Why we do what we do...

Yes another blog, that's 2 in less than 24 hours :-)  This is now Geoff...

Have you ever wondered why you do what you do?  What is your work really about, why do you live and what is your purpose?  After returning to Uganda one month ago we have had many varied experiences, some good and some disappointing.

Each time we’ve left Uganda for a season our return has brought some areas of disappointment.  For instance, things for which I (Geoff) have been responsible are found in poor shape or even not working at all.  I have seen entire areas completely fall apart and even some people I’ve walked closely with falling into sin and walking away from God.  This recent season has been no different. During our time in the states there are a number of areas I left when they were moving along well that seem to be struggling as we’ve come back.  Some systems I put in place are no longer working and profits we were seeing are no longer coming in.  There are certainly a variety of frustrations.  If I am not careful I end up asking destructive questions and feeling that all I have been doing is for not.  But, the past two days have helped me to settle some of those questions. These past two days have been a reminder of why we do what we do.  

Monday one of my sons came in the evening for a quick visit and to pick up his goat.  Some of you have heard us talk of Kambo.  He came to the ministry in 2007 as a student at the vocational school and I quickly found I loved him.  He has proven to be one of the hardest workers I have ever met and is so sensitive to the Spirit of God.  He loves to serve and always keeps you in smiles.  Our goat that was given to me a couple of years ago, was actually given to me by his father.  Somewhere in the blog archives you can find the story of “The Holy Goat.” Last year about this time, Holy produced her first baby. “Kili” (pronounced chili) or Kilabo (which in Luganda means gift) is now grown.  I was finding it difficult to have 2 goats around especially since Holy is now pregnant again. So, I called Kambo and told him that I wanted to give him that first born goat.  Since his dad gave me the mom I thought the first fruits should stay in the family.  Well now this short story is getting long . . .  Last night Kambo came over, and as we handed the goat over to him I had a feeling of great satisfaction.  Six years ago I found a young man whose opportunities in life were severely limited, an 8th grade education and little hope of having any productive future.  Today I see a young man who is a fully trained and working builder, a servant of God who loves Christ and who is full of hope.  His work ethic coupled with the skills he learned at NHVI and his faith in God have opened up many doors for productivity and prosperity in his life.  This goat may even prove to be one of the items that he uses to pay the bride price when he is ready to marry :-) And he often shares with me and others how he praises God for how far God has brought him.  

On Tuesday another young man with whom we have had close relationship over the years came to deliver a carpentry job that he completed for us.  As we were talking he began to open up his heart and share with us some of his thoughts.  He expressed how when he is at home alone he often thinks about how far God has brought him.  Ssenyondo came to NHVI also six years ago as a homeless young man who really had no hope of anything.  He had dropped out of school after 6th grade and spent most of his time using drugs and just idling with his friends.  To tell you the truth I never believed he would finish the program and graduate with carpentry skills because he would come late or not at all. He even came stoned a number of times.  Yet over the 2 1/2 years he was a student at NHVI God really worked in his life.  Over time he started coming more consistently, he began to listen closely to the devotions and actually take the counsel that was being offered to him.  At his graduation he testified, hands shaking that God does miracles and he was the proof.  Again, my story is growing long.  Today when he came over he began telling us how when he is alone and thinks about where God has brought him he often thinks of us and prays for us.  He began to talk about how he feels he can never repay us for what we have done in his life and so he just prays for us.  We had a great time sharing with him how it wasn’t really us but it was God who did the great work.  And how none of us can repay God for what He does in our lives, but that we should live for Him, giving Him all of our hearts.  

These are the reminders for me of why we do what we do.  The hearts of men deeply need acceptance and to know the love of Christ. There is nothing greater for me than when God uses us to lead others to that place.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Thanksgiving week!  Lots for which to be THANKFUL!! Geoff had his first blood work complete this past week and it all looked good!  We sent it off via email to the U.S.  On Sunday he shared about the advent season and how we as a church will be participating this year. He also spoke appreciation later in the afternoon to those who have served in our Sunday School programs this year. And in the evening we all traveled to the vocational school site in Kiwoko to be honored by a dinner prepared and hosted by the entire vocational school staff. We found ourselves longing for the pages of that elusive "missionary manual" entitled, "How to graciously eat, Eat, and EAT some more!!!!!!"On Monday Geoff traveled to Kampala to pick up the "new" van we bought. With that behind him, he feels a huge weight off of his shoulders. It took no less than 6 trips through road construction and crammed traffic to get the deal sealed!

