Seek The Lamb

October 2010 Conchshell Chronicles

 

 

 

Measuring Impact           by Thomas Keogh 

 

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

-Isaiah 55:10-11

They say a watched pot never boils. That's not true; I have watched it plenty, and it does boil, eventually. Most people just want to know when it's done, so they go do something else while they're waiting. God watches the pot; not in doubt or anxiety, but in patience and lovingkindness. He makes it happen.

Nutie grew up the daughter of an Englishman, eating boiled eggs in little porcelain egg holders, with toast and jam. Wanting to delight her, I learned to cook them, and in the process discovered that the secret of the perfect 3-minute egg lies not in quickly answering the final bell but in perceiving the moment to set the timer after you have placed the eggs in a pot of cold water. How long does the water take before it boils on a Miskito wood stove? There are so many variables involved that I can't just walk away and come back later. I stay by the stove, tend the fire, watch for signs. At the proper time I say, "Three minutes from right now I'm taking these puppies out." Learning to read the signs is very important because I can't just look inside the egg and see how the yoke is doing. My desire is to please Nutie.

We find ourselves checking constantly to see how our efforts are doing on the Coco River. Our desire is to please our Lord. He promises that His word will have impact everywhere it falls on this earth. Not every seed sprouts at once, not every molecule of water reaches 212℉ at the same time, but the pot will boil. We need to watch it. We need to keep tending the fire and pay attention to the individual bubbles rising to the surface. When enough bubbles are coming up, that's when you can set your timer.

We see more and more children each year coming up from their communities to attend high school in Waspam. Some are going to college in Puerto Cabezas and Managua. There are now around two hundred young men and women from the Seek the Lamb villages presently attending such institutions of higher learning. In a collective society such as this, those who have gone on tend to help their family members come up, just like heated molecules of water move to help each other reach the boiling point. These are all good signs. Nevertheless, we are not just engaged in an academic enterprise; this is first and foremost a spiritual one, where educational success goes hand in hand with spiritual growth, but isn't necessarily conclusive evidence of it. How can we gage our spiritual impact? We can't look inside the egg to see if the yoke is just the way God likes it. But it's not just hit and miss; with people you get a feel for it if you spend some time with them.  

Yesterday Nutie and I had a lengthy conversation with Veda Luz Washington, a junior at INOS, the  public high school in Waspam. She's dark, with the slim, athletic figure of the Washington's who trace their ancestry back to Africa through Jamaica and the Miskito villages of the coast, yet she has ojos achinados--Chinese eyes of the first settlers of the Americas. She is a typical Miskito, a beautiful blend of race and history. Like most of the kids that come up to Waspam for school, she and her brother Jerry, also a student, live with a cousin and his wife, who are already established  here. She remembers her years in the village school. Veda Luz is very aware that she is “Hope Walking” for her three little sisters back in Sawa. Her presence here is bigger than herself.

Her parents are subsistence farmers. They went to school some, read and write a little bit, but never gave much importance to their children's education. They didn't understand its value. In the first grade, Veda Luz went to school of her own accord, slogging through mud up to her knees and balancing on log bridges in the rainy season, stopping leisurely to look at ants along the trail and picking fruits off the trees with her companions in the dry season. Once in awhile they just went swimming in the river and never made it to school. To Pablo Suazo, her teacher, this was normal. ( Photo of Pablo teaching in Sawa)

None of the kids went every day. She doesn't quite remember if she ever understood what her teacher said in class, at least not when he spoke in Spanish.

Something changed in the third grade. Even though her mother encouraged her to stay home if the  weather was a little rough, she forced herself to go daily to class. She saw something in her teachers that made her want to be like them one day. The idea of distinct subject matter emerged out of the fog of talking and writing on the board and turning pages of books in a foreign language. She could not only decode symbols and make sounds ... da-de-di-do-du ... but she began to see that these were messages, and she could understand some of it. She especially liked the class where they talked about the natural world--they called it ciencias naturales--because she could observe the things that were being taught. Her teachers showed her writings from the Bible that explained how an all-powerful God had made all of it. When it came time for the rice harvest she didn't go to the fields like many of the other children. She had discovered a thirst for understanding.

Veda Luz recalls that she wasn't the best student in class--there were at least two boys ahead of her--but yes she was among the better ones. It's harder for a girl, she's got more chores. Hauling water, cooking, cleaning, shelling rice and cutting firewood while carrying baby sisters on her back. Could she possibly make it through? She remembers memorizing Luke 1:37: "For nothing will be impossible with God." An angel had said that to a girl.

