As you may have seen, my Bit of Our Hearts' post yesterday was a bit more honest than usual. No major problems, just lots of accumulated discouragements, disappointments and frustrations. I cried a bit, considered calling Jack to share my distress, and I even contemplated a l-o-n-g break from social networking and sharing Nudges to Prayer for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.
I even checked on the year I began blogging and preparing Nudges to Action.* At first, the realization that I’ve been doing this for seven years plus only strengthened my desire for a break! At times I do get a bit overwhelmed by all the stories I encounter in our personal experiences and in the prayer letters of co-workers. Yes, there are lots of joy and praises, but there is also much sorrow, often sorrow that I cannot openly share with you. And although I am very thankful for the opportunities to encourage our co-workers (most often younger workers as we are definitely now in the ‘experienced’ phase of our missionary career) this often leaves me with a heavy heart!
 |
| Tugs at the heart moments came last weekend as we watched a new road being built in preparation for the reopening of the Westgate Mall, the site of a terrorist siege in September 2013. Our first concern was for the men scavenging for metal on and around the dump trucks emptying rubble and huge out-of-sight backhoes breaking up the rubble. The greatest heart tug came when we learned that the rubble came from the bombed and burned bits of the Westgate Mall. |
 |
| Jack says that I now have a special category of thoughts - Prayer Nudge thoughts. I admit that upon spotting this view, I thought of using this to illustrate a prayer for teaching and encouraging others |
 |
| This walking auto store may also appear one day as an a nudge to prayer illustration! |
– MY DAY – Psalm 133 – God’s Blessings – Our Commitment –
>>> My morning’s e-mails included a message sharing of funds sent to allow KBTC to being completion of our unfinished college building. Another e-mail assured KBTC of future support. We are on our way to raising the $200,000 needed to complete the Baraka Building used for classrooms, dorms, dining room, chapel, etc.
 |
| Had this photo of Baraka Building been taken a bit later it would have included students taking turns cutting the grass with the new mowers. It was not the students on work scholarships doing the work of staff members, but eager volunteers enjoying a new adventure! |
 |
| Smiles from one who answered God's call to minister to street kids as she watches a rescued boy talk confidently of his new life and his new future which is now filled with joy, safety and love. |
>>> Phone call from the Baptist Convention of Kenya Moderator concerning a retired US seminary professor coming to serve long term at KBTC. The woman is also offering KBTC her library!
– – – – – – –
 |
| After I finished my computer work yesterday afternoon, Jack sent me outside for a bit of photo-therapy. Not having a clue of my difficult morning, a passing KBTC student laughed and posed for me, and thanked me for my work sharing prayer nudges! DEFINITELY a touch from God! |
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
*The Prayer Nudges for East Africa began on December 30th, 2007 - http://www.omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2008/01/sunday-december-30-2007.html. Today's Prayer Nudges cover work among Sub-Saharan African peoples - https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.Our Yates-IMB-Kenya (now expanded to include SSAPeoples) blog began in April 2008 - http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
And a group of photos taken this week that show
the colours, activity and joy of life in East Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment