Conchshell Chronicles

Whenever we “do” art of any kind, we must first prep. We get supplies needed. We think about what and how we are going to create our masterpiece. We proceed with a plan always driving us from a place of intent and effort. 
Along the way of this creative endeavor, we may give in to distraction that leads us away from our intended work of art.  Our focus gets lost. We cease to create.
We approach the table of our creative work and then choose a distraction like cleaning something along the way or zeroing in on thoughts, feelings, & reactions. The artwork gets put to the side. Incomplete.
Undone.

We have a new coffee that at our roastery in Vero Beach that actually comes from the Coco River in Nicaragua. Since our profits from our coffee business go toward our school project on the Coco River, this is a very nice connection.

As most of you know, we have been providing education for Miskito Indian children along the Coco River since 1985. This year 2022 is our 37^th year educating children and adults in one of the most remote corners of Central America, where not too many outsiders have come.

.........Like the process of taking hard tasteless coffee seeds and transforming them into a pleasing, nutritious beverage that provokes good thinking along with good others-centered living, we are being transformed as well from self-serving individuals into a community of God’s Kingdom on Earth. For a coffee bean, it takes the application of heat to initiate that transformation. God uses ‘heat’ in our lives to allow us to realize our need for Him, and Him personally, not just the ‘blessing’ that He brings. Be it personal disappointments, relational issues, our economy, our health, or even the cultural climate that we find ourselves, He is the source of all we need and really all we desire in this life.

 

My Youngest daughter Moselle once went to an Encounter at our church when she was still in grade school. She came back from this experience and   declared to us that, “Everything is different now! It’s all changed!” 

Michael and I had a brief second of a thought, “How different can it be for this young little sweet life?!”

From that start until this day, she has led an extraordinary existence choosing the high and narrow road keeping, maintaining and living out the priority of her relationship with God and those around her.

It all started off back in 1985 when a Miskito refugee who had been a teacher in Nicaragua approached us asking help in starting a school in Sawa, on the Honduran side of the Rio Coco. The war which began in 1981 against the Sandinista soldiers and their Cuban, Russian and Bulgarian allies had cooled down, and the Miskito Resistance forces now controlled all of the lower Coco River. 104 villages had been destroyed in 1981-82, with fruit trees cut, pigs and cows killed, and homes and churches burned. 60,000 Miskito refugees had fled to a remote corner of Honduras.

Swirling Waters on the Rio Coco  Thanks for all your prayers for our project director Danilo Cunningham and his mother Mirna. He is slowly recovering from his stroke in December....

As I drive to work each morning, I have a plan for what I need to accomplish for that day, where it is roasting coffee, leading one of our Bible study groups, repairing a piece of equipment, printing labels and signage, paying bills, or writing newsletters. What changes everything is when I pause in my thoughts and say simply “Lord this is your day. Please let it goes as you plan, and give me specific directions so that I can do the things you want me to do. Use me to make a difference in the lives of those you place across my path today.”

Once I make that declaration and request, the day is His, and the pressure is off for me to perform. Actually the flow becomes more pleasant and ultimately effective as I pay attention to His cues in each situation.

Tis the Season to be jolly”…..            

Photo: Laura at the ancient hot spirngs pools at Heiropolis                

A daily  reminder for me because I understand that it is a privilege to have breath and life. Life is given to us as a gift and at any given moment it can be  taken away.  I have watched it come and go with loved ones near and far.  We have shared with you some of our losses of dear ones which we are currently grieving a few.

It’s like this: When God saw us drowning in our life choices, He didn’t throw us a book on how to swim. Instead, He jumped in Himself and saved us! Those of us who realized that we were drowning, and needed a savior are mighty grateful for what He has done.  Because God first demonstrated His love for me,  I began grow in my love for Him. Now I realize that He is my source of achievement, joy, contentment, and peace with those around me. Yes, I still stray off the path of righteous living through my words and deeds, but He doesn’t love me any less! He is always there looking out for me.