And, yes, we did miss our kids, but SKYPING is a true gift for missionaries – which included watching our granddaughter open her gift from us, a little kitchen set, and joining her in ‘eating/ drinking’ her first meal prepared on it! We also enjoyed spending Christmas with our mission family, which included sharing Christmas Eve lunch with a family experiencing their first Christmas in Kenya and Christmas breakfast with a couple and their two youngest kids who are ‘home’ for Christmas, two young men whom we have known since they were infants and proudly claim as our nephews!
Today’s
Prayer Nudge from East Africa (photo on left) shares a bit of our experiences on Christmas Eve
Evening – “PURE JOY: The reaction of kids
to the twirling/ blinking lights, colours and sounds at a Christmas Eve Concert
at a Baptist church in Kenya’s capital city.
A missionary's reactions:
Disappointment when the first songs were not 'traditional' Christmas
songs – followed by a realization that after one sings praise and worship
songs, including "Here I am to worship… to bow down… to say that You're my
God,” with representatives of many nations, tribes, peoples and languages,
singing songs about the angels, shepherds and wise men bowing down to worship
our Saviour is indescribable PURE JOY!”
This
service at Parklands Baptist Church began with the worship leader asking
representatives of different People Groups to share what Mary would be called in
their heart languages. There were replies
from people from many African (including Mariamu/
Swahili), European and Asian People Groups.
I cannot begin to share how exciting it was to include this in a
celebration of our Saviour’s birth. This
service as well as our worship service on Christmas day at Parklands Baptist– Mombasa
Road, included a time of praising God and thanking Him for sending His Son, the
giver of new life. As on the previous
night, many of the songs included praises and thanksgiving for our Saviour’s death
and resurrection – which truly adds to an appreciation for the birth of our
Father’s gift to us, His Son!
We are resting
a bit more this week, but we still need your prayers. Jack is preparing for the next Board of governors meeting at Kenya Baptist Theological College, on January 5th,
with extra meetings next Wednesday.
Continue praying with us that KBTC will enter 2012 with newness of
life, a new creation able to serve our Father. My prayer need is for wisdom and strength as I continue
sharing how God is at work in East Africa via the internet, especially as I
explore/ develop new opportunities in 2012 to share how thankful we and our
colleagues are for you and how we do depend upon you as you support us through
the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program and through your
prayers and sending personnel. We are also praying for you, specifically
that 2011 ends well for you and for a blessed 2012, BERT YATES
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Don’t forget to view this weeks 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EAST AFRICA – http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/,
and yes, a new blog, 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa will appear next
Sunday! The Prayer Nudges and other bits of our lives can be found on my
Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates),
and I am always looking for new friends!
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