Wednesday, December 28, 2011

December 28, 2011

It is not snowing outside our equatorial home as I write, but there are sounds of dripping from unseasonable heavy rains, thus I am wearing a sweater and have traded my sandals for  ‘real’ shoes!  After 33 years in East Africa, one would think we would have adjusted to celebrating Christmas with summer weather, but…  We did have a great Christmas. 

And, yes, we did miss our kids, but SKYPING is a true gift for missionaries – which included watching our granddaughter open her gift from us, a little kitchen set,  and joining her in ‘eating/ drinking’ her first meal prepared on it! We also enjoyed spending Christmas with our mission family, which included sharing Christmas Eve lunch with a family experiencing their first Christmas in Kenya and Christmas breakfast with a couple and their two youngest kids who are ‘home’ for Christmas, two young men whom we have known since they were infants and proudly claim as our nephews!
Today’s Prayer Nudge from East Africa (photo on left) shares a bit of our experiences on Christmas Eve Evening – “PURE JOY: The reaction of kids to the twirling/ blinking lights, colours and sounds at a Christmas Eve Concert at a Baptist church in Kenya’s capital city.  A missionary's reactions:  Disappointment when the first songs were not 'traditional' Christmas songs – followed by a realization that after one sings praise and worship songs, including "Here I am to worship… to bow down… to say that You're my God,” with representatives of many nations, tribes, peoples and languages, singing songs about the angels, shepherds and wise men bowing down to worship our Saviour is indescribable PURE JOY!”
This service at Parklands Baptist Church began with the worship leader asking representatives of different People Groups to share what Mary would be called in their heart languages.  There were replies from people from many African (including Mariamu/ Swahili), European and Asian People Groups.  I cannot begin to share how exciting it was to include this in a celebration of our Saviour’s birth.  This service as well as our worship service on Christmas day at Parklands Baptist– Mombasa Road, included a time of praising God and thanking Him for sending His Son, the giver of new life.  As on the previous night, many of the songs included praises and thanksgiving for our Saviour’s death and resurrection – which truly adds to an appreciation for the birth of our Father’s gift to us, His Son!
We are resting a bit more this week, but we still need your prayers.  Jack is preparing for the next Board of governors meeting at Kenya Baptist Theological College, on January 5th, with extra meetings next Wednesday.  Continue praying with us that KBTC will enter 2012 with newness of life, a new creation able to serve our Father. My prayer need is for wisdom and strength as I continue sharing how God is at work in East Africa via the internet, especially as I explore/ develop new opportunities in 2012 to share how thankful we and our colleagues are for you and how we do depend upon you as you support us through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program and through your prayers and sending personnel.   We are also praying for you, specifically that 2011 ends well for you and for a blessed 2012, BERT YATES
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Don’t forget to view this weeks  2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA   http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/, and yes, a new blog, 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa will appear next Sunday! The Prayer Nudges and other bits of our lives can be found on my Facebook page  (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates), and I am always looking for new friends!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Eve/Day 2011

Krismasi Njema from East Africa! Thanking God today for the good news of great joy brought by the angel that was and is for all people - the birth of our Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  Joining the great company of the heavenly host which appeared with the angel to the shepherds in praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on who his favour rests."  (Luke 2:9-14)
Today's photo is a gift for you - a gift guaranteed to make you smile:  The view of an elephant found among the shrubbery outside the entryway into our home in Nairobi, Kenya!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

December 21, 2011

"Why are you still in Kenya?  You could have retired long ago.  Are you sure this isn’t your ‘comfort zone’ and you should leave?”  A friend recently asked Jack and me these questions. Our answers:  Yes, with IMB policies, we could have retired long ago.  Yes, although sometimes the ‘going is rough,’ we are more accustomed to life in East Africa than North Carolina. Yes, we have asked God many times if we have stayed too long on this mountain (Deut. 1:6 is appropriate as Nairobi is a mile high), but even when we would prefer a YES, we know in our hearts that the answer is “No, this is where I am calling you to be at this time.”


So, once again we will celebrate an equatorial Christmas dressed in our summer clothes, with poinsettias not displayed as ‘extra’ decorations, but as the norm around our house, and rely upon SKYPE to visit with our kids, which will hopefully include SKYPING as our granddaughter opens her Christmas gifts from us!  Our Christmas parties/ special meals will be balanced with special times with our East African friends and our mission family.  We’ve already had the joy of sharing special Christmas luncheons with the Sema Leatherworks families(1) and with the Parklands Baptist Church leadership(2). 

New co-workers spending their first Christmas in Kenya will visit on Christmas Eve – our tradition of sharing an East African ‘summer’ lunch of grilled steaks and fresh strawberries atop brownies, definitely not an American traditional Christmas meal, with a family whom we want to know better.  That evening, we will attend a Christmas Concert at Parklands Baptist. On Christmas morning we will share breakfast with co-workers visiting from Uganda, including home-made Moravian Sugarcake, a family tradition from living in Winston-Salem, NC., the home of the real Dewey’s Sugarcake! Later, we will  worship with our church family at Parklands Baptist Mombasa Road. So, as you can see we are ‘comfortable’ here in Kenya and do expect a Krismasi Njema (Swahili for good Christmas)!

