Seek The Lamb: July 2009

Our Connections

Spiritual Spaces
Cruise through the places of the Bible through videos and images taken by us personally during our study times in Israel, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Understanding the geographical context of your favorite Biblical passages will only enhance their meaning!
Tom's Miskito Mission
How does the Gospel come to an indigenous people who are on the bridge between the Fourth World and the First? Tom's many years of living in the Miskito culture provide many insights into how we can effectively communicate the Most Important Message to another culture.
Bags Full
Check into "Bags Full" to get watered and feed with some perspectives on the Word from a former Navy and missionary pilot, disco manager and ice cream scooper. Guaranteed to tweak your understanding of God's culturally adept message to you.
Lamb Bleatings
Laura Bagby is a skilled observer of life in many parts of our world. From her experience of traveling while raising four children and caring for a needy husband who is often unconscious of those needs, she offers us all words of wisdom on a regular basis.
The Supernatural Stream
Talk a daily dip into a supernatural stream of Living Water! Here are a set of daily readings from the Bible that will inspire you and let you hear personally from the Lord Himself. In addition, enjoy video and still images from Biblical places associated with the readings.
Rio Coco Beans Coffee
Want to try some of the best coffee in the world? Want to help out needy people worldwide as you enjoy that cup of coffee? Rio Coco Beans directly imports coffee from personal sources in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Ethiopia. In addition we have friends who help us with coffee from Colombia, Sumatra and other places. Good Coffee and a Great Cause!

Project Ezra Beginnings

In 1985, many of the Nicaraguan refugees who were living in the swamps and savannahs along the Kruta and Coco Rivers in Honduras asked us for help in educating their children. Due to the war in Nicaragua, it had been five years since many children had attended classes. We certainly didn't have a plan, but our Lord did! Over the next few years, He used many volunteers to train teachers, build school buildings, and provide school supplies to refugees in 12 villages. Enjoying viewing this miracle!

Rio Coco Bean Coffee

The production of coffee is a laborious process. In these next pages, we will take you through the steps of coffee growth from flower to bagged coffee. We are fortunate to have such high quality sources for our coffee! When you finished this photo essay, you will be brought back to this page. If you want to return to the Rio Coco Store, go to http://www.riococostore.com. (Just copy and paste it into the address line of your browser)

Waspam Center Construction

For many years we have desired to have a facility where we could train teachers and pastors, record Miskito music, make local artisan products, and gather different cultural elements. We found a piece of proterty outside of Waspam at the end of the airport runway in 1991, and began praying. We were able to purchase it in 1992. Four years later, we began construction of what we though would be a simple building. However, God had bigger plans- As usual! Take a look at the result of many prayers, financial gifts, and hard labor by many volunteers!

July 29, 2009

Making Slow Progress- But Significant!!!

We just finished our teacher conference in Waspam.
It began on Thursday afternoon, and ended officially when they boarded the big canoe Tuesday morning to head downriver.

It was a big event held in our Discipleship Center. We utilize all three floors.

There were about 70 in attendance. They ate a 100 lbs of rice a day. We bought a cow and killed it. We even splurged and purchased cold drinks for them. They really liked that!

They were all excited to be in the building that many of them had not seen the top floor with leaf roof.

(It strikes me now that my syntax may be off, as I sometimes get confused after speaking spanish for days at at time)

Laura and Nutie & Tom came up with some games for the teachers, so we could have some fun and give some gifts to them.

Here Smit Rivas is doing the Chicken Dance.

We had a lot of fun with our teachers, and a lot of singing and worship.

On Sunday, many sang some of our favorite songs, and it was a sweet time.

We also had opportunity to nudge our teachers spiritually, as well as help them with professional education training.

Tom and I spoke on what it really means to be a Christian.

The Moravian and Catholic missionaries did a great job here in the 1920's -40's. They brought an understanding of Jesus to this culture. Unfortunately much of that teaching is wrapped up in traditions that often confuse the issue of our identity in Christ.

One of the big issues associates being a follower of Jesus with having a wedding ceremony in a church. Somehow, the two are the same in the minds of many. So, if you haven't yet been married in a church, then you cannot be a Christian, even if you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Lord and your savior.

We are making slow progress with our teachers on this issue. It will be the focal point for these next few months.

Thanks for all of you who were praying for us these past weeks. God did show up in very powerful ways.

Keep praying for our teachers. They will change their culture!

Posted at 10:59 AM in Current Affairs, Miskito CUlture, Project Ezra Nicaragua | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

July 20, 2009

Sandinista 30th Anniversity Celebration

We spent the weekend "enjoying" music from the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution celebration in the central park in Waspam. It was a short loop of revolutionary songs. The one we heard over and over again what the Spanish version of "All We are saying is give peace a chance."

I am amazed that so much of what happened here in the 80's has been forgotten by the new generation. They don't remember how the Sandinista military came and confiscated all vehicles, boats and motors. They forgot how the Cubans arrived and took over the schools. They don't remember those second grade math books that used pictures of hand grenades and AK-47 to teach addition.

Somehow they have forgotten that 104 villages were "relocated" in 1981-83. In that process, many homes were burned, cattle killed, as well as many many human beings. The resulting war affected the entire population, with over 60,000 Miskitos fleeing the contry to Honduras and Costa Rica.

The confusing part is that the former leader of the KISAN/ YATAMA Miskito Army is now in business with his enemy of the 80's- they own a cattle ranch upriver together. Steadman Fagoth Mueler and Daniel Ortega are political allies. That is confusing to many of us, as these guys fought so hard against each other. Deep hatred that has been healed by the green poltis- money.

It is a sad time to watch the politicians take the money and run, while the rest of the population endures neglect and loose morals in the government.

Yet at the same time, God is moving, and many advances are occuring in the spiritual realm. Indeed, as it gets darker, the light shines even more.

One side of our home was bombarded by the the sounds of the Sandinista celebration this weekend. The other side was hit by the often bombastic worship and preaching of two youth conferences at two churches within 100 yards of the house. It was amazing the enthusiam and zeal of these two groups in their church services.

Yes, God moves on. His agenda remains unhindered.

Posted at 04:09 PM in Current Affairs, Miskito CUlture | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)