July 27, 2011

“Summer time, and the livin’ is easy” - George Gershwin’s lullaby definition of summer. Volunteer time – also not found in a dictionary, but how many Christians define summer when they can use their vacations and/or breaks from school to be on mission with their Father, some close to home and others in faraway places! Some career missionaries might add another definition to summer: Hard work! Having so many volunteers a comin’ and a goin’ does affect our schedules, but most of the time we are very thankful for the additional workers in the harvest field!

During recent devotions, two verses became “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12) in a new way in my life. The first verse is found in John’s definition of our testimony of our Savior – “Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart” (1 John 5:10). I thought of the volunteers who arrive thinking that testifying was the job of the preachers among them. One teen volunteer recently said, “Sharing my testimony openly was not in my comfort zone before, but I’m glad that I was forced to do it and want to do it lots more!”

I shared the second verse in the 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA this week: “When volunteers on mission with God arrive in East Africa they are often focused on what they will teach or share with those they meet on their journey. When it is time to leave they are more likely to remember…” For the completion of this Prayer Nudge and my second verse, you need to go to the blog 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA or find me on Facebook.

Today's photos are of Jessie (our youngest) and Amy (her friend) who have had their own volunteer adventures in Kenya this summer. For more personal looks at how God works in and through the lives of volunteers, I asked Jessie them to answer: What have you learned during your summer volunteer trip to Kenya?

JESSIE: There are a few things in life which you can always be certain of, one of which is that no matter how much you already know, you’ll always learn something new, be it about yourself, your world, the people around you, or your God. Life’s lessons are best learned when approached with an open mind and often the best of the lessons are learned when acted upon by blind faith.

AMY: Some times when we are outside of our comfort zones is when we receive the greatest blessings. “There’s always room for one more person” is not the most comfortable philosophy for someone who is claustrophobic, but even being in a packed school room with no way to move can be a blessing!

PLUS – Comments the headmaster shared with Jack of the effects of volunteers at his school for refugee kids from a country where few are Christians: Attendance has been almost perfect since Amy and Jessie came as volunteers. Normally this is a real problem as education is not valued, especially for the girls. Parents have come to see if what their kids say is true about the Americans being at their school. They praise the school for the exposure EVEN though it is a Christians emphasis.

Thank you once again for the many ways you support us, which does include coming/sending volunteers our way, supporting us and others through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon, and most importantly, through your prayer support! BERT

* * * Problem with link to 2011 Prayer Nudges from East Africa? Go to: : http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

July 20, 2011

“A tough week … Will you pray?” This is how a prayer letter I received this week began and ended. The letter also shared news of nursing an injured spouse, a tale of an uninvited slithery houseguest, the death of a new believer, and the heartbreak of a current work project, one they had expected to bring plenty of hard work, but also lots of joy and glory to our Father!

The same day we received a prayer request from friends facing threats. Usually these friends diligently inform their prayer supporters of their specific needs, but due to the complexities of the issues, this time they could only say, “We really need prayers at the moment!”

The next day, I received a request from a young couple: “Pray … there is some serious spiritual warfare going on in our area.” A story then unfolded of a house destroyed purposefully by fire and of stealing – all related to a needed relief effort in an East Africa rural community. The couple have a strong prayer support network and they were asking for prayer for discernment as they composed their next prayer letter and decided what they could/ should/ would share!

So today, our prayer request is for you to join us in praying for friends who are in the midst of what one terms as “serious spiritual warfare … tough stuff, all satan inspired.” We have learned that often, VERY OFTEN, when prayers are most needed by our Father’s Fellow Workers, in any place in our world, there are restraints in place which requires sensitivity in sharing specifics – so constant prayer is needed.

Thank you for praying last week for Jessie (our daughter) and Amy as they assist at a school for refugee kids from Somalia. The headmaster of the school gave them an unexpected opportunity to be bold ambassadors of our Father’s love and salvation – he asked them to teach the TRUE LOVE WAITS introduction in each of the older classes. Pray that the kids will remember what they heard and it will affect their hearts and their minds.

After two other encounters this past week, I also ask you to pray for wisdom as those of other faiths ask us to join them in prayer. One morning this week, the children in Class (grade) 8 asked Amy to pray for the Mock exams they were taking that day (preparing for the real exams to be taken later in the year – exams which will determine their future life and educational opportunities.) Amy’s and Jessie’s frustration: How to pray for the exams, while sharing how our Savior hears and responds to our prayers. I also had a friend ask me this week to rejoice with her for a blessing she had received that day. My frustration: She believes that the man who heads her religious organization personally forgave her past sins and allowed her to be “born again” – and all of this was shared in a situation where there was no opportunity for follow-up!

