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!
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?
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.
