SPECIAL FINAL Yates/Legacy Team Prayer Update for 2009

Like many of you, we are trying to relax a bit more this week and not go at our usual pace – and I fully intended to prepare a short and simple prayer update to share with you today. BUT as I looked for a few special pictures to share, the pictures led me on a time consuming detour. I am trusting that this was the answer to prayer for spiritual guidance as I worked, so a new Prayer Walk THROUGH DOORS AND WINDOWS is prepared with our invitation for you to “Take a Walk through DOORS AND WINDOWS in Kenya that will guide you in prayer as you praise God for what has happened in Kenya during 2009 and join us and Kenyan Baptists in praying for how people can come to know our Savior's love and salvation during 2010.”

The PICASA (Google’s) version of this Prayer Walk is completed, but as I tried to download the FACEBOOK version, my internet died! And just as I’ve learned that a total change in direction is a sign of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a total failure of my internet usually happens when prayers are being answered and the Holy Spirit is at work WHICH does not please the devil. I truly believe the internet can be used as a special blessing from God to share and do His work, BUT the devil is also crafty at using it … SO I hope some of you are praying as I work this morning and by the time I complete this e-mail that the internet will work again! (Would you believe that I posted a comment saying I was downloading the week’s prayer update on FACEBOOK before the internet went down and later learned that within minutes three of you were praying!)

My original intention for this prayer update has not changed – to thank you for being our prayer warriors this past year. Without your prayers our work would only be busy work and not God’s Work. We are also thankful to Southern Baptists who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program which provides our financial support – our salary, our housing and car, and the monies to help pay for our internet so I can share prayer praises and needs and for Jack’s travel to the places where Baptists are at work in Kenya – as seen in pictures on the Prayer Walk! I can think of lots of way to say thank you, but I think the best way is the simple way – THANK YOU for allowing us to be at work in our Father’s Harvest Field! The lost of Africa ARE COMING to know and claim His love and salvation! Bert Yates

PS: Once again your prayers worked – after an hour, my internet returned at full strength – or at least my usual full strength which would drive most Americans crazy!
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Prayer Walk Through DOORS AND WINDOWS sharing praises and needs from 2009 of the Yates/IMB/LEGACY WORK in Kenya can be found at Picasa, Google’s web picture program, or at FACEBOOK (even those not a Facebook Friend or Member came view the prayer walk):

PICASA: http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/DoorsAndWindowsYatesLegacyTeamPrayerUpdate091230?feat=directlink
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=181131&id=685050129&l=923a5dcf4f

December 25, 2009

December 22, 2009

I envy the snow scenes many of you are experiencing, but I am enjoying our summer weather! Many things about celebrating Christmas has changed during our 31 years in Kenya, especially the trees for sale along our roads – they are now more than sprigs! Our first Kenyan Christmas tree was two trees wired together which barely supported our few ornaments – all homemade as NOTHING was available in the stores. Now our malls – nonexistent in 1978 – have resident Santas and Christmas special items are seen everywhere!

But, as we shared a Christmas party last week with a new ministry, Sema Leatherworks,* I realized that one thing has not changed – Kenyan Christians celebrate not just the birth, but the life of Christ during Christmas. Sema Leatherworks was begun this year by the Business as a Mission Team to reach “the most challenging areas of Nairobi with the Good News”. A small group of committed Christian men produce leather products Monday through Thursday, providing a modest income for their families, and on the other days they share the gospel and disciple new believers – resulting in over 30 new Bible Storying groups in less than a year – and yes, this is happening thanks to those of you who have given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offerings and Baptist Global Response!

It was exciting to be with these young men and their families – many whom we have known over the years as active members of local Baptist churches. It was challenging to hear one young man’s story of how he and his wife decided early this year to move to an unsafe slum area to plant churches! They did this while expecting an addition to their family which turned out to be twin boys! They also made the decision BEFORE they knew of the planned Sema Leatherworks which would provide their financial support!

It was a reminder of the true joy of Christmas as we watched the kids of these Church Planters use the “cooking time” for our Christmas feast to prepare and present an impromptu concert of songs about the joy of being our King’s Soldiers! I realized later that other than the banana leaf tree bearing Sema Leatherworks ornaments, there were no traditional Christmas decorations and we sang not one familiar Christmas chorus, but it was definitely a true celebration of our Savior!

