August 27, 2014

“We think we know what change is but our missionaries have a corner on the market when it comes to change. They experience changes in location, co-workers and friends, family, work, housing, and their administration. Often it is a constant with them. Sometimes they embrace that change and revel in the excitement of it. At other times, change makes them exhausted. Pray that today they would run to the One who never changes and rest in His embrace. May their hope and trust in His certainty be renewed.” (August 26^th post at https://www.facebook.com/WomensMissions.)

One way that God renews the hope and trust of workers in Africa -
the beauty of His creations found throughout the continent!

It was truly God leading when I spotted this on Facebook yesterday!  Change is good and often welcomed, but…

I just scratched several paragraphs that I had spent hours writing. Why?  First, I am exhausted from still trying to get us settled in our ‘week-day’ home in the cottage on the campus of the Kenya Baptist Theological College.  Sometimes I, like many missionaries, get a little weary of figuring out how to make things work when you live in a different culture and when we face limitations!

Director of Missions from Kentucky
teaching the Gospels.

Jack is also exhausted from teaching 4 hours most days recently (though he truly loves teaching), plus doing his regular ‘principal’ work! God is bringing change to the Kenya Baptist Theological College and it is being revived and restored.  We thank Him for the volunteers, missionaries (current and retired), KBTC graduates and others who are teaching the new classes which were begun this year. 

KBTC graduate teaching an advanced diploma class.

We are also thankful for the new students and those returning to complete missed classes (a total of 27 in the 3 week term which ends on Friday and 25 expected for more classes arriving next week) who are committed to learning, as well as to paying their fees which allows KBTC to pay their staff, electricity bills, etc. – a little late some months by days, but never delayed by months as in the past!  Pray for Jack as he balances the existing time and funds with all the ‘due’ bills and the long list of things ‘to-do’!

A view that will always revive the exhausted -
a view of the tea fields beside KBTC!

I think you can glean lots of prayer items from the above comments, but also pray with us that a house will soon become available for use as the principal’s house, which means we can ‘fully’ move to the campus, which will be less stressful (definitely an exhaustion factor) than living in two places!

One reason for my exhaustion - the fumes experienced on Kenyan
roads which do not aid breathing properly!

One way I overcome exhaustion - looking out a window
and viewing the beautiful birds and flowers!

Another reason that I’m exhausted is that sometimes we and our co-workers do become somewhat overwhelmed by all we see and experience.  Many of these changes, blessings and excitements are shared in this week’s Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  This week’s stories include praises, bits of cultural differences, as well as heartbreaking stories which all need prayer, so please take time to view these stories which affect our ability to share the Gospel among peoples, including as one friends shared this week, among “millions… who've never heard.”

Not yet used as an illustration for a Nudge to Action
for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, but...

I will close this week’s update by asking that you use the opening quote about ‘change’ to guide you in praying for us and our co-workers (international and African).  As we serve our Father, pray that we will depend upon and “run to the One who never changes and rest in His embrace. May OUR hope and trust in His certainty be renewed.” Would you also claim Psalm 16:7-11 for us as suggested in Monday’s Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples (with additional personalization capitalized): “Ask God to counsel and instruct US; to keep OUR hearts glad and their bodies secure; to make His presence at OUR right hand very real; and to fill US with joy as WE obey and serve Him. BERT YATES
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Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples found at https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.