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 11th), 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 9th) 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
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* 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/
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