We will celebrate Christmas day by sharing a traditional meal of turkey, ham, cranberries (all now locally available, but the costs still make them a true treat!), etc, with friends, but we will spend Christmas Eve at a Wienie Roast/Carol Sing with our fellow missionaries – a tradition our family began more than 10 years ago. Another unique part of this Christmas is that this is our first Christmas with no child at home. Pray for us and our children – all who are now in North Carolina – as we celebrate in our familiar and unique ways.

Much has changed during our time in Kenya, but our assurance that we are exactly where God wants us has not changed. Another constant is our assurance of your prayer and financial support which allows us to be a part of our Father’s Work in Kenya! THANK YOU! Bert Yates--- --- --- --- ---
For more pictures, go to FACEBOOK page - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=178245&id=685050129&l=ad36d63ed6

* For more on the Sema Leatherworks ministry, go to: http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

December 16, 2009

Last week I wrote, we “will be traveling tomorrow on a survey trip to Kakamega in Western Kenya … for Jack to explore … Church Planting training in the area and for me to learn if I can access internet adequately ... Pray for safety … that we will quickly meet the people that God has been moving towards church planting. ” Your prayers were answered – THANK YOU.

We traveled safely even though we veered off the road many times to avoid trucks and cars, donkey or men propelled carts hauling everything from hay to a pool table, as well as meandering cows, goats, sheep, donkeys and even baboons. Plus, you know you are in Western Kenya when the bicycles outnumber the cars – travel in Kakamega town is safer thanks to a parallel road for bicycles!

Jack successfully met with a small group of Kenyan Baptist leaders from the area with hearts for obediently carrying out our Savior’s Great Commission – resulting in plans for him to return at least three times early next year to lead church planting training in the local associations. These trips will take over a week each time and thankfully we found that internet is available in the area – which means I can travel with him and do my work as he does his.

I have downloaded a slideshow*, Pray for Disciple Making/Church Planting in Kakamega (read note at end if you are a FACEBOOK friend), to share some of the scenes/feelings/prayer nudges that we experienced last week. We saw forsaken burned-out shops and homes, as well as a few remaining Internally Displaced People tented camps, lasting reminders of the post-election crisis which began in December 2007 AND we also spotted several villages of tiny new homes. Between Nairobi and Nakuru, we viewed continued drought with dry fields and cattle with protruding ribs, BUT thankfully west of Nakuru, farms were filled with lush growth and plump animals, a sign of ample rain. Frustration came as we viewed a well-built government clinic with no equipment, medicines or staff due to a lack of funds, BUT next to it sat a mud building housing a Baptist church committed to ministering spiritually and physically in their community. Rowdy kids dressed in tatters surrounded us at the village church, YET when served the “left-over” food from our meeting, the older kids made certain the younger ones were fed first. We passed many woodworking “kiosks” that were producing not chairs and tables, but coffins AND realized why as we walked to a Kenyan friend’s home and passed a deserted house with three mounds in the yard – the burial spots of a husband, wife and baby, all who had died of HIV/AIDS.

There were also views that I was unable to capture for you: Scrawny kids running onto the highway to grab and nibble pieces of sugar cane (major cash crop of western Kenya) fallen from tractors moving to the factories; a boy sitting beside a ditch – not playing in the water, but filling his bucket with a small plastic cup; the racks of drying fish, recent catches from Lake Victoria; women carrying large metal trays of ripe bananas on their heads; and Jack’s favorite, the old man in well worn clothes, trudging along with the aid of his stick, wearing a “new” New York Yankees baseball hat!

Thank you for being our prayer partners and thanks also to the Southern Baptists who give to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Offering so that we can view all these things and be a part of sharing our Father’s love and salvation in Kenya. Bert Yates
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FACEBOOK friends can find the Prayer Walk/Slideshow at PRAY FOR DISCIPLE MAKING/CHURCH PLANTING IN KAKAMEGA and others can find it by clicking: http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/PrayForDiscipleMakingChurchPlantingInKakamega?feat=directlink

December 8, 2009

Have you ever simply not had time to do something, but you knew you had to do it! But with your prayers and encouragement (thanks to FACEBOOK and e-mails), I have accomplished what I HAD TO DO in the last two days – Prepare a new blog to share the incredible day we experienced this past Sunday as we joined in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Ruaraka Baptist Church in Nairobi. As soon as we arrived last Sunday morning, I was thankful that I had my camera as I knew this was going to be an incredible Lottie Moon story! A story of what happens when obedient Christians use their gifts to carry out our Savior’s Great Commission! It is a story of discipleship, mentoring, depending upon God, evangelization, volunteers, church planting, spiritual multiplication, Legacy Work in Kenya, and so much more. It is the story of how two IMB female missionaries started a church as a part of their daily walks which began for exercise, but became a Pied Piper method of church planting! To find this incredible story, go to Great Things at Ruaraka Baptist Church at http://greatthingsrbc.blogspot.com/ .