Jack has lots of catch-up work this week, as he tries to rest a bit, after teaching for three weeks at our Kenya Baptist Theological College.  Thank you especially for praying for the Board of Governors meeting at our college/seminary this past Monday.  The meeting was very productive and our prayers that “KBTC enter 2012 with newness of life, a new creation able to serve our Father” are on their way to being answered. Please join us in continuing to pray for this need.

Thank you also for your prayers for me as I continue sharing how God is at work in East Africa via the internet.  Without fail, every time exhaustion, frustration, or disappointment creeps in, God sends me an assurance that this is the work I should do!  I am planning to rest some during the holidays, but pray for me as I prepare for new opportunities in 2012 to share how thankful we and our colleagues are for you and how we do depend upon you as you support us through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program and through your prayers and sending personnel.  For a little extra Christmas cheer in the next few days, I encourage you to check out the daily Prayer Nudges from East Africa(3)!  Krismasi Njema from East Africa, BERT
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(2) To view a video sharing what I love about Christmas with Kenyan Believers – Parklands Baptist Church Leadership Christmas Luncheon, go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/105343089902291545775/ChristmasWithKenyanBelievers?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLfJ3N-jw_LwogE&feat=directlink
(3) For Prayer Nudges from East Africa, go to Lottie Moon 2011 / East Africa  – http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/  or 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA   http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/.   You can also find the Prayer Nudges on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates .  This may seem like overdoing it, but I’m seeking to offer ways that will appeal to different audiences!  Today’s, Dec 21st Prayer Nudge is the first of three “NOT A MANGER SCENE, BUT” to be shared this week. 

Sunday, December 18, 2011

December 18th Lottie Moon-East Africa Prayer Nudge

Yes, a new word was pasted after Baba (father in Swahili) on the East African handcart and the border was added, but the rest is the scene spotted by a group of IMB missionaries in November! Join those serving as our Father's Heart, Hands and Voice in praising God for the joys and perks He sends their way , as they request prayers for peace as many celebrate our Savior's birth far from their families - some for the first time. Pray for strength and comfort for those facing serious medical issues within their families - some far away.
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/
You are encouraged to view and share with other Lottie Moon supporters this blog site or the Facebook Page, Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa -https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

December 14, 2011



“Last weekend a couple serving in East Africa had a WOW moment. As they drank tangerine juice and ate paneer chapatis and chicken chapati wraps served with three sauces (hot, sizzling hot, and scorching hot) they realized they were the only people in the packed restaurant with green or blue eyes! Next came the realization that over half the diners wore clothing different from theirs, with many men wearing white, grey or black tunics (long shirt like garments) and women in black robes over their clothing and black or colorful scarves covering their hair. The husband asked: ‘How boring would our lives be if all the people around us looked like us?’ Their next reaction: Praising God for allowing them to serve in East Africa, where so many People Groups come together, providing so many opportunities to serve as our Father's Heart, Hands and Voice!”

Last week I wrote: “Jack called… he had taken a photo of a student in his class for another great Lottie Story – which I will share next week.“ Here is that Past, Present and Future Lottie Story as posted in the Dec 11th Prayer Nudge:

Francis, a Baptist pastor of 15 years, may have never heard of Lottie Moon, but his life has been transformed by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO). “One of the original converts” of the Maasai People of Kenya, Francis was a child when he first met an IMB missionary working among the Maasai, thanks to the LMCO. After primary school, another IMB missionary convinced Francis to attend Mombasa Baptist High School, begun thanks to the LMCO, where an IMB missionary teacher helped Francis grow spiritually. After graduation, he assisted two more IMB missionaries working among his people. With their encouragement, he enrolled at the Kenya Baptist Theological College – also begun thanks to the LMCO. He had to drop-out one month before graduation in 1995, but today Francis is back in seminary, where some of his professors are IMB missionaries supported by the LMCO. Soon he will graduate, an equipped pastor ready to serve as His Fathers’ Heart, Hands and Voice among his people, where IMB missionaries no longer work as there are now trained/discipled Maasai Believers to share our Father’s Good News, THANKS to the LMCO! 


Jack, one of the mentioned IMB seminary professors, added later: “Francis has heard of Lottie Moon in his current Baptist History, Faith and Practice class!”
The “IMB missionary (who) convinced Francis to attend Mombasa Baptist High School” added: “Francis dropped out of seminary because a cobra spit in his eye causing great damage. Having watched him grow from a boy to a fine young man, you have no idea how proud I am that he is back in seminary.”
Francis’ story share the old and present ways that the Lottie Moon Offering affects work in East Africa and more importantly, it shares the FUTURE story as he and others are continuing to work as trained, discipled workers in their Harvest Field among the Maasai! Thank You for being a part of this story as you pray, send personnel and support the LMCO and Cooperative Program.
Thank you for praying for Jack as he continues teaching Baptist Beliefs, History and Practice at our Kenya Baptist Theological College through Friday. Pray for Jack and others as the KBTC Board of Governors meet on Monday, December 19th. Critical personnel, academic, administration and financial decisions are to be made. Pray that their decisions will help KBTC enter 2012 with newness of life, a new creation able to serve our Father. BERT YATESGod does bless the many ways you support us, so I will close with our current prayer requests: Continue praying for me as I seek to harness/put into action all my ideas … to help you recognize how thankful we and our colleagues are for your support and how we do depend upon you. Pray also that our East African co-workers will be strengthened and encouraged as I find ways to share their stories.

