THE REASON TO ENJOY

The scenery can inspire, the beauty can awe, the food can overwhelm, the enjoyment can captivate.  As it has to so many, both here and across the world the pursuit of pleasure has become the primary goal and yet it is empty of purpose. Today I am seeing how easy it can be for one to lose focus on what it is really about. God has created a world filled with beauty, filled with experiences to be had. His goodness is seen all around us, in nature, in people and the journey through this life. Yet we also must see how these gifts can actually become the things that choke out the word of God and distract us from the main purpose (Luke 8:14). Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes 2:24 that it is great for man to enjoy this life, it is a gift from God. The apostle Paul also had the perspective that living life to the fullest can bring glory to God (Col 3:23), even in the eating and drinking (1 Cor 10:31). The challenge in navigating the pleasures of this life is to not lose sight of why God has made such beauty, why he gives us the chance to celebrate life. IT IS TRULY A GIFT FROM GOD. Colossians 1:16 tells us how all these things, all this beauty and enjoyment is actually for HIM. Yes God has intended us to enjoy his creation, he wants us to live our lives to the fullest enjoying the journey he has us on but it must be done with our eyes focused on Him. The one who all good and perfect gifts come from (James 1:17) and enjoy it as a offering unto him. Not allowing the gift to distract us from the giver and to remember that our call is to build His Kingdom and be fruit bearers where ever we are. In the end let us remember as the Preacher said, "Let us fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man" - Ecclesiastes 12:13

THANKFUL THAT GOD IS GOOD

This morning I am here sitting at a unique location… take a look if you want 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/4°46'02.9%22S+55°31'19.2%22E/@-4.767473,55.5198073,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-4.767473!4d55.521996

It is really causing me to think about so many things but especially taken up by thankfulness for what God has done in our lives. But not just what he has done, but specifically what He has allowed us to see. I still consider myself a young man, only 48 years and I would expect many years remain, but the things I have witnessed are at times amazing. This past week we have celebrated. First Mary and my 20th wedding anniversary and then with the church our annual thanksgiving service. Approximately 800 people jumping, shouting and praising God, (take a look at Facebook for many pictures) We recounted so many things that God has done. The way we have seen God move in people’s lives, seeing HIs character expressed in so many people, so many cultures, in nature and so many experiences around this world.  How he has revealed himself is overwhelming!

But I don’t want to focus only on what I can see…We often are caught up thinking about what He has done, or what is happening in our lives. We determine the level of blessing in our lives by what we are experiencing and judge God by our circumstances. Psalm 136 opens up with the line “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” The writer then begins to recount all that God has done, all that would cause one to be thankful. But he wanted to begin at a certain point, not with what he has done but with who He is. HE IS GOOD! That must be were we begin, “…knowledge of the Holy one is insight” - Proverbs 9:10. If we are really to have insight into this life, if we are to fully grasp the meaning of why we are here then it must begin with knowing our God. And that knowing can come primarily through his word where he reveals to us the real picture of who he is. We then couple that with our experiences it leads us to the place of declaring "God is my salvation, I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song" - Isaiah 12.

I am thankful for this morning, in all my wonderful experiences including the view I am looking at now but I know none of it compares to knowing and experiencing the character of my God!

CONFUSED

Today was not your normal day, actually we began diverting from normal last night…Around 11pm, not long after we went to bed, the phone rang with news from a friend of ours in Kiwoko telling us her sister had just died. At the same time Acacia’s pregnant goat began crying out as if in labor…Wait how to make this VERY long story become short, OK let’s try.  Today began with going to console our friend whose sister died last night, then going to purchase a coffin and agreeing to help drive to transport the body, driving to a remote fishing village where the person who died was hiding from an abusive husband (who actually killed her boyfriend), along the way picking up a totally different dead person (a baby who had died 5 minutes earlier) on the side of the road, (Can you say, Toto we are not in Kansas anymore?), smooth talking a soldier for him to allow us to take the short cut through the military base, loading the dead body in the coffin and putting it on the roof rack of the van, driving to another fishing village where the body would eventually cross the lake to the other side (another short cut), negotiating on the cost of the boat ride, sitting on top of our van (on the coffin) and watching our friend share Jesus with the crowd of young children who came to see the muzungu (white person) sitting on the coffin (on top of the van), loading the coffin into a small boat, driving the return trip of 100km back home, not without another short cut (which turned out to be much longer) and having lunch at 5:30 when I returned…Was that short enough? Oh yeah no idea why the goat was shouting, we still don’t have a new baby.