Larry Suazo was the son of Veda Luz' first grade teacher. Larry taught her both fifth and sixth grades.  He was from the refugee generation. Seek the Lamb was Salt and Light back then, and gave him an opportunity to study. He'd graduated sixth grade in Sawa and gone on to school in Puerto Cabezas. He went further than his father and understood more about how everything works. Veda Luz really liked Professor Larry. She could understand almost everything he taught, and when she had a question, she felt confident to ask. Professor Larry was patient and gave individualized instruction. Veda Luz says she didn't really learn Spanish until fifth and sixth grades. (Photo of Larry and his wife Brenda- both teachers and Sunday School teachers)

  Life in Waspam is different. Veda Luz wears a smart-looking top with a brand name written on it. In the village kids wear old clothes that smell like wood smoke and have banana sap stains from carrying bunches on their shoulders; kids here are fashion conscious. They are especially self-conscious in school. Students from the villages get teased in class when they can't speak Spanish well. Veda Luz is very thankful for Larry Suazo's teaching; she says it wasn't a hard transition like it is for kids from other small villages along the river. It's her fourth year here; even though her father worries that she's lonely and lets her know it's OK to come back home, she lets him know that she's comfortable.

   A dream is a very private thing for a village girl. It is like beginning a wall around a city. When the dream first arises, you go out and examine it at night, all by yourself. You tell nobody. When you take your first steps, you are subject to mockery, as Nehemiah was when he began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem . "Even what they are building--if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down," said Tobiah the Ammonite. There is no lack of Sanballats and Tobiahs in Waspam, so Veda Luz holds her dream close to her chest. She wants to be a doctor. When she told this to Nutie and I yesterday she spoke cautiously; she wasn't used to saying that out loud. What kind of doctor? Nutie and I wanted to nourish her dream, to help her to flesh it out. I noticed she didn't respond to words like "orthopedist" or "obstetrician," but smiled when she considered helping old people with achy bones and young mothers in childbirth. Her gaze drifted over to the right corner of her "chinese eyes," as though the dream was stored somewhere on that side. Then she relaxed and smiled. "I'd like that," she said.

Veda Luz identifies the strongholds that would prevent her. Right now she can't see herself going back to work in her village. It's still too close, the pull of the old way too strong. Most of her girlfriends from school who stayed in Sawa have babies with the boys from class, and now live the same way as her Mom and Dad. It's freaky. Girls get as far in school as their first baby. Her sister Anabel is a Seek the Lamb teacher. She's an exception; she has worked very hard after having a family and is now close to finishing her in-service training. But normally you only go as far as your first baby. In this new world order boys can get away with it; leave girls pregnant and continue on in school. For them, education does not require godliness, but for a girl it almost certainly does.

The desperate need for godliness is her gain, boys' loss; she's up to the task.

She memorized Psalm 119:9 in third grade in a Seek The Lamb school, and it serves her well. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." Veda Luz is active in her youth group at church, and in the choir. She knows where her strength comes from.

Nutie asked her where girls can get godly counsel. We've noticed that youth groups are mostly about singing, playing musical instruments, and listening to a sermon, but have seen very little personal mentoring in the churches. After thinking about it for a moment, she said, "Mostly it's been my teachers who have given me practical advice on how to live. They spend more time with the students. Some of the teachers are Christians. That helps."

"My father is a campesino," she said. "I know he's not going to be able to help me in college, but I'm ready to work and to do whatever I need to do. Where in Psalm 119 does it talk about God's faithfulness? ¿Que PERMANECE? (That remains forever)  I like that one."

Nutie whispered in my ear. She wanted to give Veda Luz a dress I had given to her for Christmas just before we were married. I said it would be OK. She went and brought it up out of a suitcase ... Nutie forever living out of a suitcase. She handed it over and then we prayed for her. After she had gone back to her house I looked up the verse she was thinking of- Psalm 119:90.

"Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands."

That is a Word for all of us, from former Seek The Lamb student and future doctor Veda Luz Washington. It is a good one!                                           Tom

How Can You Help the School Project in Nicaragua?  Click here.

 

Lamb Bleatings               By Laura Bagby 

 

Milestones

    A friend told me the other day, “We spend the first 50 years of our lives trying to accumulate (wealth, a name for ourselves, material goods, etc.).  Then, we spend the next 50 years letting go of them.

     I was also reminded that 50 is the year of Jubilee…..the past forgiven and everything starts all over….debt free with a new beginning.

I like the one that says 50 is the new 30.

For me, being 50 somehow felt like a big deal.  Like somehow, I finally attained to adulthood….enough sense  & wisdom to feel momentary “thriving” in my life (however brief the moment), yet not enough to take myself too seriously.  It appears that I see deeply who I am and the reality of both my potential of evil and of good.  Perhaps, I feel more responsible because I can recognize more freely the operation of these natures within me that so frequently get “let out” in spurts thoughout my life.  The truth being easier to see, easier to admit and maybe easier to come to the point of adjustment primarily because I realize that life is getting shorter and, “do I really want to waste my time on the foolishness of my heart or stupidity of my ways.”

  “Is that part of me worth keeping?”

The theme of my life is  “Give it up….”

My own expectations often prove to be worthless….my beliefs often erroneous….my thoughts slightly off on many aspects of life…my ideas of “how it ought to be” incorrect by God’s standards (although often seeming so right and good)

I think “I know”, but I really don’t.

I make myself laugh a lot…..especially in those moments where my head is just not connecting with my body…happens in dance class or an exercise routine where my mind is saying one thing but my body does something different.  I find that amusing for some reason.  It is somehow a good reminder for me of how much I need to have God make my connections even in the slightest of detail….within my own body and also in the larger scope of the world around me….add to that the element of relationships and it can get all jumbled and disconnected.  

