New Year's Eve, December 31, 2008

We’ve had a good Christmas week. Our family’s traditional Christmas Eve mid-day steak cook-out was a success – our guests, the newest couple in our mission, are now good friends rather tool. I love preparing these blogs and sharing our work more fully with you, but it takes time, energy, and often more “smarts” than I possess, so I know it is your prayer support that enables me to complete the blogs – including the additional Lottie Moon Stories from the Harvest Field of Kenya I finished this week about theological education in Kenya: Spreading the Gospel through Education

In preparation for this month’s prayer calendar for our missionaries in Kenya, I asked my co-workers the following: What is the greatest thing that happened in your ministry this last year? How can we join you in praising God for the incredible opportunity you had to serve in His Harvest Field this last year?”

Jack’s reply reflects answers to your prayers! “As I think of a great 2008 moment in missions, I cannot help but see the entire year as a single moment. Hindered by a shoulder that would not work, subsequent surgery and the resulting order to not drive the rest of the year, I was grounded. Others may see 2008 as a year of Kenya in turmoil, but for myself, unable to do my usual active role, I relied upon my cell phone and watched as Kenya Baptists showed their maturity in dealing with the post-election violence and the uneasy peace that followed. Baptist leaders and churches responded magnificently and were ready tools in the hands of God in proclaiming peace, resolution and giving. It is not surprising that element of revival is growing within Baptists of Kenya!”
Thank you once again for your support! Your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program allow us to be in Kenya and have the funds to do our work. Thanks to your prayers, we are able to be a part of our Father’s work in the Harvest Field – THANK YOU and Happy New Year! Bert
*Today’s pictures are three of my favourites from the year including a picture of a Maasai nativity disply at our house, a special reminder of the States in the “Hershey” hat worn by a Samburu herder (likely bought in a second-hand market), and a picture of Samburu shepherds – a modern day Biblical picture!

Spreading the Gospel through Education

After sitting through the Kenya Baptist Theological College Graduation Ceremony on December 18th for six students who had completed the Diploma in Church Music, I realized that I had to share this additional incredible example how God has blessed your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! To be honest, Spreading the Gospel through Education * cannot begin to share the excitement of the graduation service or the expectations shared that day of the five young men and one woman who have trained to be an active part of carrying out our Saviour’s Great Commission, but the pictures of proud students, parents, pastors, Baptist Convention of Kenya officers, and IMB missionaries, as well as many of their comments during the service will give you a glimpse of how God is at work in Kenya through theological education!

So, I invite you to view one more Lottie Moon Stories from the Harvest Field of Kenya and see what is happening at the Kenya Baptist Theological College – soon to be Kenya Baptist University – which is the dream that came true in Kenya thanks to your Lottie Moon Offering, prayers and lots and lots of work from many people, including your IMB missionaries and many Southern Baptists volunteers.

Plus, I know of no better way to wish you a Happy New Year than by sharing some really, really good news about how our Saviour’s Good News is being spread and how your prayers are being answered and your stewardship of time and finances is being blessed! Bert Yates

* http://omba4kenyaspreadingthegospel.blogspot.com/

December 23, 2008

It’s definitely “beginning to seem a lot like Christmas” in Kenya – The desk fan is set on high to counter our summer heat and this morning I finally spotted what likely signifies Christmas to our kids – the mechanical Santa that dances to the “Yellow Rose of Texas”! Yes, things are a bit different here! But truthfully, I like our summer Christmas times and many of our traditions are built around the nice weather!

Tomorrow we will share our traditional Christmas Eve lunch with the newest couple in our mission, the Rosses of the IMB’s Master’s program (for those over 50). Twenty years ago, new American friends on sabbatical at a Kenyan university were very homesick, so we invited them for a very UN-traditional Christmas Eve meal. It turned out so well that we have continued inviting new friends each year for a Christmas Eve cookout followed by fresh strawberries, homemade ice-cream and hot fudge sauce served on brownies (not from a box).

