December 30th Nudge from Sub-Saharan Africa

Ready for a mini-vacation? If so, take a moment to visit an island where the palm trees sway and God is at work, with a tour guide who is praising God for letting her be a part of His work!

For more daily Nudges from Sub-Saharan Africa, go to http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

December 26, 2012

One advantage of living in Kenya is that we get an added holiday today - BOXING DAY - a very good idea after a busy time of celebrating our Saviour's birth.  Our celebrations began on Sunday with our church family at Parklands Baptist Church/ Mombasa Road, which included familiar Christmas songs in English and in Kiswahili and a sermon reminding us of our Father's greatest gift!

In the last few days, we enjoyed two times of carolling, listening to the Christmas Story and eating lots of goodies with co-workers - which was a special treat as this year it included not only, Jessie, our younger daughter, but many more adult missionary kids, some who now work/ serve in East Africa.  We also enjoyed continuing our Traditional/ Untraditional Christmas Eve lunch (grilled steak and a dessert of brownies with ice cream and hot fudge sauce - the dessert usually includes strawberries, which were ready in the fridge, but I forgot to add them this year) with new friends that we want to know better - this year a Journeyman and her guest, another Journey(wo)man from West Africa. 

  

The highlight of Christmas day was SKYPING with our older two kids, John and Jennifer, and their families. SKYPE is a special gift for missionaries - especially when you can talk with your three year old granddaughter as she unwraps your Christmas gift and proudly shows all the gifts she received earlier that morning!  

To be honest, I'm ready to take a break, so I will stop writing and allow you to view a bit of our celebrations - a video of the children of the Good Samaritans Children's Home singing JOY TO THE WORLD in English and in Luo and Kikuyu, two other languages of Kenya's many People Groups, during our worship service last Sunday. 

Remember to take a few moments (if you have not already done so) to view 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa, my way of sharing why we are so thankful for your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!  BERT
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2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa at  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ 

Information on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is found at http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/default.asp 

Christmas Greetings 2012

December 23rd Nudge from Sub-Saharan Africa

Missionary co-workers are thankful for your doing YOUR part in keeping them on the field so they can do THEIR part of God’s Work among the Unreached Lugbara People of Eastern Africa. They are so thankful that their family prepared a video to “Thank you for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering”!

For more daily Nudges from Sub-Saharan Africa, go to http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

December 19, 2012

It is impossible to believe, but this is our 35^th Christmas since arriving in Kenya.  Even after celebrating in Africa for 28+ (sorry, we've lost track) of these years, it still seems odd to celebrate Christmas during the hottest time of the year in Africa or to have poinsettias growing in our yard year round, not just small plants, but often tall bushes.  In our house in Nakuru, I viewed vibrant poinsettias from my desk – which was in on the second floor of our house.

Only a few Christmas ornaments arrived in our suitcases in September 1978, and that first year, Jack, 4 year old John, and I made decorations as there were none to buy.  The exception was small twinkling lights which were available for Hindu celebrations. Things are very different today in parts of Africa, including Nairobi, and lots of decorations and ornaments, imported traditional ones and special African creations, are available.  Recently, I even spotted a Santa suit for sale! 

Our church, Parklands Baptist-Mombasa Road, like most in Africa, will have a special service next Sunday, as well as another on Christmas Day. There were no Christmas songs or decorations (there was a beautiful and tasty cake) during last Sunday’s service, yet it was one of the most meaningful celebrations of our Saviour that I have ever experienced.  We are unsure if one of our pastors had a prepared sermon for this Thanksgiving Service, but when church members were asked to share testimonies, the line kept growing and the service ended an hour late (three hours long, rather than the usual two) without a ‘sermon’!  It was an awesome time of hearing how God has blessed our friends’ lives in the last year, during times of joy and sorrow, and how they have grown spiritually.

This week while reading newsletters of our co-workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, I was reminded that things are very different in countries where there are few Christians. Today’s NUDGE* shares a bit of the story of a worker among Unreached/ Unengaged People Groups in West Africa.  Can you imagine living in a place where few have heard of our Saviour’s birth?  Can you imagine having no Christmas traditions, songs, decorations or special meals?  The co-worker requested prayer for new Believers among one Unreached People Group as they plan how their ‘baby’ church should celebrate our Saviour’s birth.    