Once again I am sending this early, but not simply because of my desire to share the above story with you quickly, but because Jack and I will be traveling tomorrow (Wednesday) on a survey trip to Kakamega in Western Kenya. This trip is for Jack to explore how to begin Church Planting training in the area and for me to learn if I can access internet adequately for me to travel with him – which is important as he plans to be gone for two to three weeks during each visit next year! Pray for safety for us as we make the trip close to the Uganda border tomorrow. Pray also that we will quickly meet the people that God has been moving towards church planting. Pray also for Jack as he shares his vision for church planting with the leaders of the local churches on Thursday morning.

I also was on the internet working on blogs for days last week – after discovering that most of my “Lottie Moon” blogs < Lottie Moon Stories from the Harvest Field of Kenya - http://lottiemoonkenya2008.blogspot.com > were scrambled! Hopefully, you can access these blogs now and more easily see the pictures – REMEMBER that you are always free to download/copy any pictures you see to use in your Bible studies/Mission presentations.

Thank you once again for being our prayer supporters – God is at work in Kenya and in all of Equatorial Africa and thanks to your prayer and financial support to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Offering we are able to be a part of that work! Bert Yates

"Feeding the Maasai"

FEEDING THE MAASAI at http://imbmaasai.blogspot.com/ has been updated. It is an awesome view of how God is at work among the Maasai People and how Southern Baptists have been a part of proclaiming our Father's love and salvation among this once unreached people group!

December 1, 2009

No, it is not “beginning to look a lot like Christmas” outside my office/bedroom window, but there is moisture in the air – RAIN – a praise. But don’t stop praying for rain, although many places in Kenya are receiving good rains, parts of southern Kenya, the home of the Maasai People, is still without rain and people and animals continue to suffer and die.

I will be doing a bit of “connecting” tomorrow, so this week’s update is a day early – but it is easy to write as Jack has written most of it. Upon his return last week from his discipleship training in Western Kenya, he excitedly told story after story of his experiences. As he shared one story, I knew you had to hear it too!
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CALLED TO SERVE: Legacy Encounters – 25 November, 2009 – Jack Yates

Yesterday I was having breakfast at the Ventures Villa in downtown Oyugis (that is a joke folks – but actually a very nice hotel, clean, TV’s in rooms, noiseless, etc.) and talking with the leadership of Nyanza Province Baptists. Ben Ngere, a Regional Coordinator for the Baptist Convention of Kenya, has served as pastor of Homa Bay Baptist Church for as long as I have known him, or so I thought. I heard someone speak of his time in Mombasa (on Kenya’s coast) and having lived there from 1982-1986, I asked him about his life there. His answer surprised me – We were there at the identical time!

Ben, the first pastor of Miritini Baptist Church, had brought his niece to my office (Headmaster) at Baptist High School for enrollment. I had completely forgotten the encounter. He remembered the early missionaries and those who had worshipped with him at Chamgamwe Baptist Church. I then asked how he had gotten into ministry, seminary and then to Homa Bay. His answer was a classic tale of how God uses every one of us to influence and direct disciples that obviously have the Spirit of God at work within.

Ben did not mention his job in Mombasa, just that he attended Chamgamwe Baptist Church and was thoroughly enjoying his time and role within the church. He said his wife, Helen, was engaged in a medical career and was also very active in the church. He was very comfortable and I doubt if he was looking for a change. Then his pastor, Elimbenzi Mrema, spoke one morning about answering the call to service for the Lord. Mrema, from Moshi, Tanzania, was one of the first pastors in Mombasa and was known for discipling and sending out workers and pastors. He complained to me one day that he was forever working but his church never grew! I asked how many young people and families had he prepared and sent out into the world. He smiled and said nothing more.