PS: Our Christmas tree is finally up – and yes, it has a few Maasai/Kenyan ornaments, but Jack and I have spent over half of our Christmases in Kenya!
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* Daily Prayer Nudges, WHICH YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE with others, can be found at:
Or three options on Facebook:
Special Page: Lottie Moon 2011 East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica ) or on my personal page, https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates or the new page for Imb East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa – Yes, this may look as if I’m overdoing it, but I’ve learned that different pages/names expands the options for people finding our stories from East Africa!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

December 11-Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge - SPECIAL THANK YOU!

Today's Prayer Nudge is a THANK YOU! Thank you for praying for those who serve as our Father's Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa. It is also a thanks to God for the encouragement and strengthening He provides to workers in His Harvest Field - which His workers know is a result of your prayers! Sometimes encouraging joy comes from a letter from a prayer supporter or a visit with a grandchild on SKYPE! A moment of strengthening peace comes with an unexpected visit with Believers who are eager to share how God is at work in their lives or when a noon-time ballet/opera occurs in one’s yard, courtesy of a flock of Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters!

For a link to ten seconds of the “Ndege (Bird in Swahili) Sonata” which occurred on Dec 7th, in Nairobi, Kenya and definitely provided joy and peace to one IMB missionary go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/viayYX8l3JtRdAwwcWrxu9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink )

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

December 5, 2011


“Want to know what really makes a missionary of over 30 years feel like celebrating? Being in a worship service and hearing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation East African Baptists singing, ‘Lord, you are good… People from every nation and every tongue, from generation to generation, We worship you ... You are good.’” These were my thoughts as Jack and I worshipped last Sunday with our church family at PBC/Mombasa Road in Nairobi. For those who keep up with me on Facebook, much of today’s update will be a repeat, but these words best share our heart during our annual IMB International Week of Missions .
Before I share more from last Sunday, I must thank you. A week ago I asked that you pray that I “harness/put into action all my ideas … during December to help you recognize how thankful we and our colleagues are for your support and how we do depend upon you.” I didn’t accomplish all I desired last week, but when I was tired /faced writer’s block, I knew the needed burst of energy/new thoughts was the result of your prayers – THANK YOU!


Now, back to our story as shared in last Monday’s (Dec 5th) Prayer Nudge from East Africa: Added joy? Knowing the spiritual history of these worshippers – knowing that most are well discipled, some by early Baptist missionaries to East Africa and others discipled by those discipled by the missionaries – the multiplication process in action! Another joy? Knowing that most of these worshippers are active co-workers serving as our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in our world – a few as pastors, many as ‘home missionaries’ in prisons, universities, unreached people groups, etc., and many whose business jobs take them to places such as Egypt, Sudan, India and even war-torn Somalia – places where professional missionaries are not always welcome!

The girl’s (photo above used to illustrate Prayer Nudge) father, a leader of home mission trips, recently left the business world to become a Baptist Pastor. As a youth, he was discipled by IMB missionaries with a heart for making disciples who make disciples. The girl’s mother is a prayer warrior for unreached Peoples in East Africa and an active disciple maker, who worked many years for an organization sharing God’s Word via the radio to unreached peoples. She is also the daughter of one of the first East African church planters, a Tanzanian who began the Chamgamwe Baptist Church in the city of Mombasa, Kenya. WHICH makes the girl in the photo a 3rd generation East African Baptist and one who is already being discipled by an East African believer using a book published with the help of the Lottie Moon Offering – one more way her family has been touched by Lottie.

ADDED NOTE: Some IMB missionaries in East Africa focus on the Unengaged People Groups (no known sharing of our Father’s Good News), others on the Unreached (those touched, sometimes barely, by the witness of Believers), and a few focus on what is known as the LEGACY. These men and women teach at seminaries and others teach in established Baptist churches and Bible Schools – all with the goal of strengthening and encouraging East African Believers as they serve as a multiplying army of workers in our Father’s Harvest Field, making disciples who will make more…
The girl’s mother sent me this information which I added later which I knew my WMU friends would appreciate: The missionary that my father first worked with was a WOMAN, Helen Gilmore!

I do try to keep these updates short, but as our Kenyan friends says, “I was DEFEATED today.” I’m also late in sending this, but I have a great reason. Jack called during lunch to tell me that he had taken a photo of a student in his class for another great Lottie Story – which I will share next week. The phone (we rely totally on cell phones) connection was horrible, so I went outside – and was entertained for almost an hour by a symphony/ ballet by a flock of birds captured sunning in the left photo. Even after taking extra time to check our East African bird books, I have no clue what they are called, but it was truly a gift to watch them.
I even made a video for you as an early Christmas gift and after several failed tries, I was finally able to download a bit of it to share with you! To view 10 seconds of what I viewed/heard for over an hour, go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/viayYX8l3JtRdAwwcWrxu9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
I’m already late and long-winded today, so I will add a bit more: Thank you for praying for Jack as he teaches another round of Baptist

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* Daily Prayer Nudges, WHICH YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE with others, can be found at:
Or three options on Facebook:
Special Page: Lottie Moon 2011 East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica ) or on my personal page, https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates or the new page for Imb East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa – Yes, this may look as if I’m overdoing it, but I’ve learned that different pages/names expands the options for people finding our stories from East Africa

Sunday, December 4, 2011

December 4th Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge

A “testimony of saints continuing efforts to preach, teach and spread the Gospel," sent via e-mail by a Samburu man to IMB workers (on a short stateside leave) who work among the the man's East African People Group: “‘We are fine, my family is fine and all our churches are going well. We have baptized 22 at two places. Mbagas (one place) is alive again. I am working in the forest with morans team and j* is working with mamas teams. Our pre-school… and the training is going on well. Tell apiyo (8 year old MK) his animals are well. The cow is giving milk once a day … the people are missing your family… We have started two other schools for our evangelist teams… Pray for them because the mamas want to learn and read the Bible… The morans needs Bible … Say supa to all of your family.”

