A Special Edition of Lamb Bleatings
from the heart of Laura
“Thank you”.
“My pleasure.”, comes the response of our trained Rio Coco servers as they hand out food or drink at the Café’. I believe it gives God great pleasure to give to those He created and loves. I think it blesses His heart when we take the time to thank Him and express our love for him.
We think it is equally important to thank many of you who have been a part of our incredible walk of faith. God is bearing much fruit through our collective efforts, obedience and sacrifices and we are grateful. The Lord continues His wondrous exploits on the Rio Coco with His people…our Miskito friends, leaders, students and teachers are making steps toward greater effectiveness for His Kingdom. We are in the process of consolidating many efforts and making it work more efficiently as we step forward into 2012. May God grant His wisdom to us all as we do. We need Him and you more than ever. We desire to engage in more discipleship and the furthering of His purposes in the Miskito Culture. Tom and Nutie Keogh are a huge asset to the overall workings of the bringing to life much of what we have desired and worked toward for years. We are excited.
After the opening of the Seek The Lamb outreach on Utila Honduras this summer, and the Rio Coco Café here in Vero Beach, we are convinced that God is in the middle of something super big for His eternal plan and purpose. Already many people who would never darken the door of a church have entered our “church disguised as a coffee shop”, and we have had many specific conversations about our Lord Jesus. It is an amazing dynamic! There has been much hard work and sacrifice put in by many, but more than anything the prevalence of God’s amazing hand of power has made it all seemingly effortless in light of all that has been accomplished. It has been miraculous and inspired.
I myself have been inspired most by my husband who worked through each phase as an engineer, plumber, electrician, carpenter, Roman sidewalk maker, roaster, painter, sander, designer, mover, installer, accountant, hanger (pictures), texturizing, supply/food buyer, etc… Many new and exciting first time experiences (God seems to do this a lot doesn’t He?). He was used greatly and efficiently to accomplish what most would consider impossible. Consistent perseverance and obedience leads to eternal fruit. We are able to watch and experience many who come into our midst be touched and changed for His glory and pleasure and it has been pleasing to our souls. I feel His pleasure as we walk through the day and relate to all those God brings into our midst. It has been a beautiful thing.
The blessing of having our children involved fully has been the bonus of His plan and purposes for their lives, our lives and the future. We feel His eternal fruit being made as we walk it out together. Our moments have been sweet and precious and we are grateful.
Mikaela and Lukas began college again. Arielle and Moselle are doing the Florida Virtual Schools as homeschoolers. We all work hard to keep the balance of the Lord in our lives as we do ministry together at the Rio Coco Café.
Michael and I are still charged with the responsibility of raising funds for the various missions of our Seek The Lamb Endeavors. We would really appreciate it if you would take a moment and ask the Lord how it is He wants you to be involved with us in this next season of harvest. We believe we are in significant times in our lives which will be full of His fruit and eternal blessings. We continue to live by and do all things by faith and the vision that God gives to us. Here are some thing s for us to consider as we begin this new year:
-To complete our financial obligations to our teachers in Nicaragua for 2011, we are having to pay our teachers a rather large sum of money to comply with a new law of the Ministry of Labor: The sum for this $21,000.
-We are also getting our Waspam Discipleship Training up and running for a more focused ministry training this year. We are grateful for many who have given toward this grand effort. It is another huge miracle of God. Our first project is a verbal translation of the Old Testament in Miskito, using trained Miskito readers to bring to life the Hebrew Scriptures. With Tom Keogh leading this effort, we have the greatest chance of success! This is why we need to complete the recording studio room. We also want to expand our Bible training in that facility by hiring two young Miskito men who have been faithful volunteers for Seek The Lamb.
-We have a “lease-to-buy” agreement on the Seek The Lamb Team House on Utila. The price of the house and waterfront is $200,000 and we have until June to pay for the house. Our monthly rent is going toward the purchase price. Our outreach café is located below the house, and the facility is located between five dive schools and hundreds of European, Israeli, Australian, and American young travelers who come to this island. We have put in much sweat , time and money to bring our outreach center to completion and fruition. Already many have heard the Gospel, and we have had our first baptism! Please please consider what the Lord would have you do to help us purchase this property. We are also opened to your suggestions as to how to get this done…we realize that some of you are experts in this field. It is an area that we feel lacking. The only thing we are quite sure about is that God said, “Do it…This is My Project.”
It has been done and we know that it is indeed His project . We are confident that He will provide for all that is His .
2012 marks the 24th year that I have been with Michael and the project in Central America. It is his 28th year! We have seen God do some incredible miracles through our combined efforts. Girls like these three washing dishes in the river would have little chance for education and spiritual encouragement without our help.
This is a time when we could sit back and rest on our laurels, yet God is calling us on to even greater levels of influence, and impact on a world which sorely needs Him. He has always required us to step ahead with a lot of faith. We did it with the relief project in the early 80’s, when we began Project Ezra in 1986, when we began our work in Israel in 1997, and with the launching of a fundraising business in 2004. We are pretty amazed and I know that many of you are as well.
We are confident that you will do your part as we have been faithful to do ours.
Pray for God to move in all our hearts. Laura
Random Notes
from Michael
January is named for the two faced Roman god Janus: one is looking forward and the other backward. January has been a time for reflection on the past events, and resolve for the future. What did I learn in 2011?
- To be more actively responsible for the things that God has given me: my family, our ministry, and the associated projects & trusting my pastors and in their areas of responsibility.
- That God’s plans far exceed our own. Look at how He began the outreach on Utila and in Vero Beach using a good cup of coffee!
- That greater faith is required for greater fruit. This is not blind wishful faith, but knowing that God is calling us forward. We desire to have a great impact on this generation here in the U.S and in Central America.
- That my most pressing daily need is to cultivate the presence of God in my life. The challenges of these new ministries have been overwhelming, yet God has shown me that if I pause as I consider the steps ahead each day, and allow Him to lead, the day is much more productive, and less stressful!
- That I have a wife who gets more amazing every year. She grows more beautifu
l as the days pass, and her passion for the things that God has called us to is truly inspirational.
- That I have a family that is multi-talented, and whom I love spending time with. They are my favorite people on the planet!
What about 2012?
- Project Ezra begins its 26th year this month. A new Nicaraguan law requires that we pay all our teachers their retirement pay now. In the next few months. We are handing off one village to the Nicaraguan government, and will begin the year as the community school in six villages. Initial enrollment will be over 1000 kids.
- We are organizing teams for Utila and Nicaragua. Please let us know real soon if God is calling you to join us this year for an exciting adventure in Ministry!
- We count ourselves blessed to have you on the Team! Michael
Donations are Welcome!
If you would like to make a donation to support your "Rio Coco Kid" this month, or one of the Seek The Lamb Missinaries (Kate & Dustin Insley, Nutie & Tom Keogh, Lanie Bishop, Danilo Cunningham, or Laura and Michael Bagby), or contribute to the school project in Nicaragua, please click here to go to our secure Pay Pal donation page.
Your contributions are extremely helpful in allowing us all to to the work God has called us all to!
Thanks!
Rio Coco Beans Coffee
Enjoy some of the most delicious coffee and help us educate children in Nicaragua as you do! Click here to see the latest from our online coffee store.
If you want to buy a car, you will have to receive the mortgage loans. Moreover, my sister always uses a college loan, which supposes to be the most rapid.
Posted by: Dena24Goff | February 20, 2012 at 07:12 PM