I need God more at 50 than I ever have and am deeply grateful to have a strong hold on Him.  My grip on Him seems to get tighter when the world around me seems to come undone and out of control…when I am let down by my circumstances, by people, by my own standards, thinking and behavior.  I YELL loudly inside, “Isn’t there anything I can trust and depend on anymore????!”

The soft answer I receive from a deep place within me is, “No….can you even depend on yourself?  Who and what are you looking to for such stabilization? Who? Because you know its not gonna be What?”  There is but One and indeed He has not stopped controlling the universe and life itself.

It is a time I cry out to the only Perfect One in whom there is no change or shifting of shadow….One who is Faithful, True and able to rise me up out of myself so I can see clearly as I ought so that I can live in the freedom of His mercy, grace, peace and overcoming love even in the midst of turmoil.

In the middle of really wanting to say, “I am done….I am tired…I can’t….”, there always exists those supernatural moments when someone says or does something that totally reaches in and lifts me up.  Somehow unburdening me as I listen to a song given to me that is declaring melodiously, “Hold On”….despite all these circumstances, pressures, hardships….”Hold On.”  Christ endured humiliation, shame, pain, torture for the joy that was set before Him….He held on, accomplished His purposes and  now lives to continue to accomplish what He started out in you and in me.  Big thought. 

And I am smaller than I think in the scheme of it all….May I continue to decrease as He increases in me to disperse His goodness, His love, mercy, grace,  power and freedom.

Milestones

-Lessons of freedom and the responsibility involved in attaining the blessing of it…choosing wisely at this point of my life who and what I am involved with and how.  Time is precious and getting more difficult to waste.

-Michael turned 59 ….growing in grace, peace and mercy

-Lukas turned 18….growing up,  college classes, “deciding” responsibility, learning the choices and they all come with a price…He has been quite the joy to have around the joint.  Growing in the area of “relationship” and what it takes to excel.

    -Moselle hits double digits (10) and excited as ever in every possible way.  She is a happy trip…she still starts off a little slow in the morning but once she gets going…there she is! Her Mugly Doll Co. is coming along and she inspires me

   -Arielle has become a young mature lady beginning a cell group tonight, baking high quality desserts, sewing gifts, our most consistent “reading through the Bible” student, and has a knack for taking care of others (thus, the nickname, “mom”)  She earned it. 

-Mikaela becoming a viable player in our Rio Coco Coffee business and definite coveted and sought after worker by many.  A joyful blessing wherever she might be.  We can’t seem to get enough of her here, but we try.

   -Luke and Carlie Broadhurst hit the big city (CA) with a Dream Job for Luke and the opportunity to be near family…it is hard to see great disciples and followers of Jesus fly the coop so to speak.  Their going away party was a true testimony of their effectiveness as I met all of their neighbors and others in their sphere of influence.  It was a beautiful thing.

-Michael and I letting go of a couple of huge responsibilities  and feeling quite liberated and complete in the lesson of taking on and keeping only what God gives to us ….no more and no less.

God comes to unburden and never to burden.

-I am 50  and  am feeling ready for hearing and doing what God tells me to more passionately than ever…My body parts are functioning well, my brains work most of the time and I am surrounded by inspirational people almost all the time.  My husband loves me and my children rise and bless me. Life is good. I am grateful.                                              Laura

 

 

The Bagby Bunch Corner

 We are on a mission from God………

This month, we are on the road to visit our friends in Indiana who have travelled many times to help with the construction of the Waspam Discipleship Center- Ray and Marianne Bodie, Ted Lebrecht and our friends at the Presbyterian Church of the Lakes near Angola.  What could be more beautiful than a drive across America in the fall! And to see faithful friends and ministry partners! And to have the privilege to give them a word of encouragement— after all the encouragement that they have given us!

In a few weeks, we will get the opportunity to voice our opinions and vote in the Congressional elections.  I believe that this is one election that we all need to participate in.  Regardless of your politics, we all should get out and vote.  We who are connected through the Spirit of God must flavor our society with Godly government officials who know the difference between right and wrong.  I believe it is our duty according to Romans 12 & 13 to participate in our governments.  Please register and vote this November!

Yes, it was fun to surprise Laura on her birthday.  She was totally had! Rarely have we pulled off a complete surprise like this one.  We had hula hoop contests, limbo contest, coffee tasting contest, and a lot of good words spoken over my wife.  She is amazing, and her braces only make her look younger.  We are all blessed to have her inspiring us each month in the Chronicles, and her words reflect profound wisdom from a woman close to God’s heart.

