February 3, 2010

Sometimes there is so much that I want to share, yet time, space and your ability to absorb all that is flowing through our hearts and minds are limited – especially today as I prepare this week’s Prayer Update and seek to capture the great eight days in western Kenya when Jack led Church Planting Training. There are so many stories I’d like to share with you – as well as so many pictures (thousands) which I know would also touch your heart and strengthen your prayers and thank you for praying for the training/trip!

So I have downloaded a report with only 20 pictures on FACEBOOK (you don’t have to be a member to view the pictures) to share how God is at work in western Kenya. The slideshow begins with a picture of an adorable little girl with these words: The Unfinished Task, a National Survey of Churches in Kenya (2004, ACM-FTT, p. 70) says that Western Province, which is much smaller than most provinces, "has 12% of Kenya's population" and almost half of its population is "less than 15 years ...the highest concentration of young people in the country." This survey also said that only 5% of people in this province attend church.

The last picture is of a group of bright eyed kids with this caption: These children were among the students at Shikhambi Baptist Church (2nd training). Praise God that they live in a neighborhood with a church where the people want to learn more about sharing their Father's love and salvation. Pray that the churches in Kakamega will be revived and be strong witnesses of their heavenly Father in their communities and in nearby areas where other unreached people groups live. Pray that these children will not only become healthy adults, but that they will become God's Ambassadors in their homeland, their continent, and in their world.

Included also are pictures of a unique church nursery and a special look at how Kenyan children entertain themselves, as well as testimonies of how God is at work in the lives of a few of the Church Planting Training participants, plus pictures to help you understand why your prayers were needed for travelling mercies! You can find all these pictures and their stories at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193383&id=685050129&l=24adcf1ebb

As always, if you can use these pictures in any way to promote missions and share how God is at work, please copy and USE THEM! Also, remember that I am always eager to add others to my e-mail list and my list of FACEBOOK friends, or you can send others to this blog. As you can see, I’m not bashful when it comes to raising prayer support or making certain that others are joining us in praising God for how He is at work in our part of the world!

Bert Yates

January 27, 2010

Today’s update begins today with an invitation to “Tag along for a Church Planting Seminar in rural Kakamega, western Kenya. A great look at what God is doing, as well as an added bonus of how Kenyan WMU members are ‘God's Fellow Workers’ in their homeland.” I promise that you will find it impossible to not smile at some of these pictures or to praise God for what is happening in Kenya. Plus, anyone in need of program material for the upcoming WMU FOCUS WEEK will find needed inspiration and pictures to copy and use at this site. It is downloaded on FACEBOOK, but you do not have to be a FACEBOOK member to log on to the Photo Album found at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=190915&id=685050129&l=1efbd53fb5

We are depending upon your prayers! Jack is halfway through teaching the second of the third CHURCH PLANTING TRAININGS, one in each of the local Baptist associations in Kakamega, during this trip . Our prayers for clarity as he teaches and understanding by the participants was answered in the first training which was Sunday and Monday, pray the same for the conclusion of the second training which will be completed today (Wednesday) and for the third round on Thursday and Friday. Thank you for praying for my ability to share what is happening through my “travel” internet system - it is working great! Your prayers were answered for safety as we traveled last week, THANK YOU, now pray for our return trip on Saturday to Nairobi. Two long sections of the road to be travelled is in horrible condition with lots of hazards.

And finally, last week I asked that you “ Join us also in praying for those suffering and for those ministering in Haiti.” A friend with Baptist Global Response - http://gobgr.org - asks that you go to their website to find a downloadable Haiti bulletin to share with your church and friends and learn how you can help in the current situation and others in need. Thank you for your prayers, BERT YATES

Build a House - Start a Church

I don’t want to over-send information, but I have to share a bit about the exciting side trip we made yesterday (Saturday, January 23) as we travelled to Kakamega (western Kenya). We left the main road in Ahero, not far from Kisumu, the town on Lake Victoria, to view a house raising/church start – all happening in one day! In June 2008, with the help of special gifts from Southern Baptists which provided the needed mbati (tin) roof, nails and one day’s pay for a skilled carpenter, a local village built a home of twigs, sticks and mud in the traditional manner for a family who had lost their home in the Post-Election Crisis.

The two room home we watched being built yesterday was the 50^th home built in the area in the same way – this one for a young widow with three small children. Her home had been the thatched hut beside the building project which had two special features – you could see the stars at night and unlike other homes in her village, she had running water in the house, but only when it rained – not the piped kind of water, but straight through the holes in your ceiling! House churches have begun in most of these new homes and yesterday’s house was no exception – a local pastor taught choruses and Bible verses to the children of the neighbourhood as the house was built – then prayers were held in the old house, followed by the first worship service in the new house while it was being built! EXCITING!

I will send more information later when I return home to unlimited internet – I’m recuperating today from getting sick yesterday, a combination of allergies and dehydration – but for a few pictures which I promise will leave you wanting more, go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=190303&id=685050129&l=de74a3d192

BERT YATES

"Colours of Kenya" or "Views I wish my American Friends Could See" or "Views to Make You Homesick"

It seems that I’m always sending you “heavy information” that is based on meeting our and/or Kenya’s needs, so today I want to offer you something simply for your enjoyment. I have downloaded 30 “colourful” pictures from Kenya on FACEBOOK for you – Don’t worry if you’re not a FACEBOOK member – you can still click and view these pictures. So…enjoy the following gift from Kenya:

“Colours of Kenya” or “Views I wish my American friends could see” – Pictures from a trip this past Wednesday to Nyeri, Kenya to meet North Carolina volunteers working at the Nyeri Baptist High School. Along the way, I took pictures of things I wish I could share with those who have never been to Kenya and as a special reminder of life in Kenya for friends who love this place! Prepared simply for enjoyment, but if a picture leads to prayer, you have my full permission/encouragement to do so!

Found at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=189490&id=685050129&l=d22de1068f

You can stop reading now or you can continue and receive a bit of the usual “heavy information” of prayer items from us:

We are leaving for western Kenya early tomorrow morning where Jack will be leading Church Planting Training in several areas and we will be checking out new areas for further work before returning home on January 30^th. This is a trial trip to see if the new internet set-up I purchased this week will allow me to work outside Nairobi and travel on other trips with Jack.

So… Pray for safety as we travel long distances this week, good communication skills for Jack as he shares his passion for Church Planting, discernment as we seek God’s will for future work in western Kenya by volunteers and others, wisdom as I choose the best stories/pictures to help you understand how you can be a part of God’s work in Kenya, and a selfish prayer – that my new internet set-up will work so that I can be a part of Jack’s trips and able to share with you what is happening! Bert Yates