May 26, 2010

Life in Kenya – the same as our lives would be in US as well as unique. This was my thought as we visited with friends after church on Sunday. Many were dressed in clothing straight from US clothing stores either bought in the States or from local second-hand clothing markets, others wore African clothing (usually one-of-a-kind designer outfits as these are rarely found ready-made), some donned Asian outfits, and a few kids roamed around in school uniforms. Another same, but unique bit: As I talked with a Kenyan friend, I realized that although she or at least her parents likely grew up in a mud or thatch hut, we easily talked of our mutual and very similar joys and concerns with our “grown-up” children.

Jack and I also talked with several young adults - an American volunteer doing university work, an almost college graduate, and another who is weeks away from completing seminary. As the college student joined our group he said, “Wow, family time.” As I thought later of his words, I realized that I too felt a unique bond with this group. We are different ages and have unique backgrounds, etc, but we all love God and want to share His love and salvation in Kenya AND we do rely upon one another for strengthening and encouragement.

Yes, Jack and I miss our kids and we sometimes crave a Krispy Kreme doughnut or Klondike ice cream bar, but we know this is where we are to be fellow workers with others who love Him. This week, I’m providing a mini-view of how life in Kenya is “SAME BUT DIFFERENT” at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=229202&id=685050129&l=6bceabc567 This picture album was prepared with a touch of humor, but my prayer is that this will strengthen your desire and ability to pray knowledgeably for God’s work in our part of the world.

For prayer is needed! As I read yesterday’s local news, one article left me with many concerns in need of prayer. First the article was found past the mid-way point of the newspaper – which usually implies that this is no longer considered major news. Yet, the article was reporting the on-going suffering caused by the current “heavy rains” - Suffering that is doubled as these problems follow the problems of the multi-year drought. The title of the article, “The dilemma of fleeing floods or saving crops,”** combined with what I saw in the attached photo, also led me to prayer. The women in the picture, who were once again awaiting relief food, were all dressed in a manner that said that they had not claimed our Saviour’s love - Which told me that they do need saving, but not in the way that the writer was implying!

So I ask again this week that you pray that Jack and I and other Christians in Kenya will be very alert to sharing our Father’s love and salvation with all we encounter. Pray that this time of an over-blessing of rain, will be a time that Kenyan Christians will boldly share and be witnesses of the “showers of blessings” (Ezekiel 34:26) offered by our heavenly Father. BERT YATES

* You do not have to be a FACEBOOK member to safely and easily view “Same But Different”. To locate the pictures, simply click or double click this title, or copy the website listed above and paste it into the area on your internet page.

** “The dilemma of fleeing floods or saving crops” – Daily Nation, 5/25/10, p. 30 - http://www.nation.co.ke/News/regional/The%20dilemma%20of%20fleeing%20%20floods%20or%20saving%20crops%20/-/1070/924906/-/u7mjcrz/-/index.html

May 19, 2010

“ As I added a praise for water (in our taps) to my bedtime prayers, I remembered the young woman I had seen earlier in the day in her ‘home’. The young woman, her husband who is the head guard on the property beside us, their toddler son and an infant, as well as the ten youth in the guard crew live in two hovels of wood frames with a roof and half-walls of tin and no flooring ... I thought of these people whose beds are pieces of fabric or cardboard on the ground...They may be among the few in Kenya thankful for the drought – At least they are sleeping on DRY ground. When the rains start, which the meteorological department says will be this week, how will they sleep?”

After reading “Two drown as rains wreak havoc” on the back page of today’s Daily Nation*, I reread the above words found in our October 14, 2009 prayer update. Our October 21 update began: "The sun is shining this morning, but the rains have arrived in Kenya - a great praise." The rains are continuing and Kenyans are thankful, very thankful** for the rains which ended the drought, but...

Why the BUT? Kenya, like most third world countries, is not equipped/prepared for, nor can they cope with the problems caused by drought OR torrential rains. Examples of the continued need for prayer are found in side-by-side articles in the Smart Company, The Weekly Business Magazine, in today’s newspaper (Daily Nation, p.7). “Coffee prices hit six year high” thanks to the El Nino rains in other parts of the world shares that Kenyan coffee farmers will not fully benefit as production is still affected by “The drought...(which) impacted negatively on both coffee output and quality.” The second article, “Rains ‘not hurting tea production’” sounded positive, yet included predictions of more deaths, flooding, landslides, and problems in moving harvested tea to the collection centres due to poor roads and heavy rains.

During the drought many children did not attend school due to hunger, parents moving in search of water, and illnesses. “Two drown...” shares that similar problems are now caused by the rains as children cannot attend school due to swollen streams, impassable roads and fears of drowning. Families are still on the move, now to avoid mudslides and flooding. There is also the constant fear of “waterborne diseases.”

