Today’s Prayer Update will short and sweet as I’m sitting out in the countryside beside a mud hut that is no longer liveable – actually it has free views of the moon at night that were not part of the design! The team from First Baptist Cary, NC, with the help of volunteers from the community are building her a new hut with a mbati (tin) roof. As I type, some of the team are off visiting/witnessing in the community, others are digging holes for the wood support that will frame the house before the walls are made of twigs and mud, and a few are slaughtering a goat will soon be roasting, which the team purchased as a thank you for those helping today!
When I say I’m sitting in the countryside, I mean I am sitting in the shade beside the house on a chair provided by a neighbour. The house built yesterday was for a widower with several small kids and today’s home is for a young mom with two small girls – their husband/dad simply didn’t come home one day! The community chooses the recipients and then helps the volunteers build the simple, but sturdy and dry homes. As the walls are built in the local traditional manner of locally available twigs and mud, the only cost is the nails, tin roof and hiring a professional Kenyan carpenter to supervise – provided by the volunteers.
This volunteer team is just one of many will be serving as our Father’s arms and hands this summer in Kenya and other parts of our world. So as many of you are enjoying summer weather, vacations, etc., use a bit of your longer days to pray for those serving our Father in places away from home – those serving in their home country/continent and those serving in new places! Pray for good health. Pray that their stomachs adjust to new foods. Pray that those in hot places drink plenty of water. Pray for strength and boldness as they deal with unique toilets or no toilets and limited water or only cold water for showers. Pray for good and restful sleep for those serving in different time zones. AND pray especially that they will be strong ambassadors of their heavenly Father as they share His story, His love and His salvation both in planned testimonies and as they visit with all they meet!
This volunteer team is just one of many will be serving as our Father’s arms and hands this summer in Kenya and other parts of our world. So as many of you are enjoying summer weather, vacations, etc., use a bit of your longer days to pray for those serving our Father in places away from home – those serving in their home country/continent and those serving in new places! Pray for good health. Pray that their stomachs adjust to new foods. Pray that those in hot places drink plenty of water. Pray for strength and boldness as they deal with unique toilets or no toilets and limited water or only cold water for showers. Pray for good and restful sleep for those serving in different time zones. AND pray especially that they will be strong ambassadors of their heavenly Father as they share His story, His love and His salvation both in planned testimonies and as they visit with all they meet!
As I said, this would be short as there are no electricity lines within miles of where I am working and my computer battery will not last forever and working with my lap as a desk is not easy. But I will take time to thank you again for being a part of our work, more importantly God’s work as you pray and support others on mission with God. BERT
While worshipping last Sunday with our church family, I made notes of the joy and affirmation of being a part of our almost one year old church. During this year, we’ve had a special view of how God is at work in East Africa and the results of the past investment of past and current co-workers, those from other countries, as well as East African co-workers. Plus it is always a joy to see “kids” we’ve watched grow-up serving our Savior as professionals, church leaders and parents. One of my notes told of watching some of the males in this category join Jack in standing as a child offered a thanksgiving/ blessings prayer for Fathers. But then, as often happens, something, actually two some-things, occurred that led my heart in a different direction for this week’s Prayer Update.
Thanks to ever-present pot-holes, my photo of the procession was not super, but I used it for today’s 
Thankfully, Jack’s work was not frustrating this week! God is answering our prayers for his work – “Pray for Jack as he decides the who/ when /where decisions of teaching Church Planting Training to Kenyan Baptists in the coming months. Pray that he will choose to work exactly where God leads. Pray for us as we travel north of Nairobi on Friday for a Church Planting Training being led by one of the dedicated leaders who Jack trained earlier this year to train others in making and multiplying disciples.” Fewer people showed up at Turu Turu Baptist Church in the Abedares Mountains than expected, but Jack was certain that God sent the right small group of disciples who wanted more training in making disciples of others and planting new churches! To keep you praying, use the Prayer Walk, 
We did have a great vacation with family and friends in North Carolina during May, but Jac
As we get back on schedule, or what we call a schedule as our days/weeks may be more flexibly planned than those in other places in the world, we need your prayer support. Pray for Jack as he decides the who/when/where decisions of teaching Church Planting Training to Kenyan Baptists in the coming months. Pray that he will choose to work exactly where God leads. Pray for us as we travel north of Nairobi on Friday for a Church Planting Training being led by one of the dedicated leaders who Jack trained earlier this year to train others in making and multiplying disciples.