Tomorrow evening we will attend our mission’s annual Wienie Roast/Carol Sing. Our family began holding this the week before Christmas many years ago when a new young couple spoke of missing the traditional carol singing – which is difficult to do in Kenya. So we invited friends to roast hot-dogs and marshmallows at twilight and sing carols after it got dark over a camp fire! For a little explanation, being close to the equator, we always have almost 12 hour days, so the sun sets by seven even during our summer. And the s’mores have a Kenyan twist – we use a “hob-nob” British cookie that is similar to a graham cracker, but round with chocolate on one side for the cracker/chocolate candy. Our daughter brought marshmallows straight from Walmart for this year’s cook-out, but one year we had to use locally available pink marshmallows that were horrible! When we returned from our last leave, we learned that friends had continued the wienie roast/carol sing, but they now do it on Christmas Eve and almost all of our Nairobi staff and a few from out-of-town attend. Different, but fun!

Our traditional Christmas Day may be a little more familiar to you. Our family always have a breakfast of “Moravian Sugar Cake” – which I usually have to make, but our daughter brought some this year from Dewey’s in Winston-Salem, NC (known for their Moravian goodies). We will then share a traditional ham lunch with all the expected dishes with missionary friends, ending with a pecan pie – straight from Jack’s mother’s pecan trees!

Thank you for praying for the graduation at Kenya Baptist Theological College last Thursday. Only one class graduated at this service, but the six receiving a Diploma in Music were excited. Please continue praying for the college/seminary as they mature into a university. Pray also for the five men and one young woman who are committed to using their musical abilities in leading churches to carry out the Great Commission. Pray for me as I prepare a blog to share their dreams, desires and commitment with you.

Pray also for the six men and women that were commissioned last Sunday at our church, Parklands Baptist. These committed young Christians have completed an intense two year discipleship program in which they had worked through Growing in Christ, Follow the Master, and Masterlife. This was especially meaningful to me as all their study books are from Kenya Baptist Media, where I served for many years, and one of my last jobs was updating Growing in Christ. As I viewed this commissioning, I realized this was a very, very special Christmas celebration – a celebration of committed men and women who desire to grow as disciples of their Saviour and teach others to not only do the same, but make new disciples as He commanded not just in Kenya, but also in west Africa as two of those completing the study are from Nigeria!

Know that we are praying that all of you have a very, very merry Christmas and that we thank God for you and how you support us, Bert Yates

December 17, 2008

As I write, the windows are opened and I’m using a fan! We definitely are not expecting a white Christmas! Being just slightly south of the equator, it is much cooler in May-July, but thankfully never freezing, although without heating in the house, extra layers of clothing are needed. In 1978 there were no special decorations in stores and creativity was required to decorate our home that first Christmas, but things have changed! Christmas music now plays in many stores and decorations are found everywhere – even expansive light treatments on buildings owned by people of other faiths!

One thing hasn’t changed – the city of Nairobi empties as residents travel to visit family and friends in the countryside. Even Kenyans on the lowest salaries are given 21 days of paid leave each year, so with three holidays in December (12th/Kenya’s Independence Day, 25th/Christmas, and 26th/Boxing Day) plus a fourth on New Year’s Day, many people take all of December as leave. Many were not able to make their annual trip outside of the city last year due to the national elections immediately after Christmas and then the following post-election chaos, so they are eagerly escaping the city this year, even though the current economic problems are also affecting Kenyans. Our family will be the exception and we will stay in the city over the holidays. Our youngest child, Jessie did arrive safely on Monday night. She is exhausted from her finals at Wake Forest University, but happy to be home and take a break before her last semester.

Pray with us tomorrow as we attend a special day of celebration as graduation is held at Kenya Baptist Theological College. The college/seminary continues to experience financial and administrative problems, but this will not decrease the excitement – receiving degrees/diplomas is a high celebrated event in Kenya. Pray for the faculty and administration of KBTC as they grow into the mature university/seminary that is needed. Pray that all involved will be patient as “culture” affects even problem-solving. Often our missionary “American” way of handling problems clashes with the “Kenyan” way, yet experience has taught us that different methods doesn’t always mean one way is truly better than another! Our prayer is simply that God’s will be honoured and His will be accomplished.

