October 2025 Conchshell Chronicles
It's A Good TIme To Be Alive!
In 2013, two years after opening the Rio Coco Cafe on Utila, we met Karl Trow, who became one of our family over the years. Now he has a family of his own and last month we shared a meal with Karl, his mother Trish, his wife Lisa and their son Charles.
Recently I watched a video of a young lady with beautiful tattoos on her hand. She said:
I can’t tell you if God exists but I have seen evil.
This week I bought my first Bible. I’m going to church for the first time.
We have seen things in these past five years that none of us expected! Nations locked down for months; Travel restrictions; Schools closed; Millions forced to take an untested vaccine; Anxiety and Depression widespread through our society; Millions of migrants crossing European and American borders and the resulting cultural conflicts; the Rise of Overt Antisemitism; an ongoing war in Europe that has killed or wounded over 1,400,000 soldiers and over 50,000 civilians; a terror attack on Israeli communities that killed 1195 civilians and wounded 3400 more; the slaughter of over 40,000 Christians in Nigeria by Muslim militias.
Yes, Evil is out in the open and in plain sight.
Many people have observed this and concluded they need answers to resolve the mental anguish these events have caused. The internet is filled with explanations and solutions, but we know that there is only one- the God of the Bible. Like the young lady with the beautiful hand tattoos, many are turning toward Christians and looking for answers.
How will we receive them? With compassion, open arms, and Biblical Truth? Or with religious rules or “You are perfect as you are” theology?
Laura and I love meeting these people at the Rio Coco Café, at our gym, at the pickleball courts, and at our favorite restaurants around town. We ask them their name, where they are from, and give them a free drink card to come to the café. We try to be friendly, and listening. Over the years we have developed deep friendships in these places we frequent.
We have four study groups at the Café in Vero where we often invite these new friends to. As they come we get the opportunity to talk about our Creator in these venues.
Jesus said we are to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’ to those people around us. In Biblical context “salt” means being loyal faithful unoffendable friends who offer random acts of service and kindness to those who He brings across our path. “Light” are these other’s centered acts that touch their heart. The reality is that God is pursuing these people, and we are part of His invitation into His Family.
What an exciting time to be alive!
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16
Tomorrow, be a friend to someone. Show kindness to them. Help them in some way.
Listen to them. Let God use you to show them His love.
Watch what happens! Your life will take on extraordinary purpose. Michael
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. Jesus in John 4:35
Utila Honduras Café Ministry
We are finishing our staff housing apartment this month, and we will reopen the Rio Coco Café in January for the entire year. The project has grown from a simple two bedroom/kitchen/bathroom to a ground floor meeting room as well as larger bedrooms for more staff housing.
Now a Special Request:
Please pray that God will send us four more staff missionaries for 2026. We would like a young person who is called to reach out to European, Canadian, English, Irish, Australian, American and Asian sports enthusiasts who travel to this Western Caribbean Island for their Scuba and Free Diving certifications and come into our café for good food, coffee, conversations and Bible studies.
Our missionaries are baristas, cooks and bakers who serve these travelers with hospitality and friendship, which all are searching for! We are located in the middle of five dive schools, and participate in volley ball, soccer, open mic night, trivia night and karaoke night at the various schools around us.
We provide housing, some meals and living expenses.
Utila attracts many professionals who are taking a break from their jobs and looking for the next adventure and true meaning in life. These fields are ripe for harvest!
We have seen much fruit since we opened in 2011.
Please contact Michael at gmbagby@gmail.com. Aloha!
Nicaragua
Nutie and Tom Keogh will be returning to Waspam Nicaragua this week to work with our Seek The Lamb Team and Young Life Nicaragua. We have been supporting the Young Life Bible Club in Waspam and now we are heading downriver to our communities to introduce the Bible Club to our families there.
The Young Life team will consist of Waspam B.C. leader Bency as well as Danila Cunningham and other emerging young second generation leaders. We hope to establish Bible Clubs in our school district communities.
The Waspam Bible Club as been very effective in teaching the Bible and encouraging a true experience with God among many of our former students. They started four years ago in Puerto Cabezas - the largest Miskito city on the Caribbean coast, and expanded to the Rio Coco two years ago. Now we are headed downriver to the most isolated corner of Central America- the Seek The Lamb school district.
