June 24, 2009

The most frustrating part of my work as a Prayer Advocate: Figuring out what will catch and hold the attention of Americans! I don’t intend to be rude or critical, but I’ve lived in Kenya for over 30 years and I now think/respond as my Kenyan friends. The political/economic/social issues that affect my daily life are those from East Africa. This is one reason missionaries need stateside leaves: to be re-acculturated with our American homes and those of you who are our support system.

Being on Stateside Assignment is helping me understand you and your concerns, worries, hurts and joys. Hopefully it is helping me understand how to increase/encourage your prayers for Kenya in your busy daily schedule. So today, I’m offering prayer resources based on your use of incredibly fast and loaded communication tools – your phones, iPods, internet, etc, PLUS I need your help!

First, have you ever thought of using your phone as a prayer reminder? Did you know that you can download the national anthem of the country that is your heart/prayer focus? Then when your phone rings, you are reminded to pray for Kenya, Afghanistan, Iran, etc. Many of you may know how to find a “ring-tone” for your phone or favorite music list, but for those of you who aren’t as internet savvy, go to the search box on your internet page (Google, Yahoo, etc) and type in: Free Ringtone, National anthem, plus the name of the country on your heart. The Kenyan national anthem can be found at: http://www.national-anthems.net/KE

For those of you who are prayer warriors for Kenya, I found a site this week that has no pictures, but great information – Swahili Language and Culture – http://www.glcom.com/hassan/index.html . Check this out to find lessons in Swahili, a national language of East Africa. You can hear Swahili words pronounced by a real Kiswahili speaker! You will also find a Swahili Dictionary and bonus information on Kangas, the rectangular cloths which are the most all-purpose-items imaginable – shirts, skirts, head-coverings, baby-carriers, sleep-wear, bedding, table covering, etc., plus when they are “finished” they are incredible dust cloths!

Now for the bit about my needing your help: I have begun a new PRAYER TOOLBOX blog and I want it loaded with great prayer tools. So I need to know:
Have you found special websites that have helped you and/or your church pray for a country or an unreached people group?
Do you want more information on any prayer interests? (Possibly by my helping you find the answers, we can help others become strong prayer warriors!)
What has motivated you to pray or any other advice? (This does not need to relate to the internet. I want one section of what keeps people praying for missions!)

Thanks once again for praying for us and more importantly for praying for Kenya and the lost of our world, Bert Yates
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For more pictures and a chance to translate the Swahili proverbs, go to:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=121331&id=685050129&l=70b5bca988

June 17, 2009

Why do I feel it is urgent to share these prayer letters each week, even during our time in the States? God is at work in Kenya and He has called me to be a part of that work. One way to fulfil His call on my life is by getting you involved through your physical presence in Kenya (or wherever God has called you to be active in his Harvest), through your financial support, and most importantly, through your prayers.

I am currently reading through the book of Luke during my devotions and for the last week, I keep returning to the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the conflict between Mary and Martha (Luke 10:25-42). No, I am not a very slow reader, but every time I began to move on, the Holy Spirit sends me back to reread this passage and a phrase I had highlighted in each story. In the Good Samaritan, the phrase was Luke’s description of the expert in the law wanting “to justify himself” (Luke 10:29). In the sisters’ story, it was “But Martha was distracted by …” (10:40). I have to admit that my first reaction was to apply these phrases to the shortcomings of others, but after reading our Saviour’s teaching on prayer in Luke 11, I applied it to myself.

How does the Holy Spirit’s use of the Scriptures to teach, rebuke, correct and train (2 Timothy 3:16) me relate to my believing it is urgent to continue sending weekly prayer updates even during our time in the States? I realized/recognized that my need to justify things/find excuses and my being distracted even by good/spiritual things often keeps me from having the heart which allows me to be a part of my Father’s work or to be a strong prayer warrior. The plentiful harvest in need of workers (Matthew 9:37) in Kenya and in all our world requires that I and others not allow anything to keep us from doing all we can to serve our Saviour.

Last week I shared of the IMB work with the Maasai (“Feeding the Maasai” at http://imbmaasai.blogspot.com/ ). I omitted Nancy Calvert’s recent prayer item concerning a home security problem. Nancy ended that prayer item with: “Our greatest defense, though, is prayer.” Our greatest defense/need is prayer and I don’t want to lose your prayer support for Kenya – I want you praying even when I’m not there. I also know without a doubt that IF you are praying, the personnel and financial support issues will all be solved as praying will lead you to giving not just financially, but also of your time, of your lives!