Here is the new van!  Sam unloaded the newest lot of juicy pineapples!

Geoff (red hat), Emma--one of our sons with whom Geoff had traveled into town, and Sam

After Geoff arrived home the kids wanted their first ride! Do you think they were excited???

Aaaaaannnnndd, a trip to Kampala in November is never complete without a grasshopper purchase!!

Acacia's birthday is this Friday and Geoff doesn't want to have ANYTHING to do with Kampala for awhile now that the van is home, so he bought her an early birthday present of her favorite grasshoppers. She took them to school that afternoon, but no one wanted to share!  Can you believe it? Her teacher, Danette, was at least brave enough to try, but she said the eyes "staring" at her were a BIG deterrent!

The kids at their new school banda.

Our dear Jesca was so excited about the new van!

Our "hollywood helper" little miss cathy. She comes to work each day with her mom and is such a cutie!

Geoff and the Thanksgiving Turkey that arrived today!

Getting acquainted with tomorrow's meal! :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The brittons

Our Bilingual Dog

Yup. There she is. Our bilingual dog, Bubbly. Being bilingual and all, of course her intelligence is not in question. It's my intelligence that is subject to scrutiny.

It's amazing in my denseness that I even know she is bilingual. Indeed, I have only learned from experience that when she stands where she isn't supposed to, or begins to run away to find that yummy pork bone in the neighbors rubbish pit, or to steal a bit of cast off posho or a coveted piece of jackfruit, it requires two different languages before my commands are obeyed. It has taken me some time to learn this and all the while she has been the clear winner. Who has trained whom here?

Right again, she is so bright she has trained me. English doesn't work anymore, so I've resorted to Luganda. When I holler for her to return to the house as she is slinking away to sure disobedience or when I command her to go back home when I turn and see she is following me out of the compound, I still thoughtlessly used English first. Silly me. She just looks at me, gives me the stupid look coupled with the hopeful look that perhaps this time I will keep using English and not use Luganda to which she actually responds.

Today I headed off to the clinic to retrieve malaria treatment for Geoff. Since the middle of the night he has been achy and progressing toward that tell-tale yuck feeling that screams malaria. We attended the IY handover today in which many of our David family kids were celebrated as they finished a year of hard work in various internships and studies. As soon as that was over we got Geoff's blood tested at the clinic and he went straight to bed. After I received the phone call that confirmed malaria, I traipsed through our compound directly passing by a sunbathing Bubbly. She stayed put, or so I thought. Once I was almost through my short cut to the clinic I felt her warm black fur on my leg. "Go home!" I commanded. I'm such a slow learner. Four times I commanded "Go Home!" to no avail. Not until I sternly spoke in Luganda, "Gende Awaka!" did she respond.

I wonder what else I will learn along the way from this black, furry, four-legged teacher.

Sam's Been Busy

Sam has had a fairly busy and stressful year with gearing up for his PLE and the entrance exam for secondary school. With all of that finished he will not be in school again until February, so we've been engaging him in some activities he's not familiar with -- like BAKING, for instance! Men typically do NO cooking in this culture, unless of course they are young single men who want to eat. But, not being in that category, Sam doesn't feel the need to grace the kitchen with his presence!  Enter me. The first couple of days of his break we asked him to weed some of the bananas, but with that finished, he was bored and idle. Today we employed the "if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat" proverb quite literally as SAM himself made the bread and pie that were served for lunch! Had he not made them, we wouldn't have eaten. I know he didn't enjoy all of the work required for the process, but he sure enjoyed the benefits!  It boosted him quite nicely to hear the kids comment about how nice the bread looked and tasted! And the pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin pie wasn't half-bad, either!!