Thanks for praying for me last week as I completed the last 2008 “Thank You, Lottie” * blog, The Samburu – Responding to the Gospel **. I am always amazed at how these blogs develop and how the result is beyond anything I could even imagine – which tells me that you are praying for me. So, once again: Thank you for being our prayer supporters – We depend upon you and know that you are a part of the incredible blessings we are experiencing in our work. Bert Yates
* http://lottiemoonkenya2008.blogspot.com/
** http://samburuomba4kenya.blogspot.com/

Answered Prayer: The Samburu Responding to the Gospel

I invite you to take a journey with me to a far-away place to experience joy, excitement, answers to prayer, as well as a rainbow of colours! A new blog, The Samburu – Responding to the Gospel *, begins with a prayer request posted on September 4, 2008 by Charlie and Sandra Daniels, the IMB missionaries now living among the Samburu, a people group unreached by the Good News of our Saviour. Answers to this prayer request are also included which gives you a glimpse of a very, very colourful baptism service and a special pastor ordination service – all the result of the work of many of your IMB missionaries supported by the Lottie Moon Offering, assistance from the Baptist Convention of Kenya, and lots and lots of prayer support from Southern Baptist.

The best part which cannot be included in this blog: The Samburu’s Lottie Moon Story is continuing! God has great plans for this “unreached people group” –An unreached people group who are not only being reached, but have the potential of reaching many of their neighbouring unreached people groups!

If for no other reason than you would like to hear some truly good news for a change, please take time to view this blog at and share it with others. I promise you that you will not be bored for even one second as you see how God is at work among the Samburu of Kenya! Bert Yates
* http://samburuomba4kenya.blogspot.com/

December 10, 2008

Fear, anticipation and excitement – Jack’s range of emotions was mixed this past week. When he goes to train in CPM (Church Planting Movement) Methodology with the Kenyan churches, he is always confident and excited, but last Thursday morning as we left home, the excitement was mixed with fear. Why? He was conducting a training among a strong-willed group with many more questions and opinions that his usual audience – his first training among missionaries!

His fear soon subsided as he sensed the eagerness of the three Master’s couples (IMB programmes for “retirees”). All are in “support roles” – their work as our Logistics, Travel, Conference Centre Managers, etc., supports those working full time reaching the lost. Two of the couples have been in Kenya for over a year and are already using their free time to share their faith. The third couple have just arrived and are eager to find where they can minister on the weekends.

Yes, our friends did challenge Jack and he and I answered lots of questions, but we left the day-long meeting strengthened as we realized anew their desire to find where they could best use their knowledge, skills, and witness in reaching the lost in Kenya and nearby countries. It is especially encouraging to us that we are now a part of a team that shares our belief that one of the greatest ways to win Kenya and Africa to Christ is through partnership with the established Baptist churches.

Jack doesn’t usually add lots of exclamation points in his writing, but his weekend report is the exception: “Last Friday, Baptist Convention of Kenya leadership (Daniel Thiuri, Sammy Mbiti and Linus Kirimi) and I travelled to Maralal to assist Sandra and Charlie Daniels in ordaining five Samburu pastors. On Saturday, Linus and I went to a boma (homestead) where 11 women and 3 men) were baptized in a shallow mountain stream. We learned that 20 persons were baptized at the same place the previous week! The Convention Moderator, Rev. Thiuri, and Sammy remained behind in Maralal to teach and question the five candidates for ordination. Sunday was special beyond description! The Maralal church was packed as ordination was followed by singing and preaching AND 19 adults accepting Christ! Afterwards the leader of the baptism location told us he had another 10 that wished baptism! We left that for Charlie and the newly ordained pastors to do.”

I used my weekend to complete Strengthening and Encouraging Through Lottie’s Support for Education , my planned last “Thank You, Lottie” blog – but as Jack called during the trip (missionaries are especially thankful to God for cell phones!) and as he shared after his return on Monday, I knew I owed it to those of you who give to Lottie Moon and support us in other ways to share this story of how God is at work among the Samburu, one of Kenya’s unreached people groups!
So, I need your prayers as I complete this new blog before next Monday evening when our youngest daughter arrives for Christmas. We had anticipated Jessie remaining in the States this year with her older brother and sister, but after the post-election events of last Christmas which were still very unsettled when she left in mid-January, we felt that she needed to return home to refresh memories of the Kenya she loves. So pray also for Jessie as she travels next Sunday and Monday.