I also know that prayer leads to incredible blessings. It leads to the joy of being strengthened and encouraged as we engage lostness together (Acts 14:22, Revelations 14:6). It leads to the joy of being a part of harvest field work as we give of our time, our lives, and our finances. It also leads to the joy of communicating/ building a relationship with our heavenly Father through talking with Him through prayer. Thus another reason for sending our prayer updates – I want you, our prayer supporters, to claim these joys! Bert Yates

June 10, 2009

Prayer requests and answers to prayer straight from the mission field; “behind the scenes” views of ministering to those facing hunger; a special look at the logistics/problems/realities/frustrations/joys of missions; a report on how your investments are reaping incredible benefits; a thank you note; news that includes happy/good bits; a kaleidoscope of emotions and colours from another culture captured in pictures; or simply a “great read” to include in your summer reading program – The following newsletters (begins with April update) from Bob and Nancy Calvert, IMB missionaries with the Maasai People, will provide all of these as you read of how they minister to Kenyans who are hungry due to the ongoing famine in Kenya.

These are the beginning words of the new blog that I just* completed. A friend wrote last week to say that there had been a few more showers after we left for our Stateside Assignment in late April, but the rains in Kenya are over for another season and once again, the rains were insufficient in most of the country – which means the drought is continuing – which means prayer is a continuing need for the famine situation. Please take time this week to go to “Feeding the Maasai” at http://imbmaasai.blogspot.com/ . I ask also that you take time, not just once, but at least daily to pray that the Maasai and other people of Kenya will receive both physical and spiritual nourishment. Pray that “They will know that He is the Lord” (Ezekiel 6:14). Bert Yates
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Explanation of why people from Kenya often use the word JUST: Kiswahili has a “present” past tense – expressing that something has “just” occurred rather than occurring in past hours, days, etc. Therefore the logical way to say this is to add the word “just” when translating Kiswahili into English. Good or bad, this becomes a part of our spoken English even when we are only using English! So … please take time right now to check out: “Feeding the Maasai” so that you can say: “I have JUST read about how I’m a part of ministering the Maasai!”

June 3, 2009

“Thousands attend joyful ceremony at new temple to god of prosperity.” These are the words I read last Friday morning on the front page of the newspaper. As I read of a helicopter raining red flowers upon the new temple, I read one participant’s comment, “We have never seen this kind of thing in India … It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” To be honest, it would not have been “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” if this man lived in Kenya, but this was in Raleigh, NC, home of the paper delivered daily to our mission home. As I read his words, I wondered how American Christians reacted to this article. Was it an opportunity to learn about those of other faiths? Did it lead to simple acceptance, before they moved without any reaction? Did it lead to fear or even a greater mistrust/dislike of others?

Why am I sharing this with you? I send prayer updates to lead you to pray for Kenya, but I also hope to strengthen your witness and ability to pray for those you meet daily. I encourage you to learn about the faiths of others and then use this knowledge. Use the differences/questions that arise as a way of deepening your own faith and your own witness. As I read the article, I asked myself: What do others learn from my life/ my actions/ my beliefs? Do they see that I am totally committed to serving my God? Do my actions lead to questions that weaken my witness of a strong/active relationship with my Heavenly Father? Does my life lead to their questioning their faith and wanting to have the relationship that I claim with my Saviour? And possibly most important: How can I use this knowledge to guide my witness and my prayers for my friends of other faiths? (For more on praying for others: http://omba4kenyaprayforothers.blogspot.com/ )

Prayer does work as Nancy Calvert, one of your missionaries in Kenya with the Maasai, shared in her prayer letter this week: Thank you all for praying for us during the feeding project … There have been a few days that have challenged us, but... The Maasai are so grateful for the food. We do not give food to our Baptist members only, but to hungry people. It makes no difference is they are Christians, Muslims, or Animists … A group of elders stopped us today just to express their gratitude. Over half of them were not Christians … There are a few areas that are receiving sporadic showers, but (no) good soaking rain … Cattle, donkeys, and even wild animals are dying … (it is) predicted that the usual rains would stop yesterday. Let's pray together that God will send the "unusual" rains! Please pray for our pastors. Even though we are feeding 180,000 people, at every church others are begging for food. Vast numbers of people from 100 to 5000 more are showing up at every church to see if they can obtain just one packet (of corn meal). Please pray for grace and wisdom for our pastors in talking with these hungry people who most likely will go home with nothing. The next four weeks are our most challenging logistically. Please pray that the maize meal company will hold up their end to take the maize meal to the first stage "super center." They are a little anxious (as) one of their large trucks was car jacked last year and two of their employees were killed … We know that the provision for these people is due to your generous gifts to the Baptist Global Relief fund of the IMB. We know that being able to deliver the food successfully is due to your prayer support. We are so grateful for you, and so are many, many Maasai people.

Jack and I thank you also for your prayers and ask that you continue praying that during our time in the States we will be able to share clearly and ‘contagiously’ how God is at work in Africa and how others can join us in the harvest. Bert Yates