Thank you for praying for me last week as I shared via the internet how the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering affects our work and the work of our co-workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples. I am always amazed at how God provides the stories which I can use in my work, often JUST when I need them – such as permission for today’s NUDGE arrived early this morning! 

Jack is thankful for your prayers as he taught “Baptist History, Faith and Practices” each afternoon last week at the Kenya Baptist Theological College. He did travel safely (though he was a bit late for the last day’s class) and the students’ responses affirmed that the was sharing what they needed. 

Our update is long again, but there is always so much that we want to share with you as you are the ones who enable us to do our work.  So thank you once again for all your prayers and other support, which includes your giving to the  Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. We do DEPEND upon you! BERT

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* Daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan African Peoples, can be found at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ and on Facebook at Sub-Saharan African Peoples – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?fref=ts – IF you’re not on Facebook, simply click CLOSE on the lower corner of the big square that appears, if you are on FACEBOOK, log in!

December 16th Nudge Sub-Saharan African Peoples

Last week a dream came true for IMB missionaries among the Being Reached Samburu People – with the support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, three Samburu Believers travelled with a missionary to share the Gospel with their Unreached Neighbours,  the Ilchamus People! (Photo: Ilchamus Grandmother with her grandkids holding 'flat' Lottie!)

For more daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa, go to: http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

December 12, 2012

I am overwhelmed as I write this week by all I want to share and my desire for you to see and experience our lives – lives which we are blessed to ‘live’ thanks to the financial, prayer and personnel support we receive which allows us to be in Africa doing what we love doing! THANK YOU!

Planes and helicopters are flying overhead at the moment, taking part in the capital city Jamhuri Day celebration, remembering when Kenya became a republic on December 12, 1964, and beginning the countdown to next years’ 50th anniversary of independence. The noise has led to very animated birds outside my ‘office’ window, which makes it very difficult to stay focused on working and not spotting the birds chirping only inches/feet away. In one ‘short’ session when they won, I spotted eight different kinds of birds in our bird bath!

Next year’s anniversary has special significance as national elections will be on March 4, 2013, the first elections since the disastrous December ’07 elections. Many are fearful of a return of these tragic times, so please join us in praying for peace and wisdom as Kenyan vote for a new president and other officials.

Another thing that will keep us busy today is what missionaries often face – saying ‘goodbye’ to co-workers. Pray especially for comfort for missionary kids as our friends move to new places or return to the States, as a Journeyman will do tomorrow. We and others of our mission family will join her tonight for a meal in one of her favorite places – Diamond Plaza or what some call Little India.

The reverse is also keeping up busy today – we said ‘hello’ last night to our youngest daughter who arrived for a 4 week visit – our Christmas gift to ourselves! Join us in praying for a great visit. Pray also for comfort for our older two kids who would like to be home, but were not free to travel home this year.

Jack’s work focus this week is teaching “Baptist History, Faith and Practices” each afternoon at our seminary, KBTC. Pray for safety as he drives and for clarity as he teaches the students, many who are already serving as pastors.

My time this week has focused on sharing how the Lottie Moon Offering affects our work and the work of our co-workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples. One part has been especially fun this week as I’ve shared photos and ‘stories’ on a special Facebook page – the Lottie Digges Moon page.*

Another thing that was an important part of my week was sharing prayer items with a friend of another faith. Join me in praying that she will come to understand that my prayers are not answered because I’m “a better person”, but because of the relationship that I have with our heavenly Father.

This is only a part of what was floating through my mind and my heart as I began writing, but I hope you’ve read enough to know why we value your prayer, financial and personnel support and especially at this time of the year, your support of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! BERT


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If you are on Facebook, you can visit the Lottie Digges Moon page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lottie.moon?fref=ts. For more ideas for celebrating Lottie, check out Lottie Moon at Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/asiastories/lottie-moon/

Daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa are found at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

Special Lottie Moon Nudge

Unique opportunities to Be His Heart, His Hands, His Voice by connecting kids and adults with missions are found at AFRICA TALES -http://africatales.org/. Madala (a green Chameleon), Suloliko (a Zebra Duiker wearing purple), and their friends are waiting to guide kids in loving and praying for the peoples of Africa!