A MULE and a CAMEL DERBY – both are tools funded in the past by the Lottie Moon Offering which opened doors to reach the Samburu People! For Memories of the first IMB missionaries among the unreached Samburu People Group can be found at the "Special Praise Update" at http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-15-2010-special-praise-update.html
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/
You are encouraged to view and share with other Lottie Moon supporters this blog site or the Facebook Page, Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa -
https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

November 30, 2011

Last week I wrote, “Please don’t … ‘feel sorry’ for us or think we live a ‘hard life’. There are many joys in our lives – which will include a traditional Thanksgiving lunch with co-workers tomorrow.” If you had seen the banquet we shared with 30+ of our mission family, you would agree! Between the roasted turkey and ham there was even a real Sweet Potato Casserole thanks to American sweet potatoes now being available at times in our part of the world – definitely better than our usual substitute of Kenyan sweet potatoes, which are white, thus requiring orange food coloring and added sugar!

Though Thanksgiving 2011 is over and we are now in the Christmas season (no decorations yet at our house, but Christmas carols are playing), we are still in a ‘thanksgiving’ mode as the 2011 International Missions/ Lottie Moon emphasis begins. It is your prayers and gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Offering that allows us and others to be where God is calling us to serve. We were asked this week to share our 2011 answered prayers in a prayer guide used by mission colleagues. As I sent our answers, I realized these praises also express how you have supported us as you prayed and funded our budgets.

Jack praised God for the teaching opportunities with local Believers with hearts for planting churches. Records from just 6 months of the year include church planting training in 34 locations; 672 people representing 191 churches at 2 day conferences ; 18 (known) small groups were started that have the potential of becoming new churches; 6 new Bible schools began; and at least 96 new Believers resulted from the 'practice' witness times outside the meeting places!

Bert’s praises: For the direction God has given me in using the internet to share our stories from East Africa - which has led to added personnel, finances and prayer support. An unexpected result is that many people are logging on to the blogs which share our stories - the newest being "Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa" ( http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/ ) from other countries where missionaries face many restrictions. Pray that these blogs and Facebook posts at Lottie Moon 2011 East Africa ( https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica ) will continue to glorify our Father and help others understand how God is at work in East Africa AND how they can join His work in East Africa and in other parts of the world, especially those areas where Believers cannot freely share their stories.

As I write, Jack is teaching the third day of two weeks of another round of Baptist Beliefs, History and Practice at the Kenya Baptist Theological Seminary. Please join us in praying for Jack and others as the KBTC Board of Governors meet on December 19th. Critical personnel, academic, administration and financial decisions are to be made. Pray that their decisions will help the school begin 2012 with newness of life, a new creation able to serve our Father.

My greatest prayer this week is that I will be able to harness/put into action all my ideas of what can be done during December to help you recognize how thankful we and our colleagues are for your support and how we do depend upon you! Make sure you check out the Prayer Nudges* this week as new examples are shared daily of how the Lottie Moon Offering impacts our lives as we and others serve as our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice. BERT YATES

* Prayer Nudges, WHICH YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE with others, can be found at:

"Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa" blog at http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/

Or three options on Facebook:

Special Page: Lottie Moon 2011 East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica ) or on my personal page, https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates or the new page for Imb East Africa - https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa – Yes, this may look as if I’m overdoing it, but I’ve learned that different pages/names expands the options for people finding our stories from East Africa!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

November 27th Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge

The next time you have a ‘wish I had skipped looking in the mirror’ day or face discouragement, disappointment, frustration – use this ‘low point’ as prayer nudge for those serving as our Father's Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa and other parts of our world. Very often the things those on mission with our Father most want to share, they cannot due to security issues, a need for sensitivity, the complexity of the problem, or simply they are hurting too much to share at the moment! Any difficult time you are facing is likely faced also by a missionary somewhere – so double your prayers!
*** SOME SAY that warthogs are proof that our Creator has a sense of humor!
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/
You are encouraged to view and share with other Lottie Moon supporters this blog site or the Facebook Page, Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa -
https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

November 23, 2011

My camera usually leaves home when I do, but there are many scenes that I cannot capture. This week I want to share some captured and uncaptured scenes which I pray will lead you to seeing our world and joining us in prayer.

Many recently viewed scenes include mud and more mud. After years of poor rains, Kenya is having a proper rainy season which comes with blessings of flourishing crops and overflowing water reservoirs. The good rains also leads to the suffering of floods. This is especially a problem in slum areas with buildings constructed of throw-away items. Also many Kenyans rely on foot power, which means they are rather damp these days which leads to illnesses with many having limited medical care. Another problem: Areas affected by famine are not yet benefitting from the new crops and relief trucks are mired in mud, unable to make the journey. For more on the Horn of Africa drought, go to the “Too hungry to cry” - Africa Stories (1)or to BGR Updates and Videos at Horn of Africa Drought Crisis (2).