When Mrema spoke that Sunday morning, Ben heard the voice of God calling him and not knowing any answers to his questions, he went forward at the invitation to greet the pastor and testify to God’s call. Ben was alone as no one else in the service had responded, but he was surprised by Mrema’s response. Pastor Mrema quickly prayed and closed the service, led Ben into his office and began asking questions about his decision. Ben says he answered honestly and truthfully but had no idea of what or how God would use him. He was shocked when Mrema told him that he was no longer to stay at Chamgamwe.

Mrema took Ben by the arm and led him to his ancient Vespa piki (very small and well used motorcycle) and immediately drove him to Miritini, a few miles away along the Mombasa/Nairobi highway. Mrema had a place picked out – a nice tree – and the church started the following week with Ben as pastor! Mrema gave him no chance to reconsider or to return to Chamgamwe. It happened so quick that Ben had no chance to talk it over with his wife. But after a couple of weeks, Ben asked Helen why she was not joining him, thinking that she had no plans of being a pastor’s wife! She surprised him by immediately adding to the membership of the new Miritini Baptist Church.

Ben served Miritini for a number of years through trial and tribulation. Later, he left to join our seminary in Arusha, Tanzania for four years. After that he was called to return home and pastor at Homa Bay. Through it all, his mentor was Pastor Elimbenzi Mrema, a man God used to call, prepare and send disciples.
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Now, I need your help. Many of you on my mailing list are retired missionaries and may know Ben’s “discipler,” Pastor Mrema. Where you one of Pastor Mrema’s mentors, teachers or one of those who discipled him? Others of you on my mailing list may have been one of those Mrema mentored, taught or discipled! Would you please take a few minutes and share your involvement or that of others with me so I can recreate this “Discipleship Genealogy Tree”?

I could share much more during this time of Lottie Moon Emphasis, but Ben’s story is an incredible example of how God has blessed and is continuing to bless your past and present gifts of prayers, involvement and finances! Thank you for being an ongoing part of the work in our Father’s Harvest Field! Bert Yates
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Remember that if you need additional encouragement or assurance of how your prayers and financial gifts are used, please go to:
Lottie Moon Stories from the Harvest Field of Kenya – http://lottiemoonkenya2008.blogspot.com
Prayer Walk with a Tea Cup and a Somali New Testament Bible, A Prayer Guide for the LEGACY WORK – http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/LegacyTeamYatesPrayerLetter_091111PRAYERWALKWithACupAndASomaliNewTestament?feat=directlink

November 25, 2009

Good morning … I am having breakfast in the Bliss Hotel, here in Migori. Nice place, loud TV, and seatless toilets, but very nice. Safaricom works great. Amazing. I teach this morning and then off to Kisii. Love you. Jack
Now a little translation of this e-mail which arrived in my computer yesterday (Tuesday) morning:
Breakfast at Kenyan hotels is usually British style which means you get pork & beans and cooked whole tomatoes as sides.

Many Kenyan hotels have unique names such as Bliss. Jack stayed last night in the Venture Villa in Oyugi, off the beaten path, but nice and clean, yet not quite a villa! And yes, after 30 years in Kenya, our definition of “nice” may not be yours!

Migori and Kisii are in Nyanza Province in southwest Kenya, near Lake Victoria.
Seatless toilets do not refer to toilets without the flip seat, but Kenyan style toilets with no seats, only holes in the floor.

Safaricom is a Kenyan cell-phone provider which offers a little “doo-hickey” that attaches to your computer and provides wireless internet – not the greatest, but it works and is truly an amazing item that we add to our prayer PRAISES!

The teaching, an activity Jack always loves, was teaching the 2 Timothy 2:2 Discipleship materials, a part of the partnership between the Baptist Convention of Kenya and LifeWay – another PRAISE. Southern Baptist volunteers, such as a group from Bell Shoals in Florida, who recently completed teaching the materials in three places, are assisting local national leadership in teaching Kenyan Baptists how to be and make disciples. It is difficult for volunteers to get everywhere, so Jack and Samson Ojienda, the administrator of the BCOK, accepted the challenge of teaching in Nyanza – an area of few roads and limited public transport –many of the 30+ attendees walked long distances to the two day seminar – yet another PRAISE!