The family and several young men still live in the makeshift homes near our home. Thankfully, they are on a rise that allows the water to run off, yet, with the current rains the ground stays wet! So how do we pray and react to all the suffering that continues in our third world country? The last paragraph of our October 14, 2009 update is still true (with additions in red): “Viewing suffering daily does lead to sadness, it also brings a new resolve to be involved in our Father’s work in our hurting world. Pray that Jack and I and other Christians in Kenya will be very alert to sharing our Father’s love and salvation with all we encounter. As you pray for rain, pray for health and safety for those in poor housing when the needed rains arrive.” Pray that this time of an over-blessing of rain, will be a time that Kenyan Christians will boldly share and be witnesses of the “showers of blessings” (Ezekiel 34:26) offered by our heavenly Father. BERT YATES

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*For more information on how to pray for the current rains, go to “Two drown as rains wreak havoc” (Daily Nation, May 18, 2010, p. 56) which includes links to several other related articles at: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Two%20drown%20as%20rains%20wreak%20havoc%20/-/1056/920480/-/o3nrexz/-/index.html

**For more pictures that show the blessings of the rain, all from our shamba (yard/garden), go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=227104&id=685050129&l=182f15e92f (Even those who are not Facebook members can safely and easily view these pictures.)

May 12, 2010

Ants and rains – two things experienced in abundance in recent days! During our month-long absence from Nairobi, ants claimed ownership of our house. We’ve almost kicked them out, but we really shouldn’t complain as they are only seeking refuge from the rains. The local meteorological department is celebrating a rare correct prediction – Kenya’s long drought is over thanks to El Nino rains that have now continued for months.

We are also thankful for the water in our taps – the pressure is often lousy, but we have water and it is usually somewhat clean. Yet, even with overflowing reservoirs, there are still signs everywhere of people hauling water. Why? Existing water systems are designed for a fraction of the residents of Nairobi and other places. Poor maintenance is also a problem. We have water because the limited water supply is piped to the “better” housing/business areas and the masses in the slums and poorer housing areas receive little or none. Few of this multitude have running water in their homes, but rely on public water taps shared with hundreds/thousands of others or they pay exorbitant prices for water, too often unclean water, when the public spout runs dry!

As I shared in last week’s prayer update, there is a downside to the heavy and continuous rains – flooding, mudslides, etc. Daily, the paper carries reports of a new mudslide causing destruction and death and of whole villages/parts of cities and towns under water. Once again, this most often affects the poor of Kenya more than the wealthy as those with less or no money are more likely to live in the risky areas. I do want you to pray for good health and adequate fresh water for those with water problems, but I am also sharing these facts because it is too often the poor of Africa who also lack access to our Savior’s Living Water.

Last Sunday as I and my female friends received roses from the men of our church, I thought of the many women in Kenya who were most likely not celebrating Mother’s Day. Many of them live in the densest populated areas of Nairobi and other towns, the slums and other low income housing areas. Between a lack of education and/or money, and sometimes a lack of basic sanitation which leads to dirty clothes, bodies, etc, these people do not always feel at ease in traditional churches. Often their limited resources also leads to hungry people who do not have time or energy for religion.

Another Kenyan group in need of water are the people of northern Kenya. Most live in small dispersed villages with limited resources such as water, electricity or even accessible education. More urgently, too many of these people are also members of people groups who have yet to claim the love of our heavenly Father. Pray that our Savior’s Living Water will be shared with all people in Kenya/Africa in a way that they can understand and accept. Pray that those God is calling to share his salvation with these people will not just respond, but respond quickly! Your prayers do make a difference – Thank you, BERT

May 5, 2010

Bert’s definition of a great vacation: Realizing a few days before it ends that you’ve had a wonderful time, but you are eager to return to work. We did have a blessed time during April as we visited our home state, North Carolina, but we are excited to be back in Nairobi and eager to return to work. During our vacation, we enjoyed quality time with our family, including celebrating our granddaughter’s first birthday party with all three of our kids; sampled lots of missed foods such as real barbecue (the eastern North Carolina variety!) and Dairy Queen banana-splits (one of those “forget the calorie” moments); spotted cardinals and blue jays as well as blooming dogwood, daffodils and tulips; and shared how God is at work in Africa with friends, especially WMU friends at the North Carolina annual Missions Extravaganza. “Vacation” pictures are on FACEBOOK at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=223160&id=685050129&l=bc520891e2 (remember you can safely view and copy the pictures without being a member of FACEBOOK) – included are pictures of our family and of a proud moment when we viewed a missionary niece sharing her love for missions at the Mission’s Extravaganza, as well as pictures for our Kenyan friends of the North Carolina Spring flowers we love that do not grow in Kenya’s equatorial climate.

This prayer update is being written very quickly as a thunder storm is hovering over Nairobi which leads to fluctuating electricity (very dangerous to computers, etc.), but after years of drought, the continuing rain is a true blessing and a true answer to prayer! Some people are suffering due to mudslides and flooding, but most farmers are celebrating the ample crops. Kenyans are thankful that water reservoirs have refilled which leads to better water flow in the towns and cities and staple food items are available and prices are no longer climbing.

Thank you again for praying for our needs and those of Kenya. Just as your past prayers for rain in Kenya are being answered, your prayers for safety, good family visits, and a special time of rest and recharging during our vacation were answered. Please join us now in praying that Jack and I will be totally dependent on the Holy Spirit as we join God in His work in Africa. Pray that we will know His will and be obedient as we plan what we should do and what we should not do! Pray that we will be a strong witness of our Savior’s love and salvation in all that we do, whether it be shopping for mangoes and sweet bananas (we did miss these during our vacation!) or as we strive to strengthen and encourage Kenyan Christians and our IMB co-workers. BERT YATES