Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalms 127.
As a husband, father, farmer, and missionary, this Psalm speaks to me on many differently levels. Especially right now, in the midst of moving and transitioning our ministry from one location to another. We are having to rely on God’s guidance, provision, and strength in ways we have never had to before. But today, I am thinking about the fact that my children have such an impact on our lives and ministry here, and we are truly blessed to know that our “Quiver is Full of Them!”
I remember when we first came to the mission field, we are so concerned about the things that we thought our kids would miss out on by living overseas. But God has had a special way over the years to provide opportunities for Hattie to ride Horses, Emma to sing and dance, Harry to play sports and piano, and Little Nellie is often out entry ticket to start conversations with people that allow for us to share the love of Jesus with others.
Over the past several years, we have also seen our family grow in another way:
Our friends and partners at Akha Outreach Foundation in Chiang Rai have a ministry project that provides housing for nearly 100 young Akha Hilltribe students. When school is out of session, many of these children and young people return home. But on the other hand, many of the boys and girls do not have a home or family to return to. Three years ago, our friends asked us if we would be able to take a couple of boys into our home and farm to live and work while school was out. This would be a chance for the boys to have a place to go, and an opportunity to work and make money to pay for things at school.
We were introduced to Somgiat and Sanchat. At the time they were 12 and 13. Now they are 15 and 16, and we have been blessed to have them as part of our family during ever school vacation since we met. Sometimes they come for a month. Sometimes for 3 months, and sometimes they just come for a weekend to see us and get away for a bit.
Now they call us Mama Pattie, and Papa Harry…
Well the Thai mid-year break just finished, and Somgiat and Sanchat came to visit our home and farm over the past month. It is fun to watch the boys grow up and take on more responsibilities in the farm. During our time of transition to our new place, it was a great help to have them at the farm to assist with the daily chores and activities that allowed me the freedom to go back and forth and work on the new place. Somgiat and Sanchat come from a different background and culture, with experiences and extremes that most of us would struggle to even comprehend. But through those experiences, God has grown and developed two young boys into young men that have been a blessing to our family, and to the people that they encounter and serve.
In addition to working hard, it is fun to see them play and interact with our kids too. Especially Little Harry who likes having some boys around. Over this past weekend before they returned to the foundation for school, we spent the weekend together at our house, we ate pizza, went out to play, watched movies, and worshipped together on Sunday.
Living life in the Narrow Gate, means doing things that seem out of the ordinary and that often means that we have to take a chance on something, or someone, that God unexpectedly puts in your path. As we live and serve in North Thailand, we see God putting many different “Gates” before us at different times and places, and we all need to be prepared to following in faith and obedience to the places that Lord leads us. Remember though, When we make that choice, and “enter through the Narrow Gate,” it leads to LIFE!
To which “Narrow Gate” is the Good Shepherd leading you today?
I praise God that this Farmer’s quiver is full of arrows.
Specific Prayer Requests: (From Psalms 127 for the Brittan Family)
- Pray that the LORD will build our house, family, and ministry project in Chiang Rai through the provision of His people.
- Pray that the Lord will give to His beloved even while they sleep.
- Praise God for His gift of Children who are a reward from Him.
- Pray we will not be ashamed and that we will speak boldly with our enemies in the Gate along the Thai-Myanmar Border.
Thank you and God Bless.
In His Grip
Harry, Pattie, Hattie, Emma, Harry V, and Nellie.
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