What have I done during Jack’s absence? Worked on the computer – updating blogs, sorting through pictures and addresses, finding new prayer supporters, contacting fellow missionaries to learn how God is blessing their work, and studying FACEBOOK! After living in Kenya for 30+ years, I must learn how Americans think/respond/etc., if I am to share our needs/praises in a way that leads you to providing the needed personnel, prayer and financial support.

Based on what I’m learning, I created a new picture album entitled Hauling Kenyan Style. Why? The Lottie Moon emphasis is days away and I know you are bombarded with negatives and needs, so I chose to share some positives with you by offering “ Differing methods of HAULING in Kenya including bits of culture, a little humor and a few prayer reminders!”

We are also being bombarded these days with lots of negatives, especially financial pressures which are affecting our ability to join our Father in His work! We need more and more prayer support for the work Southern Baptist are doing in our Father’s Harvest Fields. We also need you to give sacrificially to Lottie Moon this year so that people who are willing to walk miles to learn how to witness will be enabled to join us in carrying out the Great Commission and obediently proclaiming the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people! Bert Yates
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HAULING KENYAN STYLE – http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/HaulingKenyanStyle?feat=directlink
Prayer Walk with a Tea Cup and a Somali New Testament Bible, A Prayer Guide for the LEGACY WORK can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/LegacyTeamYatesPrayerLetter_091111PRAYERWALKWithACupAndASomaliNewTestament?feat=directlink

November 18, 2009

Negatives and Positives of the last week: Electricity a coming’ and a going’ – A great frustration leading to great fears of blowing yet another appliance, but we took a few more breaks and did some old fashioned reading!
Internet with strength too little to function – Of course this was when my planned work relied totally on access to the internet. Positive: I had a two day rest from the computer.
Dirty water barely trickling into the taps which means filling the washing machine by hand via buckets checked for water quality – Good side: The kitchen floor is squeaky clean with all the sloshing between the sink and machine! Yes, I could use a hose, but being a multi-tasker, I WOULD flood the whole house! The super positive: Though colourful and little pressure, there IS water in the taps!

Frustrations are a part of our lives and the lives of many of your missionaries, and yes, we are good people, but we are not saints. What keeps us going? The positives that erase all the negatives. For Jack and me, members of the LEGACY TEAM (older, established Baptist work), it is experiencing God’s Multiplication Plan in action. We are watching the disciples of our present and past missionary and Kenyan co-workers “Go ye therefore” and teach new disciples to know and obey God’s Word. We get to see these men and women make their own disciples as they proclaim the eternal gospel to every nation, tribe, language and people (Rev. 14:6).

No, things do not always go smoothly, one of the many reasons we need your prayer support as we continue to serve in Kenya. Jack and I daily talk of what we should and should not do. We debate how God wants us to strengthen and encourage others. We discuss when to “speak up” and when to be quiet! Please join us in praying that we will be so guided by the Holy Spirit that we can always trust that our actions and especially our reactions are exactly what God would have us do! As we continue with the teaching and disciple making/training, pray that we will always be an active, positive part of God’s plan for His work. Pray especially for Jack as he travels to western Kenya next week to teach in the discipleship programme supported through LifeWay.

Pray for me (Bert) as I “connect” our missionaries in Equatorial Africa, many who are working with Unreached People Groups. Pray that I will find the best ways to strengthen and encourage my IMB co-workers as they root their own “Family Trees of Disciples” with people who do not yet know our Father’s love and salvation.

Thank you for praying for Kenya’s Class Eight students during last week’s exams which determine if some will continue in school and the quality of the high school others will attend. My young friends at church were amazed that Americans were praying for them!

Your prayers do make a difference! Many comments and evaluations are swirling around in the Southern Baptist community concerning missions programs, but I can assure you that God is blessing the work of missionaries (long and short term ones) and the financial support provided by your gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering and the Cooperative Program. He is using your prayers, time, gifts and other support to accomplish His plans. As ones in the Harvest Field, Jack and I thank you for allowing us to be about our Father’s work in the place where He has called us! Bert Yates
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Remember that you can find special information on how to pray for Kenya at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/LegacyTeamYatesPrayerLetter_091111PRAYERWALKWithACupAndASomaliNewTestament?feat=directlink

November 11, 2009

The mental planning/preparation for this week’s Prayer Update began days ago, then ONCE AGAIN, when it came time this morning to write the update – the update took on a life of its own. I could blame this on lots of things, but I’ve learned to cease “pondering” and accept this as an answer to your and our prayers as the Holy Spirit shows me exactly what I should share with you this week!

