We are back at home in Nairobi for a few days, after an incredible time of “fellowship, sharing, learning, and praying” (April 25th Prayer Nudge – sites listed below) with old friends and many, many new ones during last week’s East Africa Cluster Meeting. Thank you for joining Jack and me in praying that we would find ways to strengthen and encourage our co-workers were answered! God provided many openings for me to share my desire to assist colleagues in sharing their stories, their praises and needs. We also found many opportunities to use our seniority and experiences, the good and bad ones from the last 32 years as we talked with others, especially some of our newest co-workers.
Being with all our MK’s last week was a good reminder of a ‘general prayer’ I should share more often – prayers for our missionary kids as they and their parents seek their best method of schooling. Do pray for many older kids who travel far from home to Rift Valley Academy, our missionary boarding school for those who don’t live in cities such as Nairobi. Pray also for the kids who attend local national schools – one youngster arrived at breakfast one morning with his backpack and announced, “I’m going to school today with teachers who speak English!” Usually this little one and his primary-aged brother attend school in their host country where another language is spoken! Pray also for the many parents and the kids, some in high school, who must rely upon home schooling!
As always one of the special highlights of our ‘mission meeting’ was the giving of service pins, with pins given on different nights for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years! During the morning service on Easter Sunday, 120 of the 400+ years of service recognized during the week were added as a couple working in Theological Education in Tanzania received their 30 year pins – after Jack and I received our 30 year pins! Yes, it was an honor, but to be honest it really doesn’t seem that we have been in Kenya for 32 years plus (we were on leave during our last meeting in ’09, thus the delay in receiving our pins).
Our meeting ended on Easter afternoon as we joined together as teams to pray for our work – Jack and I prayed with other couples from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda who serve on the Theological Education Team. Using our meeting theme, our prayer was that we would each use our gifts to enable our students, church members and pastors to share our Good News until “every tongue" in East Africa will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God OUR Father." (Philippians 2:11) We also thanked God for the volunteers who provided VBS, Bible Studies and lots of fun for our kids during the week and our supporters who gave the funds that paid for our meeting, lodging, travel, etc!
Now a short explanation of the being “back in Nairobi for a few days.” I will not be sending our usual Prayer Update next week and likely will send shortened updates during the remainder of May as we are heading to North Carolina for a much needed month of vacation! Pray that we will have quality time with our family and have many opportunities to share why after 32 years we are still not talking about retirement! BERT YATES
PS: Sorry, if any of you had to return to the blog to find today's post - yet another day of electricity taking a break!
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2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=351345&id=685050129&l=47f55a92ab
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