November 2009 Conchshell Chronicles

Things We Are Thankful For……

It is the season to remember all the good things God has done in our lives. We often reflect on the lives that He has given us, and the opportunities we have to impact humanity for eternal purposes. We also think about many of you whom God has brought on to the STL team that has been educating our children in Nicaragua these past 23 years. We are amazed to see the progress, and fruit, and we are so thankful that He has chosen us to be involved in this work. Of course we are thankful for our family, our healthy children, and our ability to make it through the days. God has been good to us, and we are so thankful for all He continues to do!

A Partnership by Maik Bagby

God calls us, then He leads us, and if we are hearing and following, great things will be accomplished!

It is a partnership of efforts between us and God.

Our summer was filled with activities in Nicaragua and Honduras working with our Project Ezra teachers and students. As we visited schools, spoke with our teachers, and spent time with our long time friends who are leading the project, we were encouraged by what God has been doing. Many of our teachers have made significant spiritual steps, as have our students. In addition, they all have advanced academically- our teachers are more qualified to teach, and the students are scoring better on their tests. All is moving forward. God is displaying Himself to the Miskito people through our education project, our radio Bible teaching broadcasts, our distribution of emergency relief food, and the love and attention that our teachers show the children. It is good.

As we worked on the final phases of the Papta Watla (the three-story Leaf Roof House), I was again impressed at the artistry and engineering that has gone into this building. It is truly a work of art that is very functional in training teachers, and pastors. Our builders, led by Tomas and Truman, have indeed utilized a creative gift from God to construct a building that causes people to gaze in wonder how a little organization like us could put up such an artistically inspired structure. As I was painting one day, I felt so fortunate to be part of a God project. It is good.

Our trip to North Carolina was filled with divine encounters where we were used to encourage many of our friends. At the same time, we were refreshed ourselves, and inspired with moments with our family, at Hope Chapel in Apex, and walking the Cowpens Battlefield. You read about that Revolutionary War battle in our June issue of the CSC. Yes, that time was very good.

Coming to Maui at the end of September was a much anticipated event, and for good reason. We felt that God was going to use us in some new ways to minister at our church here, and He has. Our Relational Parenting class on Tuesday nights has been profound for us all. We didn’t choose to teach on parenting, but were asked to by the leaders here at Hope Chapel. Preparing for the classes has been a very good learning experience for us, and Laura and I have become better parents ourselves, as we study God’s principles for parenting. The teaching times have been very “God inspired”, and we have benefitted the most, although our 30 plus students tell us otherwise. We are enjoying what God is doing. It is very good.

At the same time, Mikaela has launched a Bible study for some of her high school friends on Wednesday afternoon, and already there has been deep significant issues discussed. We are “helping” her, but it is so nice to see her touching the lives of the young ladies. It is good.

We also launched a Bible study for Young Married Couples on Thursday night, with the idea that this could be a start of multiple Young Married studies. There is such a need for an understanding of God’s principles for the marriage relationship in our society today. We hope that our group of five couples will numerically and spiritually grow over the next months, and multiply. It is good what God is doing with our lives here on Maui.

As we walk along this journey of listening to and following the King, we often encounter natural obstacles, and sometimes supernatural ones. They often take the form of relationship issues, financial stress, government opposition, and health issues. We have experienced all of these in our project in Nicaragua this past decade. These obstacles sometimes appear naturally, other times we realized it has been spiritually motivated.

Jesus continually tells us to trust Him as we follow along. That is often hard to do. We sometimes feel like the father of the demon oppressed boy in Mark 9:

So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was very small. The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

The father instantly replied, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” Mark 9:17-24

We believe, but we forget sometimes who we are believing in. We let the natural circumstances cloud our vision, and the real Jesus, Creator of the Universe, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, starts to fade into a less able, further away, less certain god.

Like the boy’s father, we need help not to doubt.

The challenges for the Seek The Lamb ministry are great today. We are involved in many things that are good; Things that God is doing; Ministry that we are hopefully doing our part.

We know that where He leads, He does provide.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Lamb Bleatings By Laura Bagby

Our lives are full of opportunities to respond and choose. Yet, at times, it all feels so completely out of control and out of my grasping abilities. I struggle to keep myself in the place of calm, peace and freedom. I strive to remain unstained by the world, events and people around me. I attempt to find my “steady point” of possessing and maintaining God’s presence and sense of security in the place of faith and trust. I fail to remain there in my proper place especially when I am feeling like I am NOT accomplishing everything I “should be or ought to be” in light of everyone that is surrounding me. I give heed to those people around me in the moment and each moment only turns into another one and then yet another one….Each encounter being important and meaningful in its own right.

