June 25, 2008

Life is almost normal again for us – or at least Africa normal! Prayers are being answered and Jack’s shoulder is healing faster than expected, but slower than he would like. He still cannot travel comfortably on our roads and the three month post-surgery no-driving period may need to be extended due to our our potholes /craters/ripples/bumps and the whacky drivers. Jack will return on July 20th to Johannesburg, South Africa, for a check-up with the surgeon. We are thankful for the excellent physical therapy he is receiving at a clinic within a block of our home and for the care we are provided through the IMB thanks to your financial gifts.

Jack’s prayer requests include a prayer for patience as he continues rearranging his work to accommodate his limited ability to travel. Praise God with us for the way that co-workers have willingly travelled to our home for meetings. Jack needs wisdom as he advises and works with the leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya as they currently deal with several difficult issues. Pray that Jack and the leaders will have the needed patience, insights and strength to bring about changes that will truly bring Glory to our Father and result in more people knowing of His love and salvation.

Patience is also my number one prayer item as I continue balancing my schedule to accommodate helping Jack accomplish his work. I also need wisdom as I search for the best ways to share the prayer items of our personal “Legacy Work” and the prayer needs for the IMB work and unreached people groups of Kenya. My desire is to truly lead others to prayer as I share insights into how to pray for others – especially the “others” from areas where they cannot openly share their prayer needs.

My praise is that a personal heart desire for many years is becoming a reality. Since arriving in Kenya in 1978, the lack of self-esteem of many young women has concerned me. For years I have been accumulating a “GOD SAYS I AM…” list in the back of my study Bible. Several times I began putting these verses into a Bible study, but I always concluded that the timing was not right. My desire was to work through the verses with some Christian young women as the book took shape. Multiple times a Bible study group formed, only to fall through or go in a different direction! After asking umpteen young Christian female friends during the last few months if they would meet with me for Bible study, one young woman enthusiastically accepted. Eunice Ng’anga, an insurance underwriter, is an exceptionally confident young woman, but her volunteer work with street kids has left her with a special burden for the girls on the street. We have already met three times and these have been very special times as we work through the list in my Bible. Please pray that we will truly allow God to direct us as we meet each Tuesday afternoon after Eunice’s work day. Praise God for how Eunice is already using some of these verses with the street girls, some of the most insecure young women in our society. Join Eunice in praying for new co-workers who are willing/able to visit with the street kids two or three times each week between 5 and 6:30 in the morning – the best time to minister with them. Sandy Wilson, the missionary who has been organizing this ministry, is retiring next week and Boniface, the Kenyan pastor who assists, will soon move to a home being built for boys who want to leave the street – and the home is too far away for him to continue with the street ministry. Pray also that Eunice will quickly find a place to live that allows her safer and easier travel into the city centre on the mornings of ministry.

One additional praise before I close – No more messages saying that my work was hampered by a lack of electricity. We used our “tax rebate” yesterday to purchase a special battery backup system that allows me to use my computer for eight hours or more without electricity! The electricity is on as I write, but was off/on all of yesterday and the lights are flickering as I type, so the back-up is a true praise in our house! Thanks for your continued prayers for us, Bert Yates

May 10, 2008

I sent this note yesterday afternoon to some of our retired missionaries, but it also applies to of you: I’m exhausted at the moment and have at least one if not two (was two!) more batches of dishes to wash (Jack can’t yet bend his right arm enough after his shoulder replacement to safely wash dishes, or it would be his job!) but I have to write and let you know that some of you got me “through this morning” – don’t worry, it wasn’t a bad experience, but a good one. The officers of the Baptist Convention of Kenya were scheduled to have a meeting today and to make it easier for Jack, who finds Kenya pot-holes painful these days, they met at our house. Of course, it began late, so Jack and I quickly realized that in addition to the mango muffins I had made for tea-time, I needed to fix a quick lunch as a few had traveled to make the meeting and supper last night had been their last meal. I had planned to do a prayer update during the meeting (which I did complete later in the afternoon), but when I began to debate if I could (time, availability of items, end-of-the-pay-period financial limits, etc), I thought of how many of you would be green with envy at the opportunity I had to prepare a meal for this special bunch of guys – there is one female officer, Mrs. Bomet, but she was unable to come today. So, thinking of many of you, I scavenged in the fridge, freezer, and cupboards and ended up with a huge pot of beef vegetable soup and real American biscuits – the home-made rolled-out kind. I was short on corn meal, so I couldn’t make what many expect at our house – American baked ugali, better known as corn bread! Thanks for your help in keeping my spirits up, Bert Yates

As you can see, some of your “general” prayers were answered for us yesterday. You can also see from the note and the attached picture taken yesterday morning, Jack is doing well. The sling is driving him crazy and there is still “healing” pain, but the strength in his right arm is returning and he is definitely improving although arm movement is limited. He is seeing a physical therapist a block from our house – which is truly an answer to prayer and saves us both lots of time as otherwise it would be among my chauffeuring duties. We continue to be so, so thankful for the great medical care that the IMB provides us thanks to your gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Our greatest prayer need is for Jack to sleep better. Between the pain which will continue until healing is further along and having to wear the sling, Jack, who normally sleeps through anything, is experiencing frustrating “awake” times at night. Pray also for patience as he continues to be limited in his activities for a few more months. Our praise is for how co-workers are helping, such as meeting at our house rather than across town and my being able to claim a temporary space at the mission office to use on the days that I drive Jack to his office days. We are also surviving my being the designated driver. I am accustomed to driving all over the city, etc, but I’m usually alone and not having to watch out for every little bump and dip – the big ones, which are also numerous, are easy to spot – but Jack’s shoulder doesn’t like the little ones right now! I don’t find driving in Nairobi to be the adventure that it is for Jack, so I also need prayers for patience.

Thanks for your love, concern, notes and prayers – you are definitely strengthening and encouraging us, Bert