We seek God’s plan for the 2011 school year, and with our economy as it is, we need to hear from Him. Please pray for guidance for us all as we ask Him for what He wants to do in 2011 along the Rio Coco. Tom’s article on “Measuring Impact” affected me profoundly.  So often we work and persevere not knowing exactly what is happening.  But we know that God told us to be there, and bring His words into the Miskito culture.  He has always told us that if we remain faithful, He will bring the fruit.  I have known Veda Luz since she was in the kinder class in Sawa.  I have taken her photo many times for our child sponsorship program.  Many of you have been praying for her, and indeed, God has done a work in her.  I must confess that when I read Tom’s article, I was in tears, with great joy that we are making a difference!  God is doing a great work among these people!  It is moments like this that I live for, when God’s Spirit floods over me and encourages me to press on– that there is more fruit than we know of.  Imagine the impact of our 200 former students who will soon become college graduates! They understand the Biblical principles for living and will be the agents of change for their communities! Just as Pablo Suazo and his son Larry have been.

Thanks for being on the team.  We all share in these rewards.                              

                                                                                                                                                          Laura & Michael

 

How You Can Help This Month

1) Sponsor a Miskito Child.  We need many sponsors.  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.  A little goes a long way.

3) 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 help them accomplish the mission in NIcaragua.

 

Purchase Rio Coco Bean Coffee!

We import green coffee from Nicaragua, Honduras, Indonesia, and Ethiopia

We roast it fresh in Vero Beach Florida.

We use the profits to educate these students above in Nicaragua.

It is some of the best coffee you will ever taste!

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!

It's Not My Project!

Dawn. . . in the northern Indian Ocean onboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Lt. Mike “Bags” Bagby steps out of the elevator and onto the flight deck and strides toward an A-6 Intruder, the Navy’s $28 million all weather attack aircraft.  He is wearing 30 lbs of torso harness, anti-“G” suit, floatation vest, helmet, and assorted survival gear.  As he arrives at his assigned Intruder, he stops and smiles.  This Intruder happens to have his name painted on the pilot’s side right below the canopy rail. Yes, it was a pride thing. . .

After checking numerous hydraulic lines, electrical connections, structural elements, and even kicking the tires, he climbs up the boarding ladder, straps into the  ejection seat, and begins the pre-launch checklist, knowing that in a few minutes, his 46,000 lb. aircraft would be hurtled down a steam catapult, accelerating from 0 to 185 mph in about 2.6 seconds. . .

 

I went through this launch scene many times during my Naval career. In the early days, it was easy for me to think about a flight off the carrier deck as “me and my jet”.  I was the one zooming off, flying all the maneuvers, and landing back aboard the boat.  It was all up to me, and all about me.  If you have seen the movie “Top Gun”, you can understand this shallow mentality.  However on this particular day, I was to learn a very valuable lesson that still applies to my life, and our work in Seek The Lamb.

As I finished strapping into the seat, I realized that there was no electrical power on the aircraft.  I looked down on the deck, and motioned to one of the twelve men who were standing around “my” Intruder.  These 12 guys, who were called “Troubleshooters”, were mechanics, electricians, and technicians from our squadron, assigned to take care of any maintenance issues before the launch. They all wore different color shirts, depending on their function. At this point in my young Naval career, I really didn’t pay much attention to them, except when I needed them.

A blue shirted sailor plugged the Intruder into an “external power” source from the ship, and immediately lights came on in the cockpit. I reached down and turned on the radio to listen to the weather information. Silence!  I motioned to the green shirted radio tech and he climbed up the ladder, took a look, then opened a panel in the side of the aircraft, and began installing a new radio.

At that point, I checked my fuel gauges, and realized that this Intruder did not have a full tank of JP-4.  I motioned to the purple shirted fuel guy.  Immediately he pulled over a fuel line, connected it to the aircraft, and began fueling.  Then my bombardier/navigator informed me that our navigation system was having problems.  We motioned for another of the “Twelve”, who climbed up his ladder and began running some checks. It was then that we discovered that our radar was inoperative, and soon, one more of the green shirted “Twelve” began making repairs up front.

Finally these problems were corrected, and we were ready to start the engines.  I gave the signal to start the air “huffer”, which turned the engines, and nothing happened.  A value in the port engine was stuck closed.  Two mechanics immediately had the side of the engine compartment open, and fixed the problem.  However as soon as the engine fired up and the hydraulic pumps began working, red fluid began squirting out from under the port wing. Two hydraulic techs motioned me to kill the engine, and they went to work replacing a fitting.  In a few minutes, they were finished, and we started both engines without further incidents.

Following the signals of a yellow shirted taxi director, we moved the Intruder to the catapult. As the catapult officer gave me the signal to go to full power, I noticed all Twelve of the troubleshooters standing off to the side, visually making a final check of my jet.  It was then that I realized each one of those twelve had been vigorously involved with me and “my jet” to get it ready for launch. That’s when it dawned on me:  They considered this Intruder “their” jet.

I went to full power, checked the aircraft systems one more time, and gave a snappy salute to the catapult officer, indicating that we were ready to launch.  In less than a few seconds, the steam catapult fired, and we were airborne and climbing out.

However something was different as we ascended through the humid Indian Ocean sky on this day.  I wasn’t alone anymore.  Besides my bombardier/navigator, there were twelve other men who were flying with us that morning.  They had been the ones actually responsible for getting the Intruder off the deck of the Enterprise.  I was just along for the ride.  I suddenly was struck with the importance of teamwork in getting the mission of that day accomplished.  It wasn’t about “me and my jet” any more.  It was about appreciating the collective efforts that made that Intruder fly.

 

   Twenty Five Years ago, I left on a two-week trip to take relief supplies to Miskito Indian refugees from the Sandinista war in Nicaragua.  Over the next years, I witnessed medical teams coming to help the sick and dying; teachers coming to train other teachers and establish schools, pastors coming to make disciples and train church leaders, and builders arriving to construct schools, houses, airplane hangers, and clinics.  Others who couldn’t come instead sent money to buy school supplies, food, medicines, and pay teachers.  I can safely say that in those early years, it was the efforts of many that caused thousands of Miskito Indian refugees to be helped, encouraged, healed, educated, and lead to Christ. There was a common attitude that I picked up from most of them:  This was their project. It hasn’t changed. 

   The Discipleship project that is happening each day in Nicaragua is not “Mike and Laura’s Project”.  We are simply playing our parts in teaching, administrating, fund raising, and just being there to encourage our Miskito brothers and sisters in their work.  Much of the real work is done by many of you.  It is truly a team effort. Nothing happens without your prayers; very little happens without your financial gifts.  Prayers and Financial gifts are the fuel that gets “this aircraft off the deck.” 

    Paul told his friends in Corinth:

 

   Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.                                                                         1 Cor 12:27

The key words here are “Together” and “Necessary”.   Here’s why:

 

-If Truman and our staff of 84 teachers and administrators decide not to do their jobs, and

-If we decide not to make any more Rio Coco Bead jewelry, not to send out newsletters, not to send any more money to Nicaragua, and not go there ourselves on a regular basis, and

-If you decide not to pray for our teachers and students, and decide to not send your financial gifts,

-Then the project will slowly diminish, teachers will become impoverished, students will not receive their academic and Bible lessons, schools will soon close, and the demonic forces which have ruled the Rio Coco for so long will fill the spiritual void...

But on the other hand:

 

-If Truman, Danilo, Augusto, Onofre, and our many school teachers show up for work every day, prepared for their classes, and;

-If our office staff does our administration job with diligence and vision, and;

-If You take the time to pray for the specific prayer needs included in each newsletter and support your sponsored children, missionaries, discipleship programs and building projects with your financial gifts;

-Then Together We Are Making Disciples, and experiencing an incredible adventure with God that we will later be reminded of as we stand before Him on that Final Day.

It is a Team Effort.  We must all play our part for God’s plan to happen, lives to be touched, and individual destinies changed.  It’s amazing to see how God has planned for us all to work together with Him to accomplish something of eternal value.

We appreciate all of you who consider this“Our Project” and are personally involved through your prayers, gifts, and words of encouragement.  We know that it does not happen without you. MB l

 

A Letter from Danilo Cunningham

 

Editor’s note:  Danilo is one of our administrators for our project in Nicaragua.  He went to high school in Washington, ministry school in Israel, and was an intern at Hope Chapel in Maui.  At age 30, he is a bright light on the Rio Coco! Please pray about joining his support team.

Aloha and naksa from Waspam Nicaragua!

I am doing great! I am working taking care the Christian ministry in education for Seek The Lamb. I enjoy doing my job! Our father in heaven is always around me in every moment and every circumstances.. The best thing in our life is being connected with our lord every moment in His ministry.

Our ministry is going well. All the staff member are working here with the student curriculum for the first  exam for the first  semester of the year 2008. In addition, we are doing a lot of different activities in many different schools on the villages like training our teachers, helping the pastors and Sunday school teachers.  We have also been making lots of trip on the river taking food and school supplies to the villages.

I was in Managua last week buying many teacher and student school materials.  We were blessed by our father to have the money to buy many notebooks, papers, and things for the classrooms. Thanks to many of you, our students and teachers have a lot what they need.

Our building construction are going well. Thomas Eden is the leader of our carpenter team, and he is doing a great job. I went for visit with the team who is working on school repair, and fixing our buildings. They did a and excellent job that you will liked.   We are already done with the Living Creek  and Klampa School building repairs and painting jobs. Thanks to God because he is with us every moment helping us to so much in every circumstance.

Most of our teachers are coming here in Waspam to have the teacher training right before and after Easter for 12 days..  We got help from some organization for their food and a place to sleep. We will take care of all the transportation and will help them with some more training while they are here.

Onofre, Augusto and my self are invited go to teach at a  pastoral training conference up river in a town named San Alberto.  The conference is for 5 days and I am taking wit me some of our teachers like Pelayo Solano, Dennis Olayo, Humberto Felipe.  These guys are good Bible teachers who are also pastoring and teaching our Project Ezra classes.  We will also we would take with us some of our teachers who also our Sunday school teachers and some of the pastors from down river to participate in that event with the rest of the people.

We like to be at these conferences, because we have some things to say to encourage our friends.  Onofre and Augusto went with my father Truman to Israel to study with Randy Smith in 1997.  I went a few years later for a year at the Worship School.  God gave us many things to learn, and now we are having time and invitations to share. We all enjoy our mission at these pastor conferences.