The lesson learned for me today? Sin kills!!!!! As Paul said, "The wages of sin is death.” Today I came away shaken by the deep despair that I witnessed in so many people’s lives. The death that initiated all this was so unnecessary and totally preventable if the individual had embraced the truth and “the better way” that God so painstakingly spells out for us. The desperate poverty and lack of hope that I saw in people who seemingly have resolved themselves to self gratification through momentary pleasures. The alcoholism and polygamy have created such a vicious cycle of destruction that is perpetuating the hopelessness and fueling the orphan crisis. The pain I felt as a grieving mother holding her dead baby (the one I picked up by the road side) rode in our back seat struck me in a way that I don’t want to ever experience again! Our world, as my friend said today, is CONFUSED! The very thing that we all need more than anything else is so staunchly resisted in our current culture. The answers to Uganda’s orphan crisis, to America’s moral turmoil, to the problem of militant Islam is found in God’s word and in Jesus Christ. Yet today our children in school are not allowed to pray in His name, our political leaders cannot side with him for fear of being non-inclusive. If you stand up for the name you will be accused of being a hater. The answer that everyone needs is the one that is most feared today. May God’s mercy and grace be on us all to navigate this “confused” world that we live in. 

Sweet 16

Today is Toby's 16th birthday!!!!


We took him to Kampala for a special lunch and an added bonus of hover-boarding.

I had arranged with Sam (who had to go to school today) to meet a bunch of people at our house in the late afternoon to surprise Toby with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and LOTS of water (!!!) once we returned home.

Elisha, Junju and Uncle Russel grab the birthday boy in preparation for a sweet dousing!!! Aunt Grace starts the party by throwing confetti.

Toby was definitely the wettest, but a close second were Russel and Gabe who helped hold him while the David Family girls aimed to drench the birthday boy.

Kelsi, a fellow missionary, made Toby's favorite chocolate cake which we shared with those who came to meet us once we arrived home from Kampala. Supper was prepared and delivered by our investment year staff at the forge, so I didn't have to cook.

If you put a sign prohibiting people in Kampala from doing a certain something, in this case parking or loading, that is the thing they are FOR SURE to do! There were about ten cars parked and loading as we passed this sign.

 As we made our way through Kampala, at one point there was an overloaded lorry blocking the road, causing a huge traffic jam. As taxis and cars began turning around to take a different route we followed suit. To the left you can view the village route--one lane dirt road jammed with cars crawling along in both directions and people in the neighborhood conducting their business perilously close to the moving cars that were trying to avoid both the people, the trees, the buildings and the ditches!




We're thankful we were able to spend the day in the way we did.

Toby is a wonderful son and we loved treating him today!

He's already announced that "This was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!"

One Thing

I had one thing on my list for this morning.  Write a blog.

It is coming to 3 p.m. These are the first words I've written.

I had ONE thing on my list, but others had ME on their list.

There was the friend from the village representing a government mosquito net program. She came in and we shared a drink and news of late after I explained that we didn't need any new nets at this time.

There were two sisters that came laughing and giggling together. I kept them smiling as I gave them my lecture AGAIN on the health benefits of drinking enough water. It was probably about the 59th time they'd heard me spew on the topic, but their smiles betrayed their nodding heads--one of the reasons we were revisiting water consumption was because of their recent health challenges most likely brought on by low water intake.

Fresh bread was delivered at some point this morning. A German family who ministered a few years ago in the nearby town of Luweero taught someone how to make French Baguette, German Muesli, Sweet Breakfast rolls and savory onion loaf. We benefit weekly from her fare.

One of our special needs children is currently struggling to make it through her post-operative recovery in a Kampala hospital so I also engaged in some discussion this morning via text and phone calls on how to manage our concerns and approach the management of her care.

There were the texts from Geoff about a young man he was with who seemed to have an infection  and wanted advice on how to treat the problem.

There was the David Family son who came just to pump his bike tire as he was headed to a job site, but I got confused and thought he was here to sit and talk as well. So, talk we did. Twenty minutes later he informed me that he had simply come to greet and didn't have a lengthy discussion in mind. Oh well, it was nice to chat.