The reality of coffee

Sam is now finished with an intense year of studies. He's spent since February focused on preparing for the Ugandan government exams which test his knowledge of all he learned in primary these past seven years. Last Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. found him sitting and pouring forth his knowledge stores onto the papers which do much in this country to determine a child's educational future. Then, this recent Monday he sat for the entrance exam for our secondary school. With all that behind him he and Toby then spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week enjoying activities with all the other P7's as a culmination to a year of extra hours of study and review.

Yesterday was Sam's first free day in quite awhile so he and I spent the afternoon at jajja's house. The last time he had been to see her was just before we arrived back. As we approached her compound I saw her seated on the ground attending to her coffee beans which were drying in the sun. Her aged eyes, dimmed by years, struggled to focus on Sam and me. When her ears revealed our identity by our greeting voices, she practically jumped up to greet me. I, too, was overcome with emotion to see her after all these months and so I went down into the dirt on my knees to meet her shriveled arms reaching out to me. We embraced amidst numerous of her blessings and greetings and I was in no hurry to let go!

She instructed Sam to retrieve a mat from inside the house for me to sit on and we sat close together as we shared the news of the past months. Sam joyfully informed Jajja of his completion of exams and P7 week and we learned of how Jajja is being lovingly cared for by various neighbors. Some bring her water, some share of their garden and others sell her cooking oil and vegetables for well below market rate. 

We had brought her food and some money, but it seemed little. Every time I visit Jajja the pangs of poverty grip me. There it is, before my eyes, in my nostrils, and grabbing at my heart. Jajja is old. No one knows how old. It seems she's reported being about 90 for about 7 years, but a true examination of life events would put her in her 80s. Every time we go to the states I wonder if she will be alive when we return. And every time, she is still with us, praise God! As she told Sam and me yesterday, she's ready to die, but she can't because she has her children. These, the ones she loves and has sacrificed so much for, are Namuwonge, Nabukeera, and Sam. And indeed, she has given of everything she has ever had to care for them since her son, their father, died in 1999 when Sam was an infant, and in an increased measure when their mother died in 1994.

On the ground before us were two piles of coffee beans--one green and the other closer to completion of the drying process. I asked how much a kilo she would get for the beans, for this income is some of her only means of contributing to the care of the children and keeping herself alive. The answer? 1,700 shillings a kilo. Before you hear the amount in dollars, think back to your most recent coffee purchase. Is that amount in your mind? Jajja is receiving about 75 cents for two pounds of coffee beans she has tended, picked, dried and delivered to the local purchaser.

This is reality. The reality of coffee. The reality of the way of life in many parts of the world. For Jajja with three young children ages 8, 6, and 2 in 2004, there was no hope of her children receiving an education. Enter New Hope Uganda, caring for the fatherless. All three children were enrolled for free in the primary school and have been taught and nurtured these past roughly 15 years. The house, Jajja's house was built and periodically updated by the staff of New Hope. 

And in one month's time, Nabukeera will rejoin Jajja at their home to care for the grandmother who has sacrificially and lovingly given of herself to these three children. Also, the eldest, Namuwonge just finished a two month stay in which she cared for Jajja by tending the gardens, buying food and cooking and cleaning for her. I am proud of both Namuwonge and Nabukeera for their desire to serve and care for Jajja during this season. In February, Nabukeera will leave for further education and again we will increase our visits to check on her. But, the village caretakers employed by New Hope also check on her frequently and for that we are grateful. 

Thank you to those of you who support us and who support New Hope. Thank you. Your contribution is making a difference in many lives.

Mary

The privilege of helping out

White socks, black flip flops, orange flower placed in hair, shiny belt . . . No, I am not describing some eccentric Aunt.  

Today I had the privilege of helping sponsorship coordinator Jill Pogmore and IY participant Nabukeera photograph about 180 primary school students for their annual sponsorship photo.  As roughly 20 children per class stood to capture their images for their sponsor, Nabukeera kept them in order while Aunt Jill directed them into the best light and I wrote down quick, minimal word descriptions to aid the sponsorship department in identifying the 180+ photographs later next week.