  Here is my Prayer list.  Please pray for these things:

1. For all the building construction that we have people working downriver in Sawa.

2. We have some need for the reparation of the school building on the Rio Coco down river on different villages.

3. Some finances for the pastoral training conference in San Alberto the second week in April.

4. Prayer for my personal inspiration wisdom and knowledge  for our administration team and teahers of Seek the Lamb ministry on down river.

 

That is all for now.

I will say thanks so much for your reading my letter.

May God Bless You.

Aloha                               Danilo

Project Ezra Concepts

  

We are involved in an incredible adventure in Nicaragua.  There are some words whic describe our experience over these past 24 years.

                            

Epic

Epics are incredible stories involving heroic figures accomplishing something much greater than themselves. Our Epic began 19 years ago on a two-week mission trip to help Nicaraguan refugees in the jungles of Honduras and deliver tons of relief cargo.  Heroic figures like Capt. Neil of Eastern Airlines showed up in 1985 to fly much of the cargo out in his own twin engine airplane.

Sharon and Earl Washburn, an engineer and bi-lingual school teacher, arrived in 1986 to begin Project Ezra by training the first four teachers.  Victoria Palacios, a professor at the National University in Honduras, provided strategic teacher training over the next few years.  Many families and businesses in the United States sacrificially gave of their finances and prayers to pay the teachers and buy schoolbooks and school supplies. One of the great heroes of this epic is Truman Cuningham, a refugee who set everything aside, and agreed to work as a volunteer to direct the project.  However the greatest Hero is Jesus Christ Himself, who continually showed His presence in making everything happen.

Majestic

Throughout our years of ministry in Project Ezra, the relief project in Israel, and our other discipleship projects, we have always seen the hand and presence of God in directing us to accomplish His plan to touch many souls in Central America, the Middle East, and the United States.   He has been there to inspire ideas, give us specific steps, and provide for everything along the way.

We began the school project with no budget, no organization, and no real long term plan, yet God has had His purpose from the start.

Acts 4:13 describes Peter and John as “ordinary men with no special training” (gr.idiota) who performed miracles.  Our years have been filled with ordinary men and women whom God has used to literally perform miracles in bringing practical Christianity to thousands.  Many arrived to help serve on medical and construction teams.  Others came to train teachers, pastors, and Sunday School teachers.  Most stayed at home and provided the essential prayer and financial support.

Through all the individuals who have been part of the team, we see the nobility, dignity, and grandeur of our Risen Savior.  We have felt His compassion to provide emergency relief to Miskito Indians in Central America, as well as families in Israel.  We have seen His desire to educate underpriviledged children, teaching them to “fish rather than just giving them a fish”, and giving them hope.  We have heard His command to “Make Disciples” wherever He takes us, giving many thousands the ultimate hope for the future. This ministry has been filled with many majestic moments of His presence.

Impact

We all have a deep inner desire to accomplish something that is significant, lasting beyond our own life times; something that really does make a difference.  This is very evident when you walk through many of the archeological digs in the Middle East and Central America.

From the beginning of the project, God has given us eternal objectives in bringing many into His family, allowing them to receive life without end, and equipping them to lead productive lives that are pleasing to God.  He has led us to begin educational programs like Project Ezra, which has resulted in many students embracing Christianity, and later becoming pastors and Sunday school teachers.  43 of our current Project Ezra Miskito teachers are our former First Grade students. Eight are pastors in their villages.  Many others are involved in their local church ministries.  Our Bible seminars given by Dr. Randall Smith, and Laura and Michael Bagby, are equipping many in the United States and Nicaragua in practical Biblical understanding and ministry skills.  All of these programs are directed toward purposes that will last forever.  We are not leaving our marks on humanity that will lay in the dust of future archeological digs.  Rather, we will spend eternity with all the individuals that are touched by this ministry.

Smiles

Once we enter into relationship with God, and realize what He has done for us, it is only natural that we do things that are pleasing to God- things that will make Him smile.

In 1980, Cubans came to the Coco River in Nicaragua and took over the schools.  They brought with them their militaristic textbooks.  The second grade math book used drawings of AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades to teach addition.  The Cubans with their Sandinista comrades told the Miskito children that there was no God.  Often they would gather a group of children and ask them to pray to God for candy.  After some cries “God give us candy”, they would say: “Now ask President Daniel Ortega to give you candy”.  As the children began yelling out, they begin throwing pieces of candy out to the crowd.  The parents of these children were very upset with these tactics, and resistance to the Sandinista atheistic rule soon developed.

Many of those little children who were told by those Cuban teachers that there was no God are now teachers themselves.  They are also committed Christians- many teaching the Bible to the next generation of Miskito children.

Our plan is to take some of these teachers to Cuba, and begin a Christian school project.  We have been invited this year to travel to Cuba and teach at a Christian camp meeting.  We would like to take some of our Miskito teachers along with us to tell the Cuban people that indeed there is a God!  We think that this will bring smiles to God’s face. We hope that this is the first step in a long term project to send Miskito missionaries to Cuba, the Spanish speaking part of Morocco, and other places where they can blend in with the locals.