Today’s “Update Saga” begins with our attending Parkland Baptist Church’s annual Mission Conference last Saturday. Jack was among the program speakers concerning “Enhanced Partnerships – Enhanced Possibilities.” I went to find ways to raise prayer support for our work with the Legacy Team (the established Baptist work). The first note I wrote as a reminder of what to share with you related to our prepared name tags. Jack was identified as BMOK (Baptist Mission of Kenya); my label – Parklands Baptist Church Member. My reaction: It is a new day in missions in Kenya as we find that we are valued and needed as “pro” missionaries, but possibly our greatest means of “being” missionaries is by working among Kenyan Believers as friends and co-workers.

As always, Jack enjoyed having the opportunity to share his passion for discipleship. His message: Any mission endeavor must include not only sharing God’s love and salvation, but teaching how those listening can do the same. It was exciting to watch the very mixed group of more than 100 participants from different denominations, mission groups, people groups, countries, ages, and professions react to all they heard and discuss their mission activities.

Another scribble in my notebook – The awesome prayer reminder worn by a young woman, followed by a note of our “chance encounter.” While standing in the lunch line, I met the young woman and explained why I took her picture. While eating irio (African hot potato salad), chapatis (like tortillas) and beef stew, I learned that she was a university student already working full time in the internet industry. As we talked, I realized that our encounter was not coincidental, but God led. She was at the conference to find others who shared her love for using the internet as a tool for sharing God’s love and salvation – not as a professional missionary, but simply as a trained internet professional! The conference’s goal was working – I was ENHANCED, encouraged, excited, enthused…!

All the above was in my earlier “plan” for today’s prayer update – but two “incidences” led to a change of heart of what to share with you today. First, Jack shared at breakfast his excitement of teaching “The History of Baptist Work in Kenya” to a seminary class yesterday afternoon. He told me of his amazement that most of the “history” was new to this incredible bunch of young Christians – few had grown up knowing a Baptist missionary or our first Kenyan Baptist leaders. This could be seen as a negative, but we realized that this was part of God’s multiplication plan as disciples make disciples who make disciples! We discussed again the importance of accepting that this is a new day and that our role must change to not be the “leaders” but to be “strengtheners and encouragers” as we make certain that this new group of Christians have the needed spiritual foundation to continue the multiplication of followers of Christ!

The second incident, was the arrival in my morning’s e-mails of information of a new Web site designed to tell the stories of Africa, from Africa, for Africa - www.africastories.org . As I skimmed the site, I recognized the young lady featured in one of the video stories – Eunice of “Eunice and the Street Boys,” is the same Eunice that is my dear friend and one that I and a recently retired missionary have had the joy of mentoring. Take time to view this site and share it with your friends. It is yet one more example of our Father’s multiplication plan in action!

This incident also led to a delay in my completing today’s update. After my scheduled work yesterday, I edited pictures from last week’s mission’s conference. I wanted to prepare a “Internet Prayer Walk” as my contribution to the Lottie Moon emphasis. But, energy and time were lacking and I decided I would finish later in the week! But after viewing the Africa Stories website and remembering all the “encounters” God had provided us this week and His reminders of how He is at work among the Legacy Churches, I realized that I had to complete the Prayer Walk. I had to send it to you today as a THANK YOU for your financial and prayer support and as an encouragement to continue as our supporters as you experience – thanks to the internet - how God has blessed your past gifts.

So, I’m asking that you go to a second internet site and “Prayer walk with me through a Mission's Conference at Parklands Baptist Church in Nairobi Kenya, beginning with praying over a simple cup and ending with praying over a New Testament for people from a neighbouring country which is at war politically and spiritually.” You can find these pictures/captions which you can use personally or share with others (all the pictures can be copied) on my FACEBOOK page or at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/LegacyTeamYatesPrayerLetter_091111PRAYERWALKWithACupAndASomaliNewTestament?feat=directlink

Thank you for wading through this week’s longer-than-usual prayer update, but I can’t apologize for the length – We had too many exciting things to share with you today – too many things that need your offerings of praise and requests to our Father! Bert Yates

November 4, 2009

When 2009 began, we worked in Kenya/Eastern Africa/CESA (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa). We now work in Equatorial Eastern Sub-Cluster/ Equatorial Africa/Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity Group (SSAP-AG). We are living in the same house, working from the same desks, and Jack continues to lead the LEGACY TEAM (established Baptist churches). But as you can see, other than our sending agency, the IMB (International Mission Board) being the same, a lot has changed! Why has this happened? To keep us flexible, a must for missionaries? No, to help IMB staff be better workers for our Father and better stewards of the financial support we receive from you thanks to your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program.