Starting with the very youngest and moving on to the upper levels, we noticed a change in behavior as groups waited their turn. Shy, quiet younger children’s classes gave way to the joking antics and self-conscious stances of young teenagers. As I led the classes, one by one, in single file lines I directed them to follow me--both in direction and behavior. I’d raise one arm and then pump it up and down, hop on my right foot, hop on my left foot, wave with both arms in the air--anything to keep them quickly following and interested in the annual photo session. By the giggles and exaggerated movements that followed me across the primary school compound,  I think my weirdness succeeded in making it a fun hour and a half out of the morning.

If you sponsor a child here at New Hope you will recognize this as a great example of a sponsorship photo of one of our children. Thank you for your loving interaction with your sponsored child through prayers, letters and financial support! If you don't currently sponsor a child here at New Hope I pray that you would consider doing so, as I know both you and the child will enjoy the relationship formed over the years!

Meanwhile, Acacia and Kevin were hard at work over on the secondary side in their own classes with Auntie Danette and their fellow students.  (Toby is participating in P7 week this week.) Not being their teacher has ups and downs. At times during this past month I have missed being “in their business” (educationally--of course I’m still in their business in every other way!) I’ve missed being there as they understand new concepts and master new abilities, but I ‘m thankful that by not being involved in their schooling throughout each day I have the privilege of interacting with more of the New Hope children and to help out like I did this morning with the sponsorship photos. 

It's the 12th

 “Do NOT be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God; and the peace of God which is beyond understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 

Today marks one month since we boarded British Airways in Los Angeles. One month ONLY and one month ALREADY???!!! 

We’ve mostly settled in, though each morning a new organizational task calls out to me!  That’s how it is with types the likes of me--the process of organizing and arranging and planning and finding a place for things never ends for the one with a perfectionist bent. But, I haven’t spent all my time cleaning and moving things. I have also enjoyed a lot of visiting with other staff over dinner or impromptu afternoon visits; spending time in prayer and study with a some of the girls in David Family; researching schools of higher education for some of our kids who are ready to advance educationally beyond New Hope Academy; celebrating graduations with two of our long time David Family children who are now adults; and even answering a few medical queries from other staff. Truthfully, that last one baffles me! There are some very capable nurses on staff these days and I have not been in the hospital or clinic setting for so long compared to them, I feel quite inept!  

But, today does more than simply mark a month of our feet on the ground in Uganda. It is another 12. I’m not trying to conjure up more of this day than God intends, while also not wanting to miss anything God is doing. Why am I even looking at today, the 12th, any differently than yesterday the 11th or tomorrow the 13th?

The 12th.  We landed in Denver, CO, for our “furlough” “home assignment”, whatever, on December 12th, 2012. We were diagnosed with cancer April 12th. We were declared “cancer free” on July 12th, and we left Los Angeles for our beloved Uganda on October 12th.  For those who study Biblical numerology, twelve is the agreed number of God’s government. And, indeed, we  see God’s hand of order and purpose on these past months in which all we could have imagined was taken from our hands and so wonderfully carried by Him. And we are still living under His righteous right hand, praise HIM!

So, today is a look back and a look forward. And as I look I will not be anxious about anything. For, if I have come to more personally and deeply understand anything of worth in these past few months, it is that worry does nothing positive. Thankfulness, on the other hand, dissipates anxiety, exudes joy and propagates peace. 

I am thankful. Thankful for cancer that sharpened our focus on a Good Father. Thankful for people who walked with us through our journey, both in the U.S. and from here. Thankful for the challenges that took so many different forms, but all yielded a deeper dependence on our sovereign, faithful God. And thankful for what He knows is coming and for how it will fulfill His purposes and draw us closer still to Him.

Mary

I am THANKFUL for these kids!  Nabukeera, our dear daughter who has persevered through many trials and is still smiling! Toby, the eternal optomist! Sam, who just finished two important exams--the Primary Leaving Exam and the entrance exam to our secondary school. Kevin, loving life and keeping us entertained with his different voices and impromptu drama throughout the day. Acacia, sweetie and lover of sweets! She helped me last night by making the brownies for dessert when we hosted the Vogt's for supper!

As the exams let out today, a massive group of kids screeched up to our veranda, laughing and joking--certainly letting out the stress of a full day of exams!  Their spirits soared high, but their tires were flat, so we brought out the desired bicycle pump and they fed each tire.  It gave us a few minutes to congratulate them for a day well spent, and to encouragement them for tomorrow.  