Thank you for being our prayer supporters – We depend upon you and know that you are a part of the incredible blessings we are experiencing in our work. Bert Yates

Strengthening and Encouraging through Lottie's Support for Education

“Thank you for the nice school room. Thank you for all the nice things in my school room. I hope you're enjoying America and I would like to send you a lesson about why I like my school room. Lesson number 1: I like my video games. Lesson number 2: I like the big dipper story. The big dipper is my favorite book, because it's magical. Lesson number 3: I really like my new stories. And lesson number 4: I like my math, but I'm getting tired of it. So please send me something that will not make me tired. Love, Joseph”

This is a thank you note from five year old Joseph, whose parents work with the Samburu, one of our unreached people groups. Joseph’s note and much, much more appears at the newest blog to thank Southern Baptists who give to the Lottie Moon Offering – the offering which allows your IMB missionaries to be workers in our Father’s Harvest Field. This blog entitled Strengthening and Encouraging Through Lottie’s Support for Education is found at: http://lottiemoonkenyaeducation.blogspot.com/

Through “thank you notes”, testimonies, and lots of pictures, this blog has been prepared to share how your gifts to Lottie Moon and the Cooperative Program are used to support the education of IMB missionary kids. Thanks to your gifts, missionaries are able to provide great educations for their kids while obeying God’s call to share his love and salvation among the unreached of our world – one more example of how your investments that are still providing incredible returns even in these days of economic turmoil! The blog also shares information about Kenyan national schools, including a slideshow of Kenya students in their rainbow of uniforms as well as a slideshow sharing different views of Kenyan schools.

Please take time to view this blog – it is my gift to you to thank you for supporting me and my IMB colleagues around the world and for allowing us to support our families as we obediently serve our heavenly Father. Bert Yates

December 3, 2008

Jesus did not use the word when he sent out his disciples with instructions to “not take a purse or bag or sandals” and eat or drink “whatever they give you” (Luke 10:4,7), but He was preparing them to be FLEXIBLE, a needed ability for any missionary! I had planned to do housework before beginning this update, but the electricity went off a few minutes ago. “Plan B” is now in effect which means working on the computer until the battery light flashes. Thankfully we do now have a power back-up system, but iffy power situations has trained me to ration any computer power just in case” the power is off for a LONG time!

Flexibility was also needed last week as we celebrated Thanksgiving. We were to share the traditional meal with the Barnetts, new friends with the Master’s program (the IMB’s program for retired persons). Between their helping a young couple whose second child decided to be born on the eve of Thanksgiving and their being without electricity for 12 hours on Thanksgiving Day, we took another Plan B and ate a great turkey dinner at the Mennonite Guest House!

I hope you were able to view our thank you blog at: Thanks to Lottie. My greatest prayer need this week is for wisdom and insight as I prepare one more Lottie Moon promotion to share how your giving to the Lottie Moon Offering and Cooperative Program provides for our children’s education. Preparing these blogs takes time, but as I gather all the information, I receive a blessing as I hear the testimonies first-hand and remember how blessed I and other IMB missionaries are thanks to your support. Pray that I will share the information for the education blog in a way that will also bless others and help those of you who support us know that your gifts, prayers and involvement are good investments that are providing incredible returns even in these days of economic turmoil!

Jack is receiving reports this morning of our churches from the chairman of the Nairobi Baptist Association. We praise God for how many of our churches are producing disciples and reproducing churches, but join us in praying for those churches that are struggling. More dedicated men and women with hearts for sharing God’s Good News with the lost are needed, as well as more Christians who truly know God’s words and commands and desire to serve and not be served.

Tomorrow Jack will train several IMB support staff in Church Planting Movement methods. Pray that he will share exactly what is needed to strengthen and encourage these friends, who work full-time supporting the rest of us in administration, logistics, finances, etc, as they use their limited “free time” to share their Saviour’s love and salvation.

Pray for safety in travel, wisdom, and the ability to strengthen and encourage for Jack and the leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya as they travel to Maralal this Friday through Monday. The Samburu missionaries, Sandra and Charlie Daniels, will see a dream come true as some of their pastors are ordained this weekend. The Samburu are one of the unreached pastoral groups (those who follow their animals in search of pasture and water) and the Daniels’ dream is that the Samburu people will “hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and then “carry the Gospel … into the neighbouring tribes.”

Thank you once again for your prayer support – our heavenly Father is answering our prayers as we work together as workers in His Harvest Field, Bert Yates