This transition includes a new job for me. I loved serving as Prayer Advocate for Kenya, but I now have the opportunity to work with all of our missionaries in the Equatorial Cluster which reaches from Gabon on the Atlantic Ocean to Kenya on the Indian Ocean. As the Cluster Connector I will seek to “connect” our staff with one another and to you through a monthly newsletter and by keeping all the data on our diverse group. Pray that I will seek God’s guidance in my every thought, action and plan as I learn/define this new position. Pray for patience as I explore the best way to do the work, especially the work on the computer.

Thankfully, transition is not required in Jack’s job assignment or my acting as the team’s Prayer Advocate. Why do we feel so strongly that Jack’s should be “Strengthening and encouraging” Kenyan Baptists “as we engage lostness together” (Acts 14:22; Rev 14:6) rather than working directly among the unreached people groups in our part of the world? Kenyan Christians are the ones who are uniquely equipped to by our heavenly Father to win their continent to Christ!

We see this exemplified at Parklands Baptist, our home church in Nairobi, which was begun by Southern Baptists missionaries in 1978, the year we arrived in Kenya. I was one of the first children’s Sunday School teachers and Jack was among the first deacons ordained. Parklands now has five thousands members and holds four services on Sunday mornings. Early church members were discipled/mentored/taught by many of your missionaries and they have learned, grown and now faithfully continue as multiplying “witnesses in (their) Jerusalem…Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This past Sunday, we caught a glimpse of the vision statement of Sub-Sahara Africa in action: To see “a multitude from every language, people, tribe and Nation of SSA(Sub-Sahara Africa) knowing and worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ.” It was a skin-tingling time as praise, glory and honour was brought to our heavenly Father as we prayed and sang in multiple languages and watched others express their cultural diversity through drama and dance (praising God with their feet)!Jack needs your prayers this weekend as he is one of the key speakers at Parklands Mission’s Conference. Pray for him as he prepares to share on Mission Organization. Pray for him also as he works with the Legacy churches, the changes we face as missionaries also affects them.

Sorry, this has been long, but I must share a bit more. Another example of how one Legacy Church, Ruiru First Baptist – a church impacted by your missionaries – is now obediently sharing God’s love and salvation, can be found at: Ministering to the Kids .* These pictures are an example of how God blessed your past gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering and the Cooperative Program. Our last prayer request this week is that we and our co-workers will always be flexible so that we can be totally in line with our Father’s plans, always ready to sense the Holy Spirit’s guidance, always alert to opportunities to share our Saviour’s love, and always able to bring glory to our God in all we do!
Bert Yates

* "Ministering to the Kids" is at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/MinisteringToTheKidsAtRuiruFirstBaptistKenya?feat=directlink

REMEMBER: Additional pictures for this prayer update can be found at my FACEBOOK page.

October 28, 2009

How important are your prayers to our work? My FACEBOOK post last Wednesday afternoon answers this question – “Our God has a sense of humour. To save space, I cut a sentence in our weekly prayer update asking for prayer for patience as I worked on the computer - Almost immediately, my internet went from "speedy" to "snail speed" for an hour!” This really happened! We are serious when we say we need your prayer support!

I try to share specific needs, but sometimes there isn’t enough space in our “short” Updates – such as my not asking for prayer for last Saturday’s MasterLife workshop at Parklands Baptist Church. My role was to be “Mrs. Skeptical” as I challenged the “practice” testimonies of three young professionals concluding their year-long study. Yes, I did throw each of them at some point, but it was amazing to sense the depth of their faith and their desire to share of their Father’s love and salvation. It was also a special reminder of the need to praise our God for how He is and has been at work in Kenya as I remembered the past discipleship work of so many missionaries in Kenya and recognized once again the potential of Kenyan Baptists to win their world to Christ!

