words: “pray for … Kenyans who are hungry and thirsty … Help is needed from missionaries and international relief groups, but … the maturity and wisdom gained from last year’s post-election chaos is being expressed as Kenyans respond to the famine … Pray for wisdom, sensitivity and strength for all those planning relief efforts. Pray also that ministering Christians will be strong ambassadors of their Father’s love and salvation to all those “who live on earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Revelation 14:6) – For all of this update, go to: http://omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2009/03/cows-are-dying-and-many-many-people-are.htmlAs I considered what to ask you, our personal prayer team, to join us in praying this week, I realized these words covered our concerns. We are praying for the 10.6 million Kenyans who are starving. Although raising the finances is difficult, the answer appears simple: Feed the people! But the answer is much more complex. Decisions must be made: Who/where are the
starving? What are their greatest/true needs? How can they be helped in short-term ways that will benefit them in the long-run? (Example: Pray for Jack as he determines how much money to request for corn for eating and corn for planting. The seeds saved for planting have been eaten!) Who has the best time/experience/ability/energy/assets to meet these needs? Where/how can the best, but most economical resources such as food and milk be found? How can the resources be delivered so all those in need will benefit? How can we be the best stewards of the available resources? Etc…As you pray for those facing starvation, pray also for those who are responding to their needs. These men and women are facing physical, emotional, and spiritual battles. Pray that they will have exceptional strength in all these areas. When Jack saw the specialist this past week (a praise is that tests show Jack has no more kidney stones!), he asked if Jack was working in the famine areas – which he is. The doctor is not a mystic – he knows from experience that people in dry areas – the areas of famine – face a much higher chance of developing medical problems such as kidney stones – those suffering from famine and those ministering to them! From personal experience, we also know that those ministering suffer emotionally from all the pain they see and the devil works overtime to discourage these helpers whether it be broken down vehicles, administrative delays, greedy government officials and suppliers, family problems, depletion of spiritual strength, etc.
As you pray for these things, join us in praising God for how Kenyans are responding to the needs of their
brothers and sisters. Praise God for a renewed desire of Kenyan Christians to obey their Saviour and feed the hungry and give something to drink to the thirsty (Matthew 25:31-46). Praise God for their deeper commitment to prayer. I wish you could have stood with Jack and me during our last Sunday morning worship service as our pastor led hundreds of us in committing ourselves to our Saviours’ words in John 15:7 (NIV): “If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you” – which leads me to how you can truly minister to those hurting in Kenya – PRAY! And I’ve made it easy – today’s prayer guides are in red. Bert Yates
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