then Larry Boan helped me revive it a year later. Both times we felt that the fruit on this tree was so special that it was worth saving. Since then, it has gotten regular watering, and I frequently dump coffee grounds around the tree. Rio Coco Beans are good fertilizer! With these buds on the branches, we are so encouraged that we have the possibility of a great crop.
Once the green fruit appears, so will the squirrels. I am considering purchasing a BB gun or a 12 gauge shot gun this year to ward off those predators! I hate it when they steal my precious fruit!
We just began our school year on the Rio Coco. We have over 2500 students who are beginning the year in the 17 communities that we are serving with our Project Ezra schools. Our project director Truman and I have had long talks on the telephone in these past few weeks about our plans. He knows that the U.S. is experiencing economic troubles, and that we need to be listening to what God is telling us. We can’t assume anything! Yet in our conversations, we keep coming back to our years of seeing sweet fruit on the Project Ezra tree, as God provides everything as we need as we go.
We so much enjoy working with many of our former students who are now teaching our classes. We love their dedication, and the desire that so many have to not just share academics, but to also share Words of Life through our Bible training that begins each day in every class in each of the seventeen communities where our teachers live and serve. We know that God is doing as much outside of the classroom, using many of our teachers who are working as deacons (overseers), pastors, Sunday School teachers, and worship leaders in their community churches. It is so satisfying to witness our project leaders Onofre, Danilo, Augusto, and Truman being invited to speak at Bible Conferences, and hear about the effect of their Biblical, Spirit-inspired teaching on the audiences and subsequent lifestyles.
Yes, we have enjoyed much succulent fruit from the Project Ezra tree. Much of that is the result of our joint prayers, our sponsorships of students and teachers, our travelling to Nicaragua to participate in building projects and teacher conferences, and our periodic financial gifts. God has used us in a very great way over these past 23 years that we have been educating and discipling students, adults, teachers, and pastors.
Two years ago, I had an opportunity to teach a lesson at our Teacher Conference in Waspam on God’s Economy and how we do our part, pray, walk forward in faith, and trust God to supply all our needs. It was new information for many of our teachers, and it gave several a new sense of personal responsibility for God’s Provision for them, as well as the schools.
According to Truman, that teaching has had some practical application: Our teachers are now praying for us here in the U.S. They know that this year more than ever, it will be God who will work within our network of friends to do our part, so that they can do theirs. That is a big step for many of our teachers- to be praying for us to hear what God is telling us, and that God will be the abundant provider for all of us, as well as them. It’s a new plateau in faith, and it is like we are seeing many “buds” on the Project Ezra tree, just as there are on the Bagby Mango Tree.
The true Christian Life has always been an exciting journey! I sense this year 2009 will challenge many in their adventurous spirit. If we remain sensitive to God’s direction, in spite what the stock market or President may say, and remain faithful in our acts of obedience, I know that 2009 will be one of the most incredible years that we will have experienced in our lives.
Guard your hearts! Don’t let the squirrels come and steal your fruit! Take out your weapons, be diligent, and stand your ground. Walk forward in faith. God will take care of the rest!
Let’s finish by taking a moment to meditate on what the psalmists wrote in Psalm 112:
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be
blessed.
They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in
need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
Psalm 112:1-9
Lamb Bleatings
Somewhere along my journey in the sea of apparent choppy, unstable motions, and a host of other unpredictable contents of this fluid mass of activity called “life”, I decided that it was imperative to rule my thoughts, actions, and life choices by a perspective far higher than my own. If not, I would certainly drown beneath the deep blue of life and all of its complexities. I realized that if I couldn’t be buoyant enough to rise above to a floating position or even a dog paddle at best keeping my head above water, I would be useless to fulfill by function in carrying others to the Life Boat. If I was not filled up, prepared and amply supplied, I would not be able to give out what I myself did not possess.
I have had the honor of seeing death up close…more than a few times at this point in life. The more I witness, the more I realize how fragile, yet simple life is. This year alone we lost our beloved Pop (Maik’s dad) and Aunt Polly (sister to Mabel who we lost five years ago). My mom has had some major health problems that caused us to fear for her life. Friends losing dear ones have shaken our ohana up in a huge way. Others fighting for their precious lives or perhaps feelings like they are just too tired to live on if it were up to them. Sickness and old age cause us to look beyond this world and onto the next. These trials cause me to examine myself closely in order that I might live fully and have the ability to die freely with no regrets. Morbid??? I think not!
With my destiny secure, I do not fear, but realize that death truly is the greatest instrument of teaching and inspiration. I realize that some leave this earth in a big bang and scatter pieces of themselves with great impact and lasting memories…never to be forgotten, ever. Generations being touched and lives altered positively… Some fizzle out and fade away without much notice…like a firecracker that burned bright at first, but failrd to actually make the final explosion. No noise, no significant burst of energy or remnants scattered or even projected….A sad, silent ending on this side of heaven. Nevertheless, it ends.
Frequently, I remind my children that we have but one chance in this life and in their young years they might feel like they have all the time in the world. However, each moment passes with a vengeance, aggressively moving forward without mercy or consideration. We need to position ourselves rightly to make the most of every opportunity.