Failure to ask for prayers for Jack as he preached this past Sunday was simply he wasn’t asked until after last week’s Prayer Update was sent! BUT even if I had asked for prayer, he didn’t know everything! When we arrived at Ruiru First Baptist Church, on the far edge of Nairobi, he thought he was preaching for an Ordination service. As he met with the pastor and candidates for ordination, he didn’t know that a wedding party was congregating outside the church. It wasn’t until he saw my pictures* that he realized that the wall behind his seat in the church was decorated with the large words: Anjelicah WEDS Joshua. But you prayed well! Jack felt your “general” prayers as he preached for the first time in months in Kiswahili and as he made quick changes to his sermon. Actually, the couple have been married for years by traditional law, but not in a Christian service – one of the requirements for the husband to be ordained!

We also often cannot ask for prayer due to the sensitive nature of some items and at the moment, many prayer needs fit that definition! We ask that you pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us with wisdom, patience and guidance so that we will bring glory to God in all our actions! Another specific request is the continued need for rain – the rains are sporadic and there is fear that they may be insufficient to alleviate the problems of drought. There is also a “flip-side” to this request. We live in third-world country where if ample or extra rains come, new problems will emerge due to illnesses, flooding, poor housing, etc. We ask that you pray that whatever is happening, Kenyan Christians will be strong witnesses and servants of their heavenly Father! Bert Yates

*Extra pictures to make our Prayer Updates “real” at: http://picasaweb.google.com/omba4kenya/YatesPrayerUpdate091028?feat=directlink and on Bert's FACEBOOK page.

October 21, 2009

The sun is shining this morning, but the rains have arrived in Kenya – a great praise. The transformation is incredible as the awesomely beautiful Jacaranda trees* bordered by carpets of their fallen purple flowers are now surrounded by sprouting green grass and budding plants. The rains have led to a desire to hibernate - not only due to the soothing sounds of rain, but because the walking paths to the grocery store, etc, are slippery mud baths and the potholes on the roads are hidden under water – roads often blocked due to submerged roads and stalled/crashed vehicles.

Jack is using this “inside” time to develop new teaching materials on how to prepare and lead simple, yet effective Bible Studies in our churches and especially with small groups of potential Christians/churches. He did venture out several times in the last week to meet with young Baptist leaders - each time with the purpose of strengthening and encouraging them, but these times have led to great times of rejuvenation for him! Pray for Jack as he develops new teaching materials and reviews/refines his older materials. His prayer is that he will always share/do exactly what is part of God’s plan.

I spend my days at the computer seeking better ways to share the prayer needs of Kenyan Baptists and others in Equatorial Africa. I visit FACEBOOK** daily – an incredible opportunity for raising prayer support! I am hopelessly behind in labelling my past pictures – a need as I seek to strengthen prayer items with “real” pictures. Pray for wisdom and patience as I seek better methods to strengthen your ability to be a prayer warrior for God’s work in our part of the world. Pray for wisdom/insight this week as I help a young woman in seminary make the needed contacts for her thesis on Chronological Bible Storying.

Pray for Jack as he travels to Nyeri Baptist High School this Saturday for a Board of Governors’ meeting. Pray that he will encourage Kenyan Baptists to fully claim the strength they have through our Saviour. Pray for the students at Nyeri Baptist High School who joined 336,633 other Form Four (high school senior) students in beginning the Kenya Certificate of Secondary (KSCE) Exams*** today through November 16th. Fred Gachau, Nyeri’s headmaster, asks us to pray for “confidence and courage” as the students take these exams which determine their opportunities for further studies.

Thank you again and again for being our prayer supporter! As you pray, you are very much a part of God’s work ! Bert Yates
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* For incredible pictures from Kenya, including a screensaver gift and others which can be downloaded for your use – offered as a thank you for past prayers and encouragement for future prayers, go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/omba4kenya/JacarandaRain?feat=directlink

** To become my friend on FACEBOOK, click “Find Friends” on your Friend’s page and locate me through “People you e-mail” or by pasting my name or e-mail address in the “Search for People” box at the page bottom. There are several Bert Yates – I’m the one wearing the Red African headdress! I always paste extra pictures for our prayer updates on my FACEBOOK page.

*** “National Examinations/Exam Officials defy rains...” (Daily Nation, 10/20/09) - http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/674500/-/uo1o3q/-/index.html