August 25, 2009

Today’s update will be short and sweet. We are definitely feeling an “end-of-leave exhaustion” these days, combined with an equal amount of eagerness to “finish-up” in the States and get back to Kenya – which results in my simply lacking the needed creative juices to write a proper prayer update!

Our greatest praise of the last week was having all our kids with us over the weekend. It was an incredible time of sharing, enjoying one another, and simply being a family! We are also praising God for last night’s completion of the Mission’s Training Seminar led by Jack for volunteers at First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC. As happens in Kenya when Jack leads seminars on sharing one’s faith, it has been exciting to watch as Christians respond to the simplicity of voicing their relationship with their heavenly Father – then watching these people become excited and eager to share this relationship with others.

Our prayer needs for the week includes:
– We will meet with past and potential volunteers at a “NC MISSIONS CELEBRATION” presented by North Carolina Baptist Men on Thursday evening in Greenville, NC. Pray that we will adequately share our praise for how God has already used North Carolina volunteers in His work in Kenya and challenge more men, women and youth to find how God can use their gifts and talents in His work.

– Pray for us as we pack-up, say many good-byes, and take care of lots of little errands, etc., as we prepare to leave for Kenya on September 5th. To be honest, the times of packing and “a’coming and a’going” which require continuously saying good-bye is the part we like least about being missionaries!

– Pray for Kenyans as the effects of the drought in our East African home deepens. It has been at least two years since there were ample rains and the number of people experiencing hunger and thirst continues to increase. Where there is food, the prices have tripled in some areas. Water and electricity are rationed in the city of Nairobi – which means the poorest residents who routinely “buy” water by the bucket are truly suffering as the commodity lessens and becomes more expensive. For more information, take time to read a YAHOO NEWS article a friend shared today on FACEBOOK, “Kenya’s Rural Drought Hurts City Dwellers”.* The next rainy season should begin in October. Please join us in praying that the rains will come early and will last for several weeks, not just a few days as in recent years. Pray also that Kenyan Christians will be strong witnesses of their Saviour, the provider of living water and everlasting life, during this time.

Thank you again for being our prayer warrior – we do need and depend upon your prayer support! Bert Yates
* http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090825/ap_on_re_af/af_kenya_climate_change_1

August 19, 2009

Exhausted, but energized – our emotional range at the moment. Thanks for praying as we continue speaking in churches and spending time with family and friends before returning to Nairobi on September 5th. Exhaustion showed last Wednesday night, our 6th event in 4 days, when I forgot what I was to say next! I felt your prayers as I remembered the notes in my Swahili/English Bible – which I had never used before – which guided me on! Yet each time when the exhaustion passes, we are left with a renewed/increasing desire to be back in Kenya finding new ways to be involved in God’s work there.

We need your prayers this week as Jack completes the Mission’s Training Seminar for volunteers at First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC, next Monday night and as I challenge the participants to a deeper level of prayer. God is answering prayers that this training will lead to an “increased understanding of the practical applications of the Great Commission.” Pray also for a special opportunity to share with past and potential volunteers at a “NC MISSIONS CELEBRATION” presented by North Carolina Baptist Men next Thursday evening. Pray that we will be able to adequately share our praise for how God has already used North Carolina volunteers in His work in Kenya and challenge more men, women and youth to find how God can use their gifts and talents in His work.

We are thankful especially this week for your prayers for our family and it is definitely proof that many of you prayed extra on our birthdays (Bert/14th – Jack/18th – This is NOT a reminder to those of you who didn’t remember our birthdays – simply an incredible example of how our heavenly Father does hear and respond to your prayers!) As of last Saturday, we have now, at some time, moved all three of our kids to Raleigh, NC. This was Jessica’s turn to “get her own apartment” and move to the big city. Pray for Jessie as she continues her search for a job, hopefully with a library. Then on Monday, our daughter, Jennifer called with great news – her husband, Aaron, had just accepted a job with a bank “just around the corner” from where she works. His being among the fully-employed after a year plus of “semi-employment” is a great answer to prayer! Then our son, John, called yesterday to say that he would be collecting the truck this week that he has been working towards purchasing – an important step in his goal to become a self-employed “home improver.”

As I was writing this update this morning, a book arrived in the mail that you might want to add to your devotional library. Book 2 of “Voices of the Faithful” is now available at LIFEWAYS. This book is filled with an entire year of devotions written by your IMB missionaries. One of my stories is the November 23rd entry. I’m not sharing this to boost my own ego, but because I truly believe that if you read all these stories, you not only will be providing the prayer support that your missionaries need, but you will be better equipped to pray for us in the future. AND we do depend upon your prayers! Bert Yates

August 12, 2009

Elated, excited, and exhausted! This describes us after sharing with nine groups at last week’s Mission’s Conference at Fort Caswell on the Atlantic Ocean (and enjoying fresh seafood every day!) and speaking five times in the last three days (with four covered dish meals). We will speak in another church tonight and enjoy another church dinner! Yes, it is exhausting and I will not step onto the scales this week, but it “recharges” us as we share how God is at work in Africa and thank Southern Baptists for allowing us to be a part of His work as you pray, give and send personnel. Last week was also a reunion for us – Thirty one years ago at the Mission’s Week at this NC Baptist Assembly our lives took a major turn. When we arrived that year with our youth group from Greensboro, NC, we planned to move the next week to Raleigh, NC, so I could complete my Masters. Instead two months later we moved to Nairobi, Kenya, to serve for JUST one year and …

Thank you for praying for our time at Fort Caswell. We praise God for the friends we made last week – friends that are among our new prayer warriors and friends we hope to someday see in Kenya as volunteers or even long-term personnel! Join us in praying that the children, youth and adults at the camp will continue to grow in their desire to know our Saviour’s will and obey it. Thank you also for praying for Jack as he led a Mission’s Training Seminar for volunteers at First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC, last Monday night. Jack felt that God was at work and there was an “increased understanding of the practical applications of the Great Commission.” Pray for Jack as this training continues on August 17th and 24th and as we share with others groups next week.

In our last Prayer Update, I asked you to pray for the family and friends of a young Kenyan friend, David Yallo, who had died. We learned later that Yallo was on his way to lead a youth seminar in Tanzania and that at least 38 people died in the bus accident. Jack had mentored Yallo for many years. We both had spent hours talking with Yallo on the phone, via text messages, instant messaging, etc., as he gained confidence in ministering, so we have been among his friends/family who felt your prayers for peace and joy during this sad time. Shem Okello, a Kenyan co-worker/friend, sent me an account of a recent trip where Yallo worked with Southern Baptist volunteers from Texas. “Using his (Yallo) creativity skills, we managed to paint the entire Muranga police station and shared the holy word with the police officers there. He organized lunch for everybody in the volunteer team … He organized for the Lord’s Supper as well … in one of the gatherings with the youth, he asked everybody to hold hands and told them ‘I am passing on the baton to you all. Go and share the word of God with everybody.’” Please join us in praying that Yallo’s Christian friends will do this and his friends who have not yet accepted our Saviour’s love and salvation, will do so.

Yes, I do give you a lot to pray for, but I know God hears even the short prayers you offer as you read this message and He is answering – THANK YOU, Bert