We have been reminiscing of our days of old….How Mikaela would be bossing Luk around and making him do all sorts of shannanigans like touch fire or …how Luk would let me know that I should have another baby after we had Arielle since he and Mik needed to have their “own”, “one for me and one for Mikaela.”. They fought over Arielle and who could hold her next or feed her, but never over who would change her diaper, ever. How before going out Arielle would be sitting on the bed with Mik and Luk on either side of her putting on her socks and me putting on her shirt and her exclaiming, “I so HAPPY!” knowing that she was so well taken care of and loved…How Mikaela would get up early just to take Moselle and be with her so “Mommy could get some rest.” How Moselle would take command of her situations (at least try to) whether eating, playing or resting…she has an opinion and still does walk into any room like she owns it…confident, but thankfully not cocky.
Children are a visible gauge of life passing by.
Mikaela (17) has made her way to her dual enrolling goal and is now taking four classes at the college here in Vero. She is also progressing spiritually and is helping in children’s church and worship. Since getting her driver’s license, she has been a great help in carting the kids around. She continues to keep us organized. Her college transition has seemed uneventful enough, but all of us have felt the pangs of missing her since she is at home less and we have had different ways of dealing with it. Her siblings are always flocking around her when possible. We, her parents, are finding it enjoyable discussing her learning and reading her ever-growing art of writing.
Mik and Luk continue to do their Karate and help to teach at times. The girls are now their disciples!
Lukas (16) has a host of friendships that are outside of the “norm” with his “band” friends and associates. He and Mik are about to begin their own “ohana” or cell group among their peers which means they would be “leading” in teaching and “shepherding” others in their faith. We pray in their giving they will grow and naturally mature in their own walk and faith in the Lord. There is always something to taking care of others and receiving so much more for yourself. It is a great process. We desire them to be children who will always be looking to bring others into the “Life Boat”. Luk has a heart for the less fortunate and God is building him from the inside in order to make him effective in pulling others in rather than having them pulling him out.
Arielle (10) has become quite the baby lover and wants to be “certified” as a “real” Baby Sitter. They give out training and certification in this town and she wants to go and get it so she can be “bonafide”. For now, she has become “Aunty” Arielle to Kailani our little one year old of Luke and Carlie Broadhurst. Babies do love her and she is thrilled over caring for them even on cold early mornings she will rise to help. She now believes they are “even cuter than puppies!”.
She and Moselle want to participate in a gymnastic meet at a Christi’s Fitness meet in March. They have been enjoying vaulting, cart wheeling and tumbling about. They remain active on their bikes, scooters and Arielle can now “rip stick” with the best of them. She is so fun to watch smoothly moving about. In our home, she continues to move about in the same manner…very responsible, self motivated and always caring for the others. She and Moselle are becoming quite the little hostesses and “servers”. They inspires us in this arena of caring in the second mile
On Sanibel Island, Nutie Melrose married Tom Keogh and we had the privilege of being there and Michael officiated the beautiful occasion. Our whole family attended and had some incredible moments with our friends. One of our friends, Moana, asked Moselle, as Moz was massaging Aunty Moana’s shoulders, “Moselle, what CAN’T YOU DO??!” This was in the context of Arielle and Moselle just presenting Aunty Nutie with a “wedding cake” (it was a Fun-fetti box cake mix), but, hey, they called it the wedding cake since they baked it, brought it and noticed that there was not an actual wedding cake around (only wedding Key Lime pie!). They decided that it was THE cake especially since when they took the top off, a large portion of the frosting got stuck to the top of the cover which they then excitedly exclaimed, “LOOK! It is a heart shape on the cake now!” That sealed the deal. This absolutely WAS THE wedding cake and the best one anyone could ever have. So, now, as Moana is getting massaged, Moselle had her answer as to what she could not do,
“Well, I can’t do front flips and I can’t drive.”
“That’s it? You can’t front flip or drive?”
“YEP. …….Not yet.”
She remains my optimistic, always humming kind of kid who is a wonder & inspiration to have around. She prances around with ease and freedom and is a trip to watch as she passes any mirror….she gives herself the delight of a look, a jump, a spin or a dance, but never does she pass it passively. It shall be her approach to life…..
Never let life pass you by….
We only go around once…let us choose to go fully, freely and passionately…Let us care about what God cares about and always be caring for one another. The simple part of life is doing what we were designed to do…the hard part is realizing when we are letting the hapless motions of life get in the way of doing that which is really designed to be simple and eternal…which inevitably involves God and people.
The Bagby Bunch Corner
We celebrated the wedding of Nutie Melrose and Thomas Keogh last Saturday on the beach at Sanibel Island off the coast of Ft. Meyers Florida. Nutie’s brothers and sisters along with her mom & dad were all there to celebrate. It was a gorgeous day with perfect weather and many personal moments. At the end of the ceremony, Tom’s two son’s and Nutie’s three children stood with me as we jointly declared them to be “Husband and Wife”! See the photos at www.seekthelamb.org.
In just a few days, we will be visiting our friends at Real Life Christian Center in Bozeman Montana. Since our first visit in 2007, they have already sent us two teams, and another is coming in March. We love to visit and encourage any church or group that has been part of the ministry on the Rio Coco.
As we watched the presidential inauguration last month, we all had great hopes that our new president would be able to accomplish much in his first weeks in office. We still have hopes, yet our political system seems to get bogged down with corruption and self-interest. That seems to be the trend in our business world as well. So where do we place our hope? As David wrote in Psalm 39:7
“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”
God is our hope and if there was ever a time to walk in faith, its now! Don’t be distracted by what the television pundits are saying; Listen to what God is saying. We are part of His Economy, and He has a plan to provide for us, and use us in these times to bring many into the Kingdom– here in our communities as well as along the Rio Coco in Nicaragua. We are so encourage by so many of you who are stepping out in faith with us.
Let this be our greatest hour! Laura & Michael
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