However, by the end of the day or even during the course of the day, I do wonder to the Lord in thought, “Am I doing what YOU want me to do?” The second and more important thought is, “Am I BEING who you want me to be?”

I suppose all of us could exchange stories of how busy we really are and how demanding our lives can be, but with each story comes our choice of how we will live each of those moments….whether in peace or in anxiety….whether we embrace those moments for the sake of clinging to God in desperation knowing that we cannot do it on our own or whether we press forward with determined human ingenuity and drive drugged by our own adrenalin and pride.

It is a continual battle….some moments more fierce than others….

Our weeks have been full of opportunities to practice much of what we have been teaching on this island. Between our bible study teachings, meeting with interns at the church, a Relational Parenting class, a couple’s study, countless discipling moments with individuals, preparing for sermons and planning a huge event in a few days to raise money for our missions with Seek the Lamb……….not to mention the main priorities of God, husband, children, Grandma and Grandpa who arrived today, our other friends who arrived a few days ago, and the host of other people we enjoy and love. All of these involve time and the struggle to maintain the peacefulness of God reigning in our hearts.

I have had severe temptations to go to that place of stress and angst. And have in fact failed on many occasions. Yet there is always so much that brings me back to my place before the Lord.

One morning this week I awoke with my skin crawling and thoughts whirling over all that needed to take place. I called my friend Liz who is helping me with our Sunday fund raising event with our silent auction items. She proceeded to proclaim the delight she had over saying YES to the Lord regarding her helping us and how the Lord assured her that all she needed to do was to trust, obey, walk forward and do what she could and allow God to simply do the rest. Her friends told her she was beaming and asked her why. She said, “Because I said yes to the Lord….” It was such an encouraging reminder of how when we take care of our Father’s business He makes sure He takes care of ours.” No worries…Liz and Reta run a magazine company for Real Estate in Maui and have a deadline to meet this week for Maui Property Portfolio. Yet, there she was stayed in perfect peace, joy and gratefulness doing it all. I loved talking with her and praying with her on the phone. She is a joy to work with and do ministry with. I welled up with thankfulness for her presence in my life.

Right after that encouragement, Moselle came up to me and handed me her “fun” journal notebook and said, “Read this mommy….I wrote it.” It read like this….

Journey

This is a journey that is Holy

This is a journey of peace

This is a journey to find you to be in me

This is a path that is marked with holiness

This is a path that leads to you

I don’t know where to go but I’m trusting you

I’m trusting you to guide me

I’m trusting you to lead me cause God you love me

And I love you too!

I’m gonna follow you

I know you are going to lead me too.

God this is my journey to you.

By Moselle Bagby

“What?!!!! You wrote this?!!?”

“Yep.”

“You are gifted by the Holy Spirit, Moselle. You have a gift and I am so encouraged by it!”

I was deeply moved by those words which my heart so longed to hear. It ministered to me and gave me the sense that everything was really quite alright. All I needed to do was keep journeying back to my Lord.

Moselle and Liz helped me get back to reality as God knows it and calls it.

Mikaela and Lukas opened a bank account here and I had the privilege of being there with them as they displayed yet one more act of their adulthood and sense of responsibility. They are growing up and learning to appreciate the finer and deeper things in life and godliness….like the relationships that gave them their jobs…..like how grateful they are to even have a job when many of their friends are looking and not finding, when lay offs are abundant all around us, when people react so amazed when they share where they are working and what they are doing. They are concluding on the side of blessedness. This is always a good landing spot for us all.

I could tell that Lukas felt blessed and thankful to have Grandma and Grandpa here with us. He drove Grandma and I around to get medication, go to the store and to our bank. When he arrived home, he made some of his famous noodles for them.

It has been very interesting watching them grow into adulthood. We have all wrestled between their growing independence, dependence, considerations, priorities, thoughtfulness and the quest to allow loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness to rule our home together.

When we arrived home, Mikaela had already begun leading worship for our girls bible study group we helped her start. A beautiful encouraging session. I love sitting next to her in worship. Her heart of worship blesses me on so many levels.

Our children are learning life lessons in relationships, time and financial management and responsibility. They are also experiencing the freedom that comes with some of these responsibilities.

Arielle called me one day shortly after Lukas had begun working and let me know excitedly,

“Mommy when Lukas went to the store, he bought me some jeans….isn’t that nice of him?!”

“Do they fit?”

“Perfectly…I’m wearing them to church tonight.”

It was a nice way to see my son using his financial freedom in blessing his sister and having thoughts beyond his own needs which is such a key to the growing up process. The ability and desire to think beyond ourselves…A worthy goal. The struggle for us all…..