Please pray for open hearts and enthusiasm for this next Seek The Lamb outreach to these communities we have been working with since 1985.
Sawa Pastors Conference 2002 with Craig Englert Hope Chapel Maui
Lamb Bleatings
The Birthday Girl!
My Dad’s anniversary of his going to heaven is October 31st ; All Saints Eve.
I think of my Mom and Dad on a daily basis with great honor and respect…more now than I ever did while they were here on earth with me.
My one regret with them is that I didn’t appreciate them even more while they were alive on earth with me. I let many moments slip without giving them acknowledgement of my gratitude for who they were and all that they did. They were the most generous, considerate, selfless humans ever…always thinking what was best and most for us . They sacrificed to give to us. I only realized how much when I began having my own children. Many revelations and insight followed as I began to understand more deeply how much my parents loved us with such loving purity of heart and sacrifice.
Hindsight is 20 20…..all of my would haves, should haves, could haves turn into a vengeance to apply myself better for the gift of Time I have been given by my Creator, Teacher and Lover of my Soul. I am sure that my mom and dad soar in the highest heaven with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords….unencumbered and completely FREE. Christ came to set us all free not only when we die and get released into the afterlife but here on this beautiful planet which is the battleground for our souls. It is all out warfare. Seen and unseen.
Purpose, perspective and a heavenly vision with God’s goals has been my help in times of trouble. In this world, we will all have trials and tribulation, but Jesus reminds me often and says, “I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. I HAVE COME TO SET YOU FREE and I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU, I AM THE BEGINNING AND THE END AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I HOLD ALL THE KEYS TO EVERY DOOR I WANT OPEN.”
I am thankful to the Lord for being the Gardener of the earth and my soul. My dad was also a gifted gardener and taught all of us about gardening and tending our yards. My daughter Mikaela is also a gifted gardener like Daddy.
I love her yard. Mikaela has since transformed their yard into one that is my favorite on her street. One day I showed up because she said she was doing some yard work. As I enjoyed the many happy plants surrounding us, a butterfly started to circle around me ( God has often used butterflies, soaring eagles/birds, flowers, hummingbirds, mango to speak to me directly)
I stood very still and found myself elated with the butterfly dancing around me. Then I had this sudden urge to want him to land on my hand since this has happened in the past. I began to stick out my hand and wish that he would land, but he just continued to flutter coming close then going farther. As he approached me closer I felt the sudden urge to want to “help” him be nearer to me by using my grabbing skills. I suddenly heard a quiet whisper say, “grab and control.’ In my head, I repeated it loudly, ‘GRAB AND CONTROL . Is that what I do Lord???? “ My answer was intuitive, “YES INDEED, THAT IS WHAT I SEEM TO MANAGE TO DO OFTEN. I GRAB AND CONTROL.”
“Lord , I am so sorry for often grabbing moments and doing whatever I want, however I want to and not considering you and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I want to line up my every part with you…I need you to Control my life because you are the Only One who can and is able to do so with divine perfection. LIVE LORD JESUS.”
We thank all of you who are with us with your prayers and support. The Battle can be fierce. Laura
Rio Coco Beans Coffee
Sumatra Rain, Papua New Guinea, Silky Java, Timor White Star
These are our delicious Pacific coffees that we roast weekly and serve in our cafes as well as shipping many bags to our friends from Florida to Virginia to Montana to California to Hawaii.
Nicaraguan Altisimo, Honduras Blue Mountain, Colombia Mile High, El Jaguar, Papa Jack, Truman's Negro FIno.
These are our American coffees that we roast light and dark, each bringing out exquisite flavor notes. We serve and ship these as well!
Mexican Natural Decaf and Honduras Water Process Decaf.
Delicious decaffeinated coffees!
My current favorites: Silky Java and El Jaguar.
Join our coffee club and receive 15% off your monthly order.
Please join our Humanic Team!
Seek The Lamb Giving
Please consider a gift this month to our building project on Utila, our outreach on the Rio Coco Nicaragua, or supporting one of our team members.
Here is the link to our secure giving page.
Thank you!
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