and mandazi (triangular doughnuts) in the largest room of a three-room mud house. They are discussing church growth with the pastor and a deacon of Baraka Baptist Church which meets under a large tree in the yard of the home where they sit. Until a few months before, the six year old church met in a building erected nearby, but the original owner of the land decided to start his own church and reclaim his land and the church building! NEW CHARACTER: A man enters and sits on the opposite side of the room from the group. He sits there quietly, simply observing all that is happening.
EXIT OF CHARACTERS: One missionary leaves to take pictures of the women outside setting-up borrowed chairs for the day’s worship service/discipleship training and others behind the house preparing rice and beans for lunch. The missionary is surprised by all the unsmiling kids. She then finds unique large rocks and a beautiful garden so she returns for her husband who loves rocks and gardening. 
As they exit, the pastor introduces the lone man – he is a church deacon and the owner of the house and the yard where the church meets. Silently, the home owner follows the missionary couple outside.
PLOT CHANGE: After one comment by the male missionary about the incredible rocks, the solemn man becomes animated as he shares his love for the rocks that God has provided on his property – some he is using and others he sells when he needs school fees and other things for his family. He also proudly shows his fields of vegetables and trees – trees that will be ready to harvest when his three boys needs funds after primary school.
This is a description of last Sunday morning as we began another week of church planting training in Kakamega. The transformation in the deacon was experienced again as a group of reserved people became animated while talking of the things they loved – not only the trees and the rocks, but also of their Saviour. 
They were eager to learn more of how to be good disciples and how to make disciples. It was an exciting two days as they learned from God’s Word of His expectations and plans for them. As Sunday progressed, many smiles appeared as the children and adults became comfortable with the Wazungu (Whites). A few of their many smiles with prayer nudges guided by Proverbs can be found at “Joining Baraka Baptist Church in Prayer.” A lighter view of the day can also be seen of how one toddler took a mid-day break at “Adventures with a Kanga.”
Thank you for praying for us during this eight day trip to Kakamega. We had a safe trip and we did need your prayers. The current rains are a blessing, but with the downpours, the road between Kisumu and Kakamega has jumped a few levels up on the HORRIBLE chart. Your prayers for Jack are also being answered as he seeks to strengthen and encourage the work of Baptists in this area. He returns each day exhausted but excited after teaching. He completes two days of training today in the local Baptist Bible School 
– the last classes for more than 20 men and women (including several of other denominations) who graduate on Friday after two years of study. I’m also thankful for reliable roving internet which allows me to work as I travel with Jack. Pray for me as I transition into my job as Cluster Connector of Equatorial Africa and seek to strengthen and encourage our staff in Equatorial Africa. Thank you also for praying for Ngoingwa Community Baptist Church which began less than two weeks ago. Samson Kisia reports that the second service was also blessed and several new people of the neighbourhood attended. God is at work in our part of the world – thank you for joining us in this work as you pray, come as volunteers and give! BERT YATES
PS – Don’t forget to pray for our return trip on Saturday – we would rather not share our lane again with a huge bus determined to pass an 18 wheeler truck!
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“Joining Baraka Baptist Church in Prayer” – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209719&id=685050129&l=e821b374cf
“Adventures with a Kanga” – http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209197&id=685050129&l=a6ec823c9d
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