Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Fellowship, Swallowship and God-Incidents


Jack left his phone at our cottage AGAIN this morning as he headed off to his office, which gave me the opportunity to also make the three minutes' walk and ask him three questions: What were the highlights of your past week? What was discouraging? Current prayer requests for KBTC?

Highlight #1: A great retirement luncheon for Ron and Jan Langston, our co-workers at KBTC. Jan has served as a teacher and encourager and Ron taught and served as Academic Dean, among many, many other untitled jobs and responsibilities! As our Kenyan friends say, it was a great time of fellowship and swallowship!

Highlight #2: Students are here! Twenty-two men and women are on campus, studying in three areas - Education, Music and Theology.

Students in the music program shared their talents and
training during the Langston's retirement service.
Highlight #3: God’s unexpected gifts of people, ideas and opportunities. Praising God for last week’s great meetings related to the accreditation of KBTC. Thanking Him for those who offer encouragement and help as KBTC rebuilds and offers the training now needed by God’s servants! Praising God for those who are showing interest in joining classes at KBTC. Thanking God for the confirmation that those making plans at KBTC are sensitive to God’s guidance. It is not a coincidence, but a God-incident that in the past week several potential students showed a desire to do studies in Christian counseling, the same area of study that potential teachers shared their interest in teaching!

There was laughter and tears as co-workers shared their
memories and appreciation with the Langstons.
Highlight #4: RAIN! Green grass and beautiful flowers everywhere! The buckets and the plastic bags covering Jack’s computer, etc., have been well utilized in recent days thanks to an unpredictable roof!
Discouragement: Still facing frustrations related to a lack of support and shared vision for the need for quality and multi-purpose and multi-level training for those God has called to shepherd His people.

And more laughter and tears as Pastor John,
KBTC's master of flowers and plants,
prayed for the Langstons.
Prayer Request #1: Pray for good preparation and response to the KBTC Day/ Special Offering which will be held in Kenyan Baptist churches in June. Pray that this will be a time of strengthening the bond between our churches and KBTC.

Prayer Request #2: Pray for wisdom and direction for the team working towards the accreditation of KBTC and all that is required, such as contacts, connections, fees, etc.

Another special KBTC memory:  After Pastor John prayed, Ron asked
that Nelson (the official chai brewer and #1 go-to guy) to join them.
Ron shared that during KBTC's 'lowest days', these two men 
(like other staff, receiving no salaries for months) met each
morning before work to pray for the future of KBTC.
Prayer Request #3: Thanking God for the wonderful and patient staff at KBTC! Even when salaries are delayed, all are still in good spirits and working diligently.

KBTC staff wrapping the Langstons with their gifts of African cloth.
And as always we must close with one final thanksgiving – A huge thanks for those of you who read our update, joining us in praising God for all the great things He has done and is doing around us and the joy which fills our lives (Psalm 126:3) as we seek to join Him in His work!  BERT YATES
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More views of the celebration at KBTC, including a video of CHAPATI MAKING, are shared at 'Bits of Our Hearts' at https://www.facebook.com/bitsofourhearts (shared also in link at the top of this blog).


Remember to also view the daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, a part of Bert's work as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.
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One of our greatest joys this past week was viewing the joy
of the KBTC staff during the retirement celebration.  The best part?
Their joy is now a daily part of KBTC life!
And YES, we ate dessert before having an incredible
African feast at the Langstons' Retirement Luncheon.
(Cake: God be with you all of your life, Ron and Jan)

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