We’ve learned, most often the hard way, that prayer and daily time in God’s Word is required for a healthy frame of mind. I have to admit that even this week I referred to my “Zap-em” list – yes, I really do have a hand-written list of verses in the back of my Bible with this title – references such as those found in Psalms 94 where past servants beg God to avenge their enemies! Another factor is that Jack and I usually balance one another and when we both are down, we know to avoid making any major decisions! Thirty one years in Kenya also has taught us quite a bit about patience and waiting for the tide to turn.
I’m sharing all of this because often I simply cannot share with you our most pressing prayer needs, not due to a desire to be positive or a lack of space, but because of the sensitive nature of many things. We are facing many such things as the moment – so I simply ask that you pray that we have strength, wisdom, patience, and that we be totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit as we decide what God needs us to do – whether it be strengthening, encouraging, correcting, rebuking, etc., OR accepting that we are to do nothing as we seek to serve Him. Pray also that we will have peace and be strong ambassadors of our Father’s love at all times.
As we deal with difficulties we also realize that we have a very special support group – our Kenyan Christian friends who often teach us about trusting and obeying our Father. I was reminded of this last Sunday morning as I met with several of my friends – a seminary student who shared of her first visit with a group of illiterate women of an unreached people group; a young friend 
who was struggling to find God’s will in her life and now uses media to share God’s Good News; a young man who has decided to do his masters at a seminary; the mother of a young friend who died last year while traveling to teach discipleship; and more encounters.
Jack is experiencing this as he teaches Baptist History and Faith as well as Discipleship this month at the Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC). In just one morning last week, I heard him correct/rebuke a Kenyan colleague, advise a student who pastors seven small churches, laugh with a young man who was just a child when we served in his Rift Valley home area, and encourage two Sabaot men who are seeking to share God’s love and salvation with their own unreached people group – all outside the classroom!
Another gift from God that strengthens us is the beauty and uniqueness of Kenya – including finding a congregation of 
Maasai in full regalia in the balcony above us during church last Sunday; spotting a monkey at our dining room window as we ate dinner last night; a bird that mimics a neighbor’s faulty car alarm; and having a delayed SUPER BOWL party for friends! I’ve placed a group of pictures on FACEBOOK – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195381&id=685050129&l=9a3db552e3 – that will help you walk through a morning at KBTC and view a few of the scenes along the way to the college as well as a few other colourful bits of our lives!
And the last gift that we rely upon to stay positive and use-able by God – YOUR PRAYERS! Thank you, BERT YATES
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