Vision

We arrived in one of the most primitive corners of the world in 1984, working with people who considered themselves the poorest people on the planet, unable to do anything for themselves.  Realizing that Christianity was very fresh –arriving in the early 1920’s with Moravian and Catholic missionaries- we saw the opportunity to bring true relational Christianity and Biblical discipleship to these Miskito Indians.  We knew that the sign that we had completed our job would be when this culture, which had never sent a missionary to any other land, would begin taking the Gospel to others outside their region and culture.  Last year Danilo Cuninngham traveled to Mexico with the Hope Chapel team to work with Indian children.  To our knowledge, this was the first Miskito Missionary experience.  We hope that it will not be the last.

After God allowed us to take our Three Miskito Amigos to Israel in 1997 to study the Bible on location, we realized that these three were experiencing the Bible through the eyes and understanding of those First Century believers, bypassing hundreds of years of European/American interpretations of the Scriptures. They easily assimilated their study into Miskito culture, and are now teaching the Bible in refreshing culturally sensitive way.  Danilo Cuninngham followed in 2000 with a year of study at the School of Worship in Jerusalem.  He also jumped many years of Western interpretations in understanding the Scriptures and applying the Biblical principles to his culture. Anthropologists tell us that these are critical steps in making true disciples in foreign cultures.  We are blessed to be part of this process.

God has given us a experience that proves that Christianity is real, and that the principles in the Bible work.  He has brought a team together of front line workers, administrators, teachers, and financial partners who are reaching people groups in remote regions for the Lord.  This is a work that is producing eternal fruit, and manifesting God’s presence in the lives of all of us who are involved.  There is no higher calling, no greater purpose in life.                         MB

Why We Keep Going Back….

People have wondered the reasons why we do what we do– continually returning to a Fourth World environment year after year.  It is never the PLACE we are, but rather the PEOPLE we are with.

IT IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. 

IT IS THE ONLY THING WE TAKE WITH US INTO THE NEXT LIFE.  The things that we do WITH GOD and for God will remain, but all the other temporal trappings will pass away.  That which we do with God and for Him is inevitably WITH people and FOR people….it is not about the location, task, program and/or our busyness, but it is all about LOVE.

LOVE FOR GOD AND LOVE FOR OTHERS.

SIMPLE.

We continue to help and serve our Miskito brothers and sisters because of our relationships with them and the compassion we have felt within our own hearts for them.  We have seen and felt the needs they have in their lives and realize that  God had this work planned a long time ago for us to do. 

Who are the people that God has brought into our lives to care for, relate to , give to,  get to know and love. This is one of our main questions in our lives.

We are definitely motivated by relationships  There is no greater joy than to be where God wants us to be with those He wants us to be with.  Our lives are “rich”, full, contented and complete because of those relationships…..first with our God and then to His people surrounding us.  There is overflowing abundance in the middle of God’s will and those in our path.

We really appreciate those of you who have come alongside of us to partner in the Lord’s work.  It has been a fruitful ride with even greater opportunities that lie ahead.  We are all blessed to have the opportunity to walk with God and be driven by God and His purposes.

We need Him and we do need you.

We are in a place of extreme need financially and would truly appreciate your prayers and sacrifice. 

Laura

Project Ezra Schools Are Special!

By Augusto Vicente

School Superintendent

Greeting to all of you from the Rio Coco.  I want to tell you about our 17 Project Ezra schools.

Our school system exists in a region that has very special problems that make success difficult.  There is a very high illiteracy rate among the adults, various levels of poverty among the people, and little attention from the central government of Nicaragua, which is far away in distance and mind.  They don’t think too much about the Miskitos.

We began our classes on February 3, with all the teachers in their post in 17 villages from Waspam to Cabo Gracias at the end of the river.  This is a very stretched out school district- about 60 miles, and I travel from one end to the other at least once and often twice a month.  The distance between the schools is a problem, and getting the supplies there and making our supervision trips is very expensive.  We spend a lot of money on gasoline and put many hours on the boat motors.  We began classes with 1676 students in grades kinder thru 6.

We operate our school in a very different manner than the government schools.

1)  We provide transportation for all the teachers to their posts in the villages along the river.  The government does not have any gas money to do this, so the teachers have to get to their schools anyway they can;

2)  We make supervision trip to each school twice a month.  The government schools have a visit by a supervisor maybe twice a year;

3)  We have constructed houses for our teachers in some of our remote villages where they can live and relax. The government tells their teachers to sleep anywhere they can.  This is important when a teacher is away from his home village, where his house is.  Usually when we have sent teachers to other villages in the past, they have to rent a house or a room in another’s home.  This has been expensive and created many problems.  We like our teachers in those remote villages to be rested and ready for school.

4)  We are responsible to take the monthly salaries to the teachers.  The government requires their teachers to come to Puerto Cabeza or Waspam -which can take up to three days travel- to receive their monthly checks.  This means many days away from the classroom.  Our teachers don’t have to leave their classes to receive their salaries;

5)  We provide our teachers with pencils, pens, paper, rulers, dictionaries, calculators, and other teacher supplies.  The government gives none of this to their teachers;

There is a great demand for more Seek The Lamb teachers in more villages along the river.  The government knows that we all do a good job with our students.  The people in the villages know that we teach the Bible, and they like that.  Our first objective is to let the children know about Jesus.  They are happy to study the Bible and sing the choruses.

