Christmas Joy

It's Geoff this time . . .

The heart of Christmas is joy, but sometimes the seasons don’t go that way.  This has been one of our toughest Christmas' ever. We have had a crowded house (normally a joy), Mary was very sick with Malaria (one of the worst cases we have had) and one of our staff members lost a 9 month old baby.  So keeping our focus on the joy of the season has been tough.  

But, honestly that’s the key to adversity.  Jesus promised us hard times would come, but He encouraged us to look up.  That is, keep our eyes focused on Him.  As we pass through hard times it is crucial we keep our eyes focused on the source of our strength.  The joy of the Lord is our strength.

On Friday I got a call from Ronald. He and Rebecca were at his home district visiting people for Christmas.  Their son had been very sick, but he seemed to be improving, so I encouraged him that I would pray and didn’t think much more about it.  But then on Saturday he called back and said that things had worsened.  Over the next 4 hours things went from worse to terrible, they tried to rush to a larger town after the hospital they were in had basically given up.  But 2 hours later the boy had died, it seemed to be a case of cerebral malaria.  So hard to see a baby so loved by his parents die of what essentially is a treatable disease.  One of the challenges we faced was the fact that I was scheduled to preach on Sunday, yet I desperately wanted to go and mourn with my friends.  This week in Kasana is the least populated time of the year as many staff are away for the holiday.  That included most of the elders, so with only 2 of us around what was I to do about Sunday?  Well, praise God one of our other staff members was willing to step up with about 12 hours notice (Thanks, Brendon).  So Sunday morning I drove with 6 other people the 5 hour drive to Kaliro district for the burial where I ended up being asked to preach.  After the burial we then turned around and drove home, really makes a long drive.  

As life brings it’s challenges we remember our hope is not in the things of this world, but our hope and our joy is truly in that which is eternal.  

Just before Christmas

we were blessed to go to Jinja and we took Nabukeera and Christine so we were 8 in all, lots of fun.  We enjoyed chicken for Christmas eve, fresh chicken:-) Lots of fruit, Christmas is the time for mangos and jackfruit and as I mentioned lots of people in our house, I don’t think a dinner has passed with less than 8 people at the table in weeks.

As we wind up 2013 may God’s peace, joy and contentment fill your life.  And may 2014 be filled with blessing and drawing closer to your Creator. 

num, num, fresh mangoes in abundance!!!!!

On the way to Jjaaja's house to deliver the Christmas chicken

Nabukeera enjoying some silly goggles and Toby contemplating his next jump in Jinja

One of our five bazillion times we slaughtered jackfruit this season. It seems to be a pretty steady late afternoon snack these days.

The closest thing to snow we have here in Uganda, Kevin's Christmas wish :-)