July 1, 2009

Enjoying peaches, but missing mangoes; looking for deer while we travel rather than zebra or giraffe; hoping to spot an elusive bear rather than a lion – these are a few of the differences of life while on Stateside Assignment. We also are finding ways to use our special skills, such as helping our daughter, Jenny, her husband and baby settle into a new home – trust me, most missionaries are pros at moving and knowing how to unpack quickly and get settled! Another skill – spotting sale rack/counters and finding bargain stores! This is a result of years of stocking up on clothing, shampoo, toys, etc., for the next four years for our family. We can now buy almost anything in Kenya, so this is a less needed skill today, but I still prefer finding the best price for the items on our wish/need packing list.

The moving bit is the part that I want to highlight for prayer today. The IMB is in the last stages of a transition time, transition for a good purpose – to be more effective harvest workers for our Father. Yet, the good comes with much pain. Many, many IMB personnel are packing or unpacking at the moment as they move to new areas. Some are in a hold pattern as housing is located/readied. The moves require finding new “home” churches, schools for kids, friends, places to shop, trustworthy repairmen, etc. Others are staying put in the same country, but transitioning to new jobs. This means learning new jobs and ending old jobs/assignments. This sometimes is welcome, but can also come with pain and even fear.

Missionaries are not the only ones facing change. Many people of our host countries are also affected. Some have lost jobs as missionaries move or jobs are transitioned. Others are confused and don’t understand the purpose of the changes. The revised ways of doing things also can lead to new relationships with local Baptist conventions. All of this can lead to many misunderstandings which are compounded by cross/cultural differences of how things are valued and interpreted.

I think I have given you more than enough to lead you to prayer, but I will share these specific prayer nudges:
Pray for extra-ordinary wisdom, sensitivity, discernment, awareness of God’s will as IMB leadership makes decisions.
Pray for missionaries who are “moving” to new localities or new jobs. Pray for wisdom as they decide how to be about God’s work in the new place.
Pray for good communication with the people of our host countries, our co-workers and especially the leaders of our Baptist conventions/churches. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give our missionaries and national co-workers an extra awareness of HIS sensitivity and guidance.
Pray that God’s will will be done in all that happens and that the end result of the IMB transition will be a speedier and stronger proclamation of the eternal gospel “to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Acts 14:6). Bert Yates