One of the daughters of the family also stopped by to pick up the keys to our neighbors house. The neighbor is visiting our special needs child in Kampala today and this daughter came to help her by hanging up some washing and washing the dishes.

And so goes the day. When it was all quiet again and I began to turn my attention to writing. A few seconds later I got a text from Geoff regarding the youth camp agenda. Seems the culmination of the week, an opportunity for baptism, was happening in the valley dam at that moment. I decided, just as I had throughout the morning, that what was at hand was more important than writing.

I grabbed the camera, called the dog, (she's always looking for a good excuse to wander away from the confines of the compound) put on some shoes and took off down toward the valley.

I arrived just in time to see the first person wade into the water. He was the first of ten!

What a GREAT day! In reflection I see that it doesn't matter that the one thing on my list has taken ten more hours to complete than I had planned.

What matters is the giving of myself, a little here, a little there. At the end of the day I am happier for all the people I've seen and all the experiences I've been a part of, even if it was mostly a matter of moving five or ten feet from where I sat at the computer to welcoming the next visitor at the door.

I also have enjoyed the beautiful flowers Geoff surprised me with! He secretly arranged for someone in Kampala to pick them up and deliver them. They smell gorgeous and I am blessed!

It is now coming to 6 p.m. and Sam, Toby and Acacia are now back home after spending the week at the EYO youth camp.

I am happy for the noise again.

Sometimes this week it was just too quiet.

Our latest newsletter

The Brittons - Geoff, Mary, Tobias, Acacia, Kevin & Sam View this email in your browser BRITTON CURRENT EVENTS APRIL 2017! New Hope Academy, our secondary school (7th thru 10th grades), has received a great opportunity to compete nationally. Last weekend both boys and girls teams participated in the regional competition and, by God's grace, finished third. This is despite the fact that we were the youngest and possibly smallest team in the competition. They have now begun to train in preparation for the National tournament which is in southwestern Uganda in May. They are preparing physically, but also doing their best to raise the funds necessary to attend. Each student is doing their part to work at raising the funds through odd jobs. Toby has also started a Go-Fund-Me campaign to do his part, please take a look and see what he has prepared.  CLICK to see NHA go to nationals Everyone is involved! Kevin spent time at regionals keeping score, though even with him scoring we still were losing that game. The umbrella is to protect him from the African sun. IMPROVEMENT Just take a look at Mary’s blog from last month and you get the picture of what things were like for me (Geoff).  My work load had exceeded my abilities and I was struggling with the beginnings of real burn out. The good news is that things have been alleviated and I am feeling much better than I did the first part of the year.  PRAISE GOD for His provision.  We have a new head of Child Care and my three jobs have been reduced to only one and a half--definitely more manageable!  A home project that has been waiting for 9 months was finally completed during my 2 weeks of leave. You notice the creative way to use the van as a ladder. One thing we love to do when time is available, bar-b-que and of course Kakande is always willing to help.  All he requires is little taste :-) GEOFF'S MAIN JOB: "EA," WHAT IS THAT? Sometimes people ask what is EA? Early Adulthood, Post Kasana and Post IY are all names we have coined over the years for that which is our Early Adulthood department.  Geoff is the coordinator of the department which deals with all our young adults, currently numbering 128. As children here in Uganda grow up they face many challenges: high unemployment, cultural pressures, corruption, and the universal need to find themselves and understand the way into their future.  EA has many components, but the most commonly known piece is the Investment Year Program which you can read more about below. It is definitely one of our most exciting components.  In summary, EA exists to guide our growing children into a prosperous adulthood where they live as God-fearing, productive members of the nation of Uganda and see their further education realized.  Through counseling, guidance and discipleship we aim to see our sons and daughters become the parents of the future who will be a part of reducing the orphan crisis in Uganda.  Please pray for our young adults who are served by the Early Adulthood staff of six members.  More info can be found on our website. During our most recent Post IY meeting 29 students gathered to be taught, encouraged and share their struggles with one another. We had a great time and a nice meal together. These students often have not seen each other for quite long as life and education keep them moving apart. The culminating point of the New Hope program is when EA launches out our students at the end of their educational journey. It is great to see the finished product and you can see the joy on Uncle Simon's face when Kikanya finished last year. New Hope Uganda Investment Year The vision for IY came more than 12 years ago as one of our senior staff members saw the ever increasing need to help our growing children find their gifts, passions and apply them to God’s plan for their future.  IY serves to instill “SKILL, KNOWLEDGE and CHARACTER” into our sons and daughters through a "gap year" which we apply after their S-4 year (10th grade). The year is filled with intense discipleship, skills training through three internships and training periods as well as gift/calling assessments which help our students find confidence in the direction for their future. A key launching pad for the EA department, our students finish the year knowing what education choices to make, leading them into their future careers.  This year we have 33 students in the program, please pray for them and their pivotal year in IY. UPCOMING PLANS We are planning a quick trip home in December as a gift to my parents.  In 2016 they celebrated 50 years of marriage, but had to do it without our family.  We wanted to spend Christmas 2017 with them as our gift and appreciation for their longevity and commitment to loving each other and us all. Please pray for the provision of plane tickets for our family.  We will be stateside for about five weeks, mainly in Colorado, but will have a short stay in California as it is the best place to fly in/out of. Kevin cutting his birthday cake Surprise visit from some friends to wish him happy birthday 2017 is what we have been calling the year of milestones. One of the first took place in March, Kevin turned 13. We now have nothing but teenagers for children, oh how time flies.  We are currently looking towards Toby's 16th birthday! Of course this milestone makes him of legal age to drive (though the license won't come until later in the year.) In July we celebrate our 20th anniversary and in August Sam will turn 18 and officially be considered an adult. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR FAITHFUL LOVE & SUPPORT! Support New Hope Uganda Facebook Britton Email Our Blog New Hope Uganda You have received this as a friend or acquaintance of Geoffrey & Mary Britton Please feel free to unsubscribe if you wish to not receive these emails :-) BLOG ADDRESS: http://www.brittonsinuganda.blogspot.com U.S. ADDRESS: PO Box 154, Belle Fourche, SD 57717 UGANDA ADDRESS: PO Box 16, Luweero - Uganda unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Time