There were also many unexpected scenes last week. Driving to church last Sunday, we questioned if our car was invisible as we faced many near collissions as big and small vehicles sought our spot on the road. Then a motorcycle with a special cargo appeared – which relieved our tension and helped us focus on blessings and joys rather than our discouragements.

A unexpected scene not captured was meeting a woman while shopping. The woman said several times in Swahili, “You are a woman, you have children. Mine are starving, please give me money.” I had money to offer, but I know the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to note the woman’s good health and the dazed look in her eyes. It broke my heart, but I knew the Holy Spirit was telling me that this was not a time to give, but to pray for the woman.

Later in the week, a young man shared with us how he had lost his house and possessions due to the illegal action of others. We had only a few shillings in our pockets that day, but the Holy Spirit led to assure him of our prayers and a later financial help. We rarely leave home without encountering people in need, which leads to a needed constant prayer: Alertness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we decide how/when to respond to the needs around us.

Please don’t read of these experiences and ‘feel sorry’ for us or think we live a ‘hard life’. There are many joys in our lives – which will include a traditional Thanksgiving lunch with co-workers tomorrow. We are thankful for where God has called us and the gift of doing His work – which leads to a few prayer requests: For guidance and sensitivity as I share stories from East Africa, especially as the annual Lottie Moon Offering time approaches.

Pray also that our co-workers will be encouraged as their stories are shared. Pray for Jack as he travels this weekend to a central Kenyan Bible School. Pray that he will strengthen these pastors as he teaches how to share our Father’s love with followers of other faiths. Pray for Jack also as he begins another two week teaching session next week at our seminary, KBTC.

One more thanksgiving before I close: Thank you for all the ways you support us through your prayers, sending personnel and giving to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Offering! BERT YATES

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(1) “Too hungry to cry” / Africa Storieshttp://www.africastories.org/

(2) BGR Horn of Africa Drought Crisis http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/projects/view/horn_of_africa_drought_crisis

Sunday, November 20, 2011

November 20th Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge

What three Missionary Kids of South Sudan say about themselves: "Our favourite thing to do in Sudan is to play with friends in the nearby villages. We like to tell our friends Bible stories and tell them about Jesus. We also like to swim in the river, when it has water.” Prayer Requests shared by these MKs who are our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice to the the Toposa People Group (800,000 people – less than 2% have responded to the Gospel): “Please continue to pray for God to start a church planting movement among the Toposa people …. Please pray for the Toposa people as they hear the Word of God … Thanks for praying for my family and me.”
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/
You are encouraged to view and share with other Lottie Moon supporters this blog site or the Facebook Page, Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa -
https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

November 16, 2011

SOUND of the Week: The continuous beeps/ bumps/ grinds of huge machinery preparing a neighbouring plot for yet another transformation of a single family home into multi-housing units. A great reminder that we live in a growing city - which means that our ways of ministering must always be ‘transforming’ as we seek to reach those moving into Nairobi from all parts of Kenya and other countries – many seeking peace, both physically and spiritually – with many ending up in the slums, where more than 60% of the residents of Nairobi, the second largest city in East Africa, live in 5% of the city’s boundary. Which leads to the…

SMELL of the Week: The stench of the garbage dumped beside the Highridge village within the Korogocho slum, where it is estimated that “150,000 to 200,000 people (are) pressed into a 1.5 square kilometres” (1). Residents are the refugees from others countries as well as Kenyans from rural areas in search of jobs and education as well as many city dwellers with jobs, but without enough income to afford adequate housing. Our visit with two other IMB couples during a tour of Baptist work in our city coincided with lunch time, but the stench from the Dandora Dump site, the place where Nairobi trash is deposited/ recycled/ decomposed, offered us a strong incentive for dieting! Which leads to our…

SIGHT of the Week: Not sure if it was the toddlers playing as their parents washed plastic bags and other ‘good trash’ in the dirty Nairobi River which borders the trash site OR the street kids on top of the trash site searching for goodies – things to sale, use or even eat! Yes, I could go on and on about the heartbreak/prayer nudges of these views, but I must share our…

JOY of the Week: Viewing the ministry that Kenyan Baptists with IMB help began in Highridge in the early 1980’s. With the assistance of local government officials in need of help in Nairobi’s growing slum areas, Baptists began the Highridge Baptist Church and a centre offering training in skills such as carpentry and sewing. Soon a nursery school began and today a beautiful school sits on the property offering Pre-school though Standard (grade) 8 classes for 300+ students from the area a quality education, Christian nurturing and a good lunch each day (which includes eggs from their own chicken farm), as well as training in sewing, etc., for youth and adults.

The SMELL and SIGHT noted earlier were smelled and viewed as the Dandora trash sight is on one side of the river and the school on the opposite side! Today I’m only sharing a few photos but I will share even more SIGHTS (but thankfully no SMELLS) later in the month as I focus on the upcoming Lottie Moon Emphasis – as the beginning of the work in Highridge was supported by funds from gifts to the Lottie Moon Offering!

