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/