Right now, we have two big needs that maybe you can help us with.

1)         We need sports equipment- baseballs, bats, gloves, & soccer balls.  Each of our schools wants to have a baseball team and soccer team.  We want to begin competition between our schools, and use sports to train our students.  Now we have drug problems in our region from the cocaine traffic from Columbia.  We want to offer the young people a healthy recreation so that they will not go down this destructive road.

2)  We also need marching bands in each of our schools for our holiday celebrations. This means drums.   Our children like to march, and this is good for our national holidays.

Can you help us by praying that God will provide this sports equipment and drums?  The government cannot help us, but we know that God can.  Maybe you can send Mike some of your gloves, bats, and balls so that he can ship them here to us.

I am sending this through my friend Michael Bagby, who said that he would help me translate my Spanish into English.  You have been very good friends to my people.  I know that God is blessing you as you help all of us.  I hope that you can see for yourself someday what God is doing.

I send you a great “Howdy Howdy” and “Aloha”.

Augusto

Some Conclusions after visiting the Rio Coco

I’m writing this from Waspam, the Capital of the Rio Coco in Nicaragua.  I have spent the past week here enjoying the food in Myrna’s kitchen, the warm breezes, no telephones ringing, as wells as the roosters, cows, & birds who begin their conversations very early in the morning.

I have also been enjoying talking with Truman, Danilo, Augusto, and Onofre, and Sofia, as well as some of our teachers.  It has been a very relaxing time to sit and hear the hearts of these guys.

I have come to some conclusions:

These guys do a lot with a little.  Our monthly budget is very small compared to other projects in this region, yet we have consistently produced results that have caused other projects and government officials to turn their heads in wonderment.  In fact, this week alone two government departments- the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health have formally asked us for financial help (for a truck to transport the school materials, and food for the patients in the clinic!)

These four take things personally when it comes to this project. They are truly owners of Project Ezra- seeing it grow from an idea in 1985 to now producing young adults capable of leading their communities.  I know for a fact when they are short of money to buy something, they invest portions of their own meager salaries.

They are called to do what they do, and they enjoy their work.  Our region is a place where many Miskitos don’t want to go, yet these four and our staff of 46 teachers “Go where no man wants to go” and do their jobs with dedication.

They are good at what they do. Truman is such a people person.  He loves to talk.  He can make anyone feel welcome and part of the conversation.  He looks for ways to bring Jesus into the conversation or share some Godly wisdom.  Augusto has been selected by the new regional government to be the education supervisor for the entire river.  All the Ministry of Education people now work for him.  It is amazing, and he is very respected and very professional.  Onofre gets excited about opportunities to teach the Bible, and he is one of the very best here on the Rio Coco- everybody acknowledges that.  Finally Danilo is such a solid rock when it comes to being focused and purposeful in his time.  He takes opportunity with many to share the things that he learned in Israel and Maui.  Many are being touched here by him.

I love working with these guys!  They care for me. They are fun to be around.  We laugh a lot.  We get serious a lot as well.  When it is time to work, we work. They perform many small acts of kindness for me that I really appreciate.  I can’t imagine working with any one else here on the river. 

These guys can accomplish anything that we place before them.  They are in such a favorable position with the communities, with the government, and with the Lord.  Any plans that the Lord has for them will be completed.  And any resources that we send them will be well used. 

We who provide them prayer, financial, and administrative support are fortunate to be on their team.  Why do I say this?

Here’s a Truth to tuck away for future use:

One day we will all stand before the Lord and He will ask us two questions:

1)  What did you do with my Son?

2) What did you do with the things that I gave to you- your time, your resources, your love?  Did you spend them on my purposes or your own?

How we answer Question #1 decides where we spend Eternity. 

How we answer Question #2 decides what we will do in the next life.

There will be crowns and rewards for those who did much with the things God has given them.  The Bible is very clear that we are rewarded for those things of God that we personally accomplished, as well for those things that we helped others with.  We share our rewards with our team mates – our partners in spiritual endeavors.  1 Samuel 30 explains these important principles.

On that Great Day when God calls Truman, Augusto, Danilo, and Onofre forward to receive their rewards for their work on the Rio Coco, according to the Bible, anyone who assisted them will share in their rewards.

Believe me when I say that their reward will be great in the next world.  They have been faithful and accomplish way beyond their means. In this regard, we who stood behind them with our prayers, finances, and other help will be very happy and very rewarded ourselves.  This is a fact.

Remember, when we die, we leave it all here, except what we have sent ahead.

Truman, Augusto, Danilo, and Onofre and all of our teachers make coming here very worthwhile.  Even though my body says that it is often hot, buggy, and uncomfortable here, my spirit says this is a place of true joy and richness. These men are a true blessing to me, and many others.  Just to be part of what God is doing though them makes it all worthwhile.

We have great favor with the communities and government officials here.  Let’s take advantage of this time!