As always, I could keep sharing as these are only a few of our experiences this past week, but hopefully this will help you join us in prayer. Pray also this week for Jack as he continues teaching at our seminary, KBTC, and as I prepare daily Prayer Nudges (3) sharing how God is at work in East Africa. Join us also in praying that these Prayer Nudges will not only lead to increased prayers for God’s work, but strengthen or encourage our co-workers as their stories are shared. BERT

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(1) Korogocho/Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korogocho

(2) Yates-IMB-Kenya http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com

(3) Lottie Moon 2011 / East Africa http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/ or look for the new Facebook site, Imb EastAfrica!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

November 13th Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge

An MK – not an 'international' one, but a 'home' Missionary Kid whose parents serve as our Father's Heart, Hands and Voice in their own country, Kenya. His parents are currently in transition - after planting churches in central Kenya, they realized that those they had trained and discipled were ready to become the leaders. So just as they will do one day with this little one, they are stepping back and allowing their 'children' to mature as they continue encouraging and strengthening the ones they have 'raised' and trained! Pray for guidance for this little one's parents as they do what missionaries must often do - turn over the work to others and move on to new work in our Father's Harvest Field.
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/ You are encouraged to view daily this blog site or the Facebook Page - Lottie Moon 2011 - East Africa and to share the links with others who are supporters of the Lottie Moon Offering.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

November 9, 2011

Another week of questions of what to share. Do I begin this week with the fact that we awoke to another flat tire this morning, a day after finally finding someone to tighten the back door of our car before it popped-open while on the road? I could begin with the humor found this morning in a co-workers remedy to missing Autumn in the States – a Fall party which included burning a scented candle, wearing a sweater in equatorial weather, and drinking hot cocoa (my personal remedy: adding pumpkin pie seasoning to my morning coffee). Or do I begin with a recap of some of the things seen during one trip around our city this week: an almost too-close encounter in a round-a-bout with a huge truck, beautiful fruit for sale at a street-side wheelbarrow shop, not far from a hand-cart shop offering locks, belts and Maasai trinkets, or the amazement/concerns that arose as we viewed the on-going expansion/growth of city roads?

I could add a reminder of what I shared last week: Blogs and photos albums I’m preparing “as a part of enriching your Lottie Moon 2011,” which includes a photo story at “Our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in Kerugoya, Kenya” (1), as well as “ all the Prayer Nudges from East Africa during the rest of the year will focus on the 2011 Lottie Moon emphasis,” found “in a special new blog, Lottie Moon 2011–East Africa (2) and Facebook Photo Album, “His Heart, His Hands and His Voice in East Africa” (3). Please feel free to share these with your friends and churches!

Oh, I must not forget to thank you for praying with us last week for strength and wisdom as I led a prayer retreat for the staff of our mission guest house … for Jack as he takes newer co-workers on a tour of the Baptist work in Nairobi and as he prepares for a new teaching session at our seminary.” The Prayer Retreat went well and Jack is pleased with the new information he is finding to share with pastors and church leaders, AND I was wrong about the tour – three couples will join us THIS Friday, so continue praying that this will enable all of us to be stronger witnesses of our Good News in our part of the world.

But what I must share is what really touched my heart this week – comments written by a coworker: “Unreached, Unengaged Peoples (UUPGs) -- those who are less than 2 percent evangelical and have no one implementing church planting strategies among them. As our new president says, 3800 UUPGs in the world is unacceptable, thus the implementation of Embrace (4). And I would echo that sentiment -- 400+ UUPGs in Sub-Saharan Africa is not acceptable. Many of us have been working in Africa a long time, working alongside others … involved in evangelism and church planting, so how is it that there are still so many who seem to be without the Gospel … 400+ unreached, unengaged people groups with a total population of 24 million living in Sub-Saharan Africa? … 50 of these people groups have a population over 100,000.”

Closing this week’s prayer update is easy – I ask that you join me in praying the nudges offered by my friend for the Unreached/Unengaged People of Sub-Saharan Africa: Would you join me in praying for these people? Would you pray that their hearts would be open to the Gospel? Would you pray that the Lord of the harvest would call out workers to take the Gospel to them?” BERT YATES

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(1) Our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in Kerugoya, Kenya” https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150507281490130.470953.685050129&type=1&l=7c093c486e

(2) New Blog: Lottie Moon 2011-East Africahttp://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/

(3) Facebook: “His Heart, His Hands and His Voice in East Africa”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.134181110019669.22008.133854790052301&type=1&l=4952d896ac

(4) EMBRACE http://www.imb.org/main/lead/embracedefault.asp?StoryID=9651&LanguageID=1709

Sunday, November 6, 2011

November 6th Lottie Moon/East Africa Prayer Nudge

From a young couple serving in East Africa: “We’re moving … and we are excited … God has graciously opened doors for ministry at a university. My hubby will teach a few classes – an awesome opportunity for access to many students and the chance to build relationships … He is already preaching on the campus … Me and our little one stroll around the campus a lot and she is such a magnet! People love to talk to her and hold her and she always responds with the biggest smiles. She has opened lots of doors for us and has helped us build relationships with so many people.” Join this couple in praying for wisdom as they seek God’s direction for serving among students as His Heart, Hands and Voice. (Photo is of the little 'magnet' trying to watch her Daddy preach on campus.
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New daily Lottie Moon 2011-East Africa Prayer Nudges sharing how God's children are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice in East Africa can be found at: http://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

November 2, 2011

As I’m working through a rather scary thunder storm, I should begin today’s prayer update with praise for the rain that is falling in Kenya! There are flooding problems in places, but farmers and those in need of water in catchment systems are definitely praising God. Though the rains did affect my ability to take photos during our trip last week, thankfully we had no major problems as the roads to central Kenya are in good repair, other than a slippery trip down the dirt lane to the Kerugoya Baptist Church – the site for the associational Bible School where Jack and our colleague, Ron Langston, were teaching.