It is the season of Lent. Time to focus. Time to reflect. Time to give time to sacrificing something of our normal indulgences. Such sacrifices take time, effort, a pause and change from the routine. 

Or do they? 

 

It was at first hilarious to see an image of one church's approach to the beginning of this season of sacrifice, but then disappointing to realize what it epitomized--a state of being unaware of the minuscule amount of time "sacrificed" when desiring to give something up for Him. If we're giving something up for Him shouldn't we also give ample time in acknowledgement and dedication?

We all cut short our devotion to Him in various ways. God, open our eyes to how we short-change You. Let this and every season be a time to truly hone in on His perfection, His ultimate sacrifice and our desperate need of Him.  

Beautiful, strong, abundant, life-giving things take T-I-M-E. We must take time to cultivate the spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of life.

This past weekend Sam's older sister stopped by to report that Grandma wasn't doing very well. She hadn't eaten for almost two days and was very weak. Sam's sister requested that I go out and check on her. Two hours later I was on my way. These things take time.

I first went to visit with Aunt Lucy of David Family to ask about which David Family children could accompany me. (Sam was in class lectures) We agreed on which two girls would go after they'd finished the garden. During that time I gathered medical supplies--I didn't know what state Grandma would be in so I needed to be prepared for almost anything.

I also gathered bananas and cooked some rice. I knew I'd need to have some bland, soft foods to help coax her into eating again.

Just before we got into the car Sam showed up from class and he went out, too. One young lady translated the more difficult words for me as I examined Grandmas while Sam and the other young lady washed sheets, clothes and other soiled items.

Our time with Grandma took about two hours and thankfully showed us that Grandma wasn't actually suffering from any illness other than a healthy dose of stubbornness. She didn't want to eat mostly because she succumbed to frustration over needing others to help her with simple tasks. If she couldn't do it her way, in her time then she didn't want to do it at all.

Once she saw the bananas and rice, she began gobbling them up.

It took time, but she finally understood and agreed to eat a little bit a few times a day and to also sleep on mattresses on the floor. (There had been a disagreement between Sam's sister and her over sleeping high up in the bed (a struggle to get up and a fall risk) and sleeping down on the floor.

It is amazing to me how much of myself I saw in Grandma once I objectively processed what happened in the two hours of our visit.

I often stubbornly refuse to receive from others, from God and from His word. I then become weak and am frustrated as others try to help me.