Trusting that God in his nature gave up his life for us that we would learn how to give up our lives for others. Knowing that when we take care of our Father’s business, He takes care of ours. Laura

A Real Job By Lukas Bagby

This trip to Maui has been so much different in so many ways so far this year. To begin with a lot of my best friends from previous years that were my “hangout” friends all left for California to attend various colleges. This has impacted me in obvious ways such as having to make new friends (which can be a bummer at times) but none the less God has blessed me with a new friends and new opportunity’s on this trip.

One of the most amazing opportunity’s I’ve had so far is getting a job on the Trilogy Excursions boat line. Our long time friend Chris Walsh aka Captain Chris one day soon after we arrived came up to me and simply asked me “so do you wanna work while you’re here?” I said “Sure!” without hesitation. He then continued to say “Alright. Meet me at the harbor tomorrow morning at 5:15.” The rest is history I guess you could say. I work as the third or second mate, serving food to our guests, passing out fins & masks, and leading them on snorkeling tours. I have to watch out for the safety of our guests, and already I have gotten a few of them out of trouble. I also see turtles every day. When we get back to the harbor, we get to clean the boat. It is usually an 8 hour day.

This is my first job I’ve ever had and the experience has been a great one. I’ve been given the opportunity to earn some money but also develop relationships with people from all over the world on a daily basis. When our good friend Terry Borcheller first heard about me getting a job his only words to me were “welcome to the real world buddy” and this is so true! haha.

The thing I’ve been learning the most with this amazing opportunity is that hard work definitely pays off. I’ve come from being a lazy slug to actually a pretty hard working young man.

On top of this I’ve learned that you can actually make an impact on somebody just from talking with them for a mere 5 minutes. I’ve had so many opportunities to tell people about my life and the crazy adventures God takes me and my family on. People are always impressed and I feel like I’m actually doing God’s work just by taking the time with these people!

I encourage anyone who is reading this that your 5 minutes in someone’s life can make a difference where they will spend the rest of eternity, are you gonna be part of the difference? I know I am.

Aloha Lukas

The Bagby Bunch Corner

Our time in Hawaii has historically been our busiest. This year is no exception. We have many opportunities to encourage & teach many of our friends and partners whom we have not seen since 2007. It has been a rich time, especially with Lukas and Mikaela working (she works for Spencer Homes in the office), and both being involved in ministry. We have enjoyed our time with their friends, and these young people seem hungry for the freedom that comes from a close relationship with God.

We have classes and Bible Studies that we are leading, as well as many moments throughout the week for sharing times. It seems that each weekend we have had an opportunity to share at a weekend service at Hope, Kumulani, and Waipuna Chapels. We so enjoy sharing what God has taught us– often through hard lessons. If you would like to see the video messages please go to the Hope Chapel website (www.hopechapelmaui.com) and click on the “Watch A Service” and look on the Sunday and Friday menus. We have taught on “Purposeful Intentional Living”, “Developing Compassion” and on Friday, “To the Ends of the Earth”. Take and moment and let us encourage you.

We are in our final two months of the school project in Nicaragua, and we want to finish strong this year. You probably noticed the theme of our articles this month, which we wrote without consulting each other. We both are so aware of the good things that God is doing, and we want to play our parts to the maximum. Please pray with us that we will be able to meet the needs of our 81 teachers and administrators, and finish the “Paptal Watla” in Waspam.

We are available for service while we are in Hawaii for any needs. Please contact us at our cell below. We look forward to seeing all our friends this season.

Pray with us this month! Let God move in all our hearts!

Laura & Michael - Cell # 772-633-6808

Rio Coco Bean Coffee

We have fresh coffee of the finest kind! We import coffee from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia, roast it fresh in Vero Beach Florida, and deliver it directly to your door. Then we send the profits to educate our students in Nicaragua.

Please go to www.riococobeans.com to order yours!

Do You Want to Help this month?

Here are some suggestions for you get personally involved in God’s plan for education on the Rio Coco in Nicaragua:

1) Sponsor a Miskito Child. We need many sponsors for the 2009 school year. It is only $27 a month, and it will provide education and special needs to a student in Project Ezra.

2) Contribute to the building fund for the Waspam Center . Windows, computers, desks, and paint are needed. We estimate $6300 will allow us to move in!

3) Help Nutie & Tom build their home. We have started making blocks and pouring cement columns. Much is needed to finish this important project.

4) Join the support team of a Seek The Lamb missionary! Nutie & Tom Keogh, and Laura & Michael Bagby receive no salary from Seek The Lamb and rely on their personal support team to cover their living & ministry expenses. Your gifts will go a long way.

Please click here to make a secure donation through Pay Pal.

Your gifts are greatly appreciated!