I’m running late today (the reason for continuing to work during the storm with no electricity) because I took time this morning to prepare a special slideshow to share our trip to Kerugoya with you. You can find this photo story at “Our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in Kerugoya, Kenya” (1). Thank you for praying for us – this was truly time of blessing as we met with five students and others committed to being equipped and able servants of our Father.

We returned home on Saturday night and due to a marathon being run in the city centre, we attended Parklands Baptist the next morning which is near our home. Another praise is that though Kenya continues to engage the terrorists north of our borders, things have been calm in the country since early last week. But it was a little unsettling to arrive at church to security checks and armed guards patrolling as we worshipped! As I shared on Monday in the 2011 Prayer Nudges from East Africa (2), “Prayers were especially intense during the service but the emphasis was not on safety for those of us praying … (but) prayers for the safety of the people of Somalia; prayers for strength and boldness for the secret Believers among their people; and prayers that Christians will be ready to respond when the people of Somalia are able to freely hear of and accept the Good News of the Prince of Peace.” Do continue praying with us that as Kenya goes through this difficult time, shared by many places in our world, that the problems will not limit but increase our ability to be ambassadors of His love and salvation.

Since our return, I have been busy preparing several blogs and photos albums as a part of enriching your Lottie Moon 2011 – my way of sharing “how God's children in East African are serving as His Heart, Hands and Voice.” One way I’m doing this is that all the Prayer Nudges from East Africa during the rest of the year will focus on the 2011 Lottie Moon emphasis, “HIS HEART, HIS HANDS, AND HIS VOICE.” These photos are also appearing in a special new blog, Lottie Moon 2011–East Africa (3) and Facebook Photo Album, “His Heart, His Hands and His Voice in East Africa” (4) prepared for my coworkers in East Africa to share about our work with their prayer supporters– but you are also more than welcome to share this with others.

Once again thank you for bearing with my thoughts as I seek to share with you about God’s work in East Africa – which I feel that I must do as you are a part of this work as you support us in your prayers, as well as personnel and financial support. Other prayer requests this week is for strength and wisdom as I lead a prayer retreat for the staff of our mission guest house tomorrow; for Jack as he takes newer co-workers on a tour of the Baptist work in Nairobi and as he prepares for a new teaching session at our seminary, KBTC, later this month. Thank you for all the ways you support us, BERT YATES

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(1) Our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in Kerugoya, Kenya” https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150507281490130.470953.685050129&type=1&l=7c093c486e

(2) 2011 Prayer Nudges from East Africa http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

(3) New Blog: Lottie Moon 2011-East Africahttp://lottiemoon2011eastafrica.blogspot.com/

(4) “His Heart, His Hands and His Voice in East Africa”https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.134181110019669.22008.133854790052301&type=1&l=4952d896ac

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

October 26, 2011

If you have been keeping up with East African news you know that things are tense in our part of the world at the moment. In recent weeks, Kenya’s relationship with our northern neighbor, Somalia, has been tested, which has led to Kenya entering into a military offensive against the terrorists based there. Kenya hosts many refugees from Somalia and the majority are good people fleeing the problems of their homeland, but some are a part of the terrorist activities. Due to all of this, there have been retaliatory actions in the last few days within Kenya and there are threats of future problems.

I often share prayer nudges under the category of “IF you don’t know how to pray for missionaries today, pray for …” – Well, most of the prayer nudges I’m sharing today fall into this grouping. Did you know that many of your missionaries serving around our world know that they may face danger every time they leave home? They cannot always freely share these threats with you – threats of car-jacking, kidnapping, getting caught in disturbances, etc., some the result of the inequities and poor governance in their countries, sometimes due to retaliatory actions, and other times simply the bad guys knowing that it is unlikely they will be caught or punished. Things are unusually tense in all of Kenya at the moment, but this tension is the norm in many other countries and even in certain locations within Kenya. I will add this note before I continue: Do pray for Jack and me, but we are OK, just being extra alert and cautious these days!

So how can you join us in praying? Pray that all of us will find the balance of going about our lives while being cautious and alert to what is happening around us. Pray that we will be wise in the where/ when/ how actions that we take. Pray that those in tense situations will not become lax due to their situations becoming ‘kwa kawaida’ – Swahili for the norm! Pray that we will not be so overwhelmed by our precautions/ fears that we cannot know how God is at work around us and how He wants us to join in this work. Pray that our fears will not limit but increase our ability to be ambassadors of His love and salvation.

Once again this update is longer, but I must end by sharing our experiences last Sunday. Before we left for church, we read in our newspaper that a slum near where our church meets was in the midst of being demolished. Many people in our part of the world cannot afford the housing in the cities, the place where there are jobs and opportunities, so they live in areas which are not safe in the quality of housing, clean water and sewage disposal, but also due to their living where there should be no housing – this time directly under planes landing at our international airport, other places near train tracks (we’re talking inches, not yards), or near hazardous waste, etc. As we arrived at the rented spot where our new church meets, we spotted a young man sitting in the middle of the path with his meager belongings looking very confused. I will jump ahead a bit and share also what we saw as we left church after the service – simple household items loaded on trucks, cars, handcarts, and people’s shoulders flooding out of the road that led to this slum.