But, if I take time to "eat" from His truth throughout each day I remain strong and healthy. Lord, help me! I still forget this basic truth and am slow to realize I need to take time with You.

Spiritually, we need to devote time to Him!

Less than an hour after leaving Grandma's I was on the road again in the other direction. One of the staff members I mentor lives in Kiwoko and we shared news and struggles and then we prayed together.

From the old to the young. Definitely time WELL spent and I am grateful for their presence in my life. What a privilege to be able to be a part of people's lives! Spending that kind of time is an emotional boost! Grandma must have said, "Thank you," a dozen times. Likewise, my friend expressed a heart felt, "Thank you," more than once. Yet, I received so much at the privilege of receiving blessing while giving blessing!

About a week ago Geoff and the kids spent the greater part of Saturday in the gardens around our house. It took time to get our compound looking nice, but it was worth it!

Acacia cleaned up the overgrowth near the goat house.

Slashing grass outside the goat house

Our back yard, freshly mowed and cleaned

Geoff loves being in the garden. He enjoys showing others the fruit of his labor in our compound.

Kevin also LOVES working in the garden. He planted maize, beans and squash in mounds, "like the pilgrims," he explained. He has spent much time in the garden this month as the rains have begun and the soil is soft.

Toby helped to cut and collect grass to add to the mulch in the garden.

Acacia found a snake skin in the goat house. We're just glad we didn't run into the new-skinned snake!

Kevin paused long enough to let a baby chameleon rest in his hand. 

We found a family of chameleon's in our bamboo: mama, daddy and little baby. Can you see the mom and the baby?

A few days earlier, little miss Bubbly was found with undeniable evidence that she'd been places she wasn't supposed to go. I couldn't resist snapping this shot of her extreme remorse and guilt-laden demeanor once caught with sticky burrs all over her upper body. 

Yesterday evening, Sam and Sharon (one of the girls in David Family) wanted make a birthday cake for a couple of classmates. The kitchen smelled so yummy as their creation took form. They spent the better part of an hour working on their creation. And, it was enjoyed and appreciated today.

Their cake smelled Sooooooo good, in fact, that Kevin couldn't resist joining in on the baking. He decided he wanted apple cinnamon muffins, so I helped him find a recipe and he made them completely on his own. The only help his friends gave was amazement that he was going to tackle such a project.
 The more astute of you will ask why I have on my sunglasses while perusing recipes. Kevin, Geoff and I had just returned from a bike exploration out in the neighboring villages--and some inadvertent forays into our neighbors' garden plots! We took Bubbly whom we believe narrowly escaped death given the way she was panting and refusing to move after we arrived home. She is back to normal now folks. no worries! And the muffins were wonderful!

Taking time out to create yummy treats and to explore the great outdoors around us involves investing  time and effort. It is definitely worth it!

Our milk delivery has been a bit sporadic of late so we received milk from our former neighbors yesterday and this morning. It was not our usual delivery from a milk can on the back of  bicycle, however, as we received ours in a laundry soap container today! 

And from there it went direct to the sauce pan where we boiled it for about 7 minutes to ensure the necessary death of any harmful organisms. Once we finished boiling said milk our usual milk delivery person arrived and we started the process all over again. We now have an abundance of leche/amata/lait, but with four teenagers in the house it won't last long! Milk doesn't take much time sitting around our house!

I can't resist slipping in a photo of the beautiful Lake Victoria at Musana Camps. A sunrise or sunset happens relatively quickly as solitary events, but the entire process between them takes hours. We need to appreciate the daily bookends marked with their splendor, but let us do so in tandem with acknowledgement of the required orbital movement of the heavenly bodies.  It all takes time.

Beauty takes time. Devotion takes time. Sacrifice takes time.

The garden doesn't produce without effort, hard work, attention.

People don't grow without an investment of love and care.

A cake doesn't make itself.

Enjoying a "bush bike ride" takes loads of energy.

Milk requires heat to present itself useful and not harmful. This takes time and ATTENTION (milk boiled over takes MORE time to clean up, ugh.)

And we must take time. Our beauty comes from Him. Time given in devotion and sacrifice to Him yields a deeper appreciation for all the time He has given us.

May we thrive and grow in love with Him and in thankfulness for all He's given.

May we give adequate time to recognizing Him.

And may we give Him time to cultivate in us what is truly life giving.