Washington, DC, followed by a visit to a church. We do move around during our time in the States. Our Stateside Assignments are an opportunity for rest, but it is also a special time to share with Southern Baptists – a time to share how God is at work in Kenya and how others can participate, as well as a time to thank Southern Baptist for their financial and prayer support which allows us to be a part of God’s work in Kenya.Thank you for praying for us during the last two weeks, especially as we attended an IMB training session. We asked you to “pray that we will be an encourager to other missionaries and
be strengthened in our ability to serve.” Our prayers were answered. Joining with over 150 IMB missionaries, we learned to be better stewards of our actions and finances – the finances you provide through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon. We were astounded at the many times we “happened” to sit with a young couple who had questions/doubts/concerns that related to our past experiences and hopefully we offered encouragement and strengthening. These times were no accidents, but answers to your prayers. The sitting next to a younger couple was easy as almost everyone there was younger. With the exception of the retired couples volunteering at the training centre, we were definitely the senior missionaries! It was also a special time of reunion as we spent time with co-workers from our area and with a missionary “nephew” and his wife. We enjoyed
being with a couple I met during a past Stateside Assignment on the night they journeyed down the aisle in their home church in South Carolina to commit to missions. We also visited with a couple who worked with us in the early 90’s as a part of their seminary studies. It was incredible to hear how God is now using them as IMB missionaries in very difficult places.
Another part of Stateside Assignment is being with family and yesterday was a special day as we had our families together – actually four generations of our family. Jack preached at First Baptist, Rocky Mount and our parents, children and our granddaughter were all with us for the worship service and afterwards for lunch. Jack’s theme was Acts 3:19, “Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” This may not seem an 
obvious verse for a mission sermon, but we have learned that this refreshment is a very important part of being servants of our Heavenly Father. Without the joy that comes from this refreshment, we also are likely very poor ambassadors of our Father as others are unable to see His love, peace and joy in our lives.So as I close by asking you to continue praying we will share clearly and “contagiously” how others can be a part of God’s work in East Africa and others parts of our world as they pray and as they give of their time and finances, I also add our prayer for you – that you know the blessing of the refreshing that can only come from our Father and that you know the joy of living a life that expresses His love and eternal life with others. Bert Yates
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