To end this week’s update of our praises and heart prayers, I will repeat my friend’s request: “WILL YOU PRAY?” BERT

July 13, 2011

The sun is shining in our part of the world today – a very welcome event as it is our winter. YES, we do live almost on the equator, but being even a few degrees south of the equator does lead to cooler weather in July, especially when you live over a mile above sea level. We awoke to the low 50’s this morning, but I’m not complaining as I know many of you in the northern hemisphere envy our “free” cool air.

We did pass over the equator last week as we travelled to the Kakamega area of western Kenya and NO, there is no line drawn across the road as one volunteer recently expected, but there is a sign! Thanks for praying for our safety as we travelled – Kenyan roads these days seem to be either really great or truly horrid! We also were protected from encounters on the road with roaming vehicles, goats, cows, dogs, etc., and even the zebras and baboons stayed off the road as we passed! God also answered your prayers for the church planting training. One blessing was that one pastor brought along teens from his church!

We have lived in East Africa for almost 33 years now, but I am still overwhelmed by all we see and experience. Sometimes it is the poverty, always it is seeing people hauling water, or it can be the familiar-but-different such as spotting a family with kids in matching outfits on a village market day! As I explained in the 2011 Prayer Nudge from East Africa (July 11^th), our lives are also filled with REALITY CHECKS, such as when we returned from our trip and I found myself complaining as “I hauled water a few feet to my washing machine. Doing this at our house is not unusual, but today's problem was TOO MUCH water pressure in our taps, WHICH MEANT water flowed into the machine even when the tap and machine were OFF … Later … it occurred to me that some would define a washing machine filling without the benefit of electricity or running water a miracle!”

The day’s prayer nudge was: “Pray today for physical, emotional and mental strength/ peace for those on mission with our Father in East Africa as they face REALITY CHECKS which remind them of their many blessings - blessings sometimes hidden by frustrations - frustrations that can cloud our ability to help others with their difficulties/ problems!” I also ask that you pray for us and others on mission with our Father as we allow these reality checks/ frustrations to keep us focused on what God is calling us to do as we enjoy our blessings (adequate housing/ water/ electricity/ ample food and medical care/etc.,) and use them to strengthen us and allow us to ably serve our Father.

Last Saturday’s Prayer Nudge (July 9^th) was a very special one focusing on the a new nation, South Sudan! I encourage you to read “World’s Newest Nation – Independence Day” , an article prepared by coworkers, and other articles at AFRICA STORIES which can provide more prayer nudges.

I don’t want to overwhelm you, but I do want to add one more personal prayer nudge. Pray for our daughter, Jessie, and her friend, Amy, as they assist this month at a school for refugee kids from Somalia. Pray that in all they do that they be bold ambassadors of our Father’s love and salvation. We ask this, because we know that God does hear our prayers and He does answer! Thank you, BERT

--- --- --- --- ---

* For more photos and Prayer Nudges from the last week, go to: 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

* For AFRICA STORIES and more on how to pray for South Sudan, go to: http://www.africastories.org/

July 6, 2011

Today I’m once again not sitting at my usual desk, but in a corner of our bedroom as two of the volunteers, our daughter, Jessie, and her friend, Amy, stayed behind when the 1^st Baptist Cary team left on Monday night. My “office” is a closet in Jessie’s bedroom, so I’ve moved out during their month long visit! At least today I’m not having to worry about a sun stroke as I did last week in western Kenya as it has not yet hit 70 in our house today after being in the mid 50’s when we awoke! It is our “winter” and Nairobi is over a mile high – thus cooler temperatures! I don’t like wearing layers of clothes, but I do prefer the cool to the hot experienced by those of you in the northern hemisphere!

Last week I asked that you pray for volunteers “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 Fathers as they share His story, His love and His salvation both in planned testimonies and as they visit with all they meet!”

Prayers were answered for those on Jessie’s and Amy’s team as they helped build two new homes for those needing better shelter, witnessed/ prayed in many homes, and visited in many schools and with the kids of an orphanage. It was great to listen on Sunday night as they shared their highs of the week, which included being a part of someone coming to know our Savior, encouraging orphans, getting over fears of witnessing, and teaching a bit of God’s plan for His children though TRUE LOVE WAITS!

Some of the team did get sick, so as you continuing praying for the International World Changers group now in Kenya and other volunteer teams, do pray for good health. As you join us in praising God for safety in travel for the 1^st Baptist Cary team, pray for safety as the others teams travel on East African roads that aren’t governed by the safe rules/ conditions some would expect! Pray also for our family as we head out again tomorrow to the Kakamega area of Kenya for Jack to continue Church Planting Training, for Jessie and Amy to share TRUE LOVE WAITS training, and for me to find ways to increase support for God’s work in East Africa as I take pictures and listen to the stories of those on mission with our Father! BERT

For explanations of photos and more Prayer Nudges from the last week, go to: 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/