I also took the opportunity to arrange with one of them the plans for his birthday cake!  This will be my third time to prepare his CHOCOLATE birthday cake for his party!  It all started a few years ago when I had made treats for Toby’s class and Ssekago was bold enough to ask Toby if I could do a repeat for his upcoming birthday!!!  It is an accomplishment to make a good-looking cake that can be carried either on a bicycle, motorbike or the back of a pick-up truck through a few villages down the road and still look good and taste only of cake (not dusty road) by the time it arrives at the party!!!!! Sooo, Ssekago and I made plans for the first Sunday in December--chocolate again, and I’m happy to be able to bless him!  

In other news, Geoff is doing well. He is managing his time well and is usually able to rest when he needs to take some time out. Thank you for your prayers!  

P7 encouragement!

Tomorrow young people all across Uganda will begin an exam spanning two days. It is their primary leaving exam and will do much to determine their academic future, though we all know that God is the master planner!  Last night we gathered our P7s from David Family together for an evening of encouragement, prayer and fun.  A few others dropped by at just the right time and joined in the fun! Please be praying for them now, Monday and Tuesday as they take the exam.  Then also on next Monday as they will be taking their entrance exam for our secondary school.

Geoff started off the evening with some good words of encouragement from God's truth.

Agnes, Toby and Abraham

This is the class that Toby has studied with the past couple of years. He is sooo happy to be back with them as they enter this next phase of their schooling!  Abraham (in the chair with him in the picture) is his best friend here--the one who challenged him, if you remember, to keep his hair growing from last October until we returned!! Not too ridiculous  of a challenge if we had returned in May, but, alas, the locks were chopped off this past summer when we found out we were going to stay longer!

Sam, Patricia and Christine 

After tea, sweets and prayer we turned our attention to making rubber band bracelets for each one. Acacia showed them how and a few of them, while waiting for others to finish, decided to make their own by hand without the loom.

Acacia, showing how to load and then remove

Patricia and Abraham venturing an attempt at hand making

The boys of P7  Toby, Mark, Abraham, Junju, Michael, Sam and Jesse

Junju, Patricia, Jesse, Abraham, Toby, Mark, Agnes, Michael, Sam, Christine

Some crazy game of running around, dropping to the ground,  and trying not to get swatted with a stick--made for lots of sweaty kids!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Geoff and Uncle Tony made plans for their upcoming visit to son Perez at his secondary school tomorrow afternoon. There is never a dull moment when Uncle Tony is around!!! (By the way, Uncle Tony is Abraham's Dad--fathers and sons keeping up good friendships!!!!)

Bosco Berries

For seven years we have lived in Central Uganda. 

It is an understatement to say we enjoy the people, the work we do, the landscape and a lot of the foods available here. WE LOVE OUR LIVES HERE!!! 

BUT, we have missed the berries of summer. Occasionally, we see strawberries and maybe even blueberries or raspberries for sell at the supermarket in Kampala, but the price is extremely prohibitive! I can't justify paying those prices for a few juicy, sweet bites! 

Last year we were blessed beyond measure when we were introduced to BOSCO BERRIES!  Now, don't go looking in the horticulture books for the likes of such a name. It is our own nomenclature, but are probably closely related to mulberries or huckleberries.

We call them Bosco Berries because our co-worker, Uncle Bosco grows them in his compound, and generously shares with us.

In Uncle Bosco's compound you can find a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He is the proverbial green thumb!  Mangoes, guavas, lemon grass, papaya, tomatoes, maize, beans, numerous flowers and Bosco Berries to name a FEW.

He has invited the kids to pick as many berries as they can each day, provided they also pick some for him at that same time! 

So, they reach and climb and fill plastic containers and always say thank you at the end of the picking.

Then they bring them to me and I transform them into all kinds of treats--treats we missed out on the first six years of our existence here at New Hope. 

Praise God for Uncle Bosco and the introduction of the Bosco Berry to our lives!!!!

Last year, before we left for the U.S. he shared a cutting from his bush. I have seen a few berries on it already!  We're looking forward to an abundance in the next few years. Won't you come and taste of the goodness of the Lord here with us at New Hope? 

Yum. Yum