During our prayer times at church, always long and intense, there were prayers for those affected by the demolishing of the nearby slum (we learned that some of those affected attended our church) and prayers for the economic situation of Kenya. There were also many prayers for the situation with Somalia and the recent events in Egypt and other parts of our world. What stood out most was the love and concern expressed in the prayers for the hurting people in all these situations. As the realities of the problems were acknowledged in the prayers, requests were made that Believers would use these situations to share our Father’s love and salvation – the true answer to finding peace in our world.

Thank you for bearing with my thoughts today. We do rely on your prayer support – so I will add three more request: Pray for us as we travel with friends tomorrow through Sunday to a Bible School in the countryside. Pray for Jack and our friends as they teach a group of pastors truly committed to serving our Father. And do join us in praying that the situations we encounter will not leave us discouraged, but praising our Father for the opportunities we have to be His heart, hands and voice in our hurting world. BERT YATES

*** Don't forget to check out this past week's Prayer Nudges from East Africa at: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

October 19, 2011

I began a message to you yesterday written on Jack’s computer entitled: NO Yates/Legacy Team Prayer Update This Week. BUT, a break helped me see things with a more positive attitude – so here goes preparing this on Jack’s computer without my usual program helps. My new computer semi-crashed yesterday – the 2nd time since I purchased it in May – which left me extremely frustrated. Once again, I encountered a damaging glitch, but I know from experience that when I return home from our coastal survey trip this weekend I can repair the problem. So our first two prayer requests this week: Pray that I will have the needed patience and ‘smarts’ to restore my computer to full working condition and secondly, find what leads to the problem SO I can avoid doing it again!

Our survey of Bible Schools on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya has had its ups and downs. Our first visit last Thursday was to a Bible School near the inland town of Voi. The ‘up’ part: The school is in intact and everything (beds, desk, books) are stored, ready for a new class. The ‘down’? There have been no classes in a while.

Our trip on to Mombasa last Thursday began uneventful, other than it was raining. We passed the road to Kaloleni that heads to the north coast and debated whether we should take it to decide if this route through the ‘real’ African countryside would be a good trip for volunteers heading to work on the north coast.* Due to the rain and uncertainty if construction on the road was completed, we took the regular option – actually, the only other option. Fifteen miles from Mombasa, traffic stopped and we could see for at least a mile and saw only stopped vehicles, most of them huge trucks. We were told a truck had flipped and no traffic was moving or would move for hours. So we backtracked and took the one alternative – the road we had passed earlier.

As I shared in the October 14th Prayer Nudges from East Africa: “The first half of the 25 mile detour was smooth paved roads, then we encountered a barricade of dirt. A young man told us to go back and turn left at the first lane, go to the big tree and turn right onto the "express way" to the Mombasa north road. So we turned around, wiggled through a little village, spotted the big tree and ... well, our definition of an expressway is not a road that is either badly rutted with deep, wide crevices or one-lane-wide pavement with foot high jagged edges, or bits totally flooded! We made it safely although we may all refuse to enter the car today…”

We did get back in the car the next day and visited a graduate of the seminary program at Kenya Baptist Theological College at his Baptist church in Mtwapa, one of the many villages along the coastline. Later, I will share photos taken that day – an exciting view of how a church hall can be transformed into school rooms (girls on the left are in one 'room')with simple room dividers. This time, we heard of many Bible Schools doing well along the coast – even one which has multiplied and now holds multiple classes at another site.

On Sunday, we returned to this church for worship and as I explained in today’s Prayer Nudges from East Africa, before my computer crashed, I had spent much of Monday preparing a ‘Prayer Walk’ using photos taken of kids during that service which I planned to match verses to nudges you to prayers for our coastal kids – many who are live in areas with limited educational and medical opportunities. “BUT as I looked back at the photos, I realized that you don't need my help in discerning how to pray for our coastal kids!” To find the 18 ‘nudges to prayer’ photos taken in an East African village near the Indian Ocean in a Picasa Web Album, go to https://picasaweb.google.com/Bertndovu/Mombasa111016Kids?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCK3UhuC79Zahbw&feat=directlink and on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150484862025130.465609.685050129&type=1&l=cecd87026e OR for a quick view, it is the new slideshow below the Date/Time in Kenya (right side) of this blog.

We will return to Nairobi on Friday and we do need you to pray for safety as we travel as today’s local newspaper says there is still a ten mile traffic jam of trucks stuck on the Mombasa road since last week due to damage from the recent unseasonably heavy rains. We have had to readjust our schedule due to the rain and flooding and skip visiting some areas. Please join us also in praying for the people, churches, Bible Schools we have visited or will in the next two days. Praise God with us for how our Father is being glorified thanks to the work of many of his past and present committed servants. Join us in praying that we will use all we are learning to know exactly our Father’s plans/purpose for our involvement in His harvest field. BERT YATES

* Answer to the question about using the Kaloleni road for volunteers is a definite YES - but only after they complete the last half of the road, especially if it is raining! It is a great view of the real coastal countryside where little has changed in years!