For more daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa, go to: http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

December 5, 2012

"Strengthening and encouraging as we engage lostness together.” Acts 14:22; Revelation 14:6  I first used this phrase many years ago while preparing a budget request for my work at Kenya Baptist Media.  To be honest, I first wrote it to give a little ‘strength’ to my request for finances - finances which would come from gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) and the Cooperative Program (CP).  Soon, Jack and I were using in on letters and messages as we realized that in a few words, this described our work.

As Jack works with the churches and members of the Baptist Convention of Kenya, teaching and acting as their Liaison to the IMB, his desire is to strengthen and encourage them  as they join in planting and strengthening God’s Work in Kenya and in other parts of Africa. My job is to use Social Media to encourage and strengthen others who can provide financial, prayer and personnel support for God’s Work, which I do as the advocate for the Kenya Legacy Work and in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, the other part of my job.  I've also learned that I can offer encouragement and strengthening to my co-workers as I share the stories, especially those who cannot freely share their stories due to security/persecution issues.

Yes, I am sharing all of this purposely this week as it is time for the 2012 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (1) and this is the week that many Baptists in the USA take time for a special time of prayer for international missions (2).  The reason that this is important to us?  As the imb connecting website (3) says at How IMB work is funded (4), “Every penny given to Lottie Moon is used to support Southern Baptist missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas. The offering represents 54 percent of the International Mission Board’s total income.” Thus, we could not do our work without your financial support as we also rely upon your sending short and long term personnel our way and your prayer support!

You can find lots of information on the above links and others such as Lottie Moon at Work – Every dollar making a difference (5), where many special “Real stories of how your giving reaches the world” are found. And though I know this will make this week’s update very long, I want to share bits of how your giving to Lottie Moon makes a difference in our lives, the things which lead to our being very thankful for your gifts!

Medical care – A co-worker asked this week for prayer for a young Ugandan friend whose wife had died from asthma complications.  Medicines are available in our part of the world to help one cope with asthma or other illnesses and there are good doctors, but they are too expensive for many, if not most, Africans.  We have access to the needed medicines (you helped pay for two of my asthma medications this morning) and medical care thanks to funds from the Lottie Moon Offering and our salary - which also is funded via the LMCO and CP!

Housing – We live in a three bedroom flat on a mission compound, with another flat above ours and a 3^rd home on the upper half of the property.  Our home is not a mud home, nor is it the biggest/fanciest house on our block, but it DOES provide us with a needed 'haven’ where we can rest and recharge, which is very important when you live in a different culture, and a place where we can offer rest and recharging to others!  Security of our homes is a critical issue in our part of the world due to police without transport, increased incidences of violent robberies, etc. Thus our homes have security bars on all windows and doors and we have guards at night and on Sundays (the #1 day for robberies of missionary homes), all provided by funds given to the LMCO and CP. 

Transport – You (givers to the LMCO and CP) provide us with a reliable car, which allows us to travel across Kenya as Jack leads Church Planting Methods (6), as he teaches at our Seminary, and as we attend needed meetings – meetings such as one I attended last week to meet many of our newest workers and the prayer retreat (7) I attended last month, and meetings Jack has with volunteers and Kenyan Baptists, such as yesterday’s meeting with a Kenyan Baptist church planter.

Our car is a bit old, but it still gets us where we need to go, which included attending the funeral of our pastor’s mother last week – a woman who raised her children in one of the first Baptist churches in East Africa, Shauri Moyo Baptist Church in Nairobi. We are also very thankful for those who provide us with the funds for gas to run our cars – gas which is over $5 per gallon in our city! 

Schooling – your gifts to the LMCO and CP allowed us to send our kids to good schools and helped with a bit of their college expenses.  Many of our friends live where schools are not available and they are assisted in the costs of Home Schooling, which often is a bit more costly as books, etc., must be shipped to where they live in Africa. 

And on and on… You provide our salary and many budget items, such as helping us with our internet costs – which I really, really use!  Internet which allows me to post daily nudges from our part of the world at  2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa (8), the new spot I use on Facebook, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (9) and a special ‘seasonal’ spot on Facebook, 2012 Lottie Moon: Sub-Saharan African Peoples (10) -  All can be viewed by those not on Facebook.

This week’s update is long, but the list of things you do to support us is very, very long!  So, THANK YOU for all you do to allow us to serve in Sub-Saharan Africa and BE HIS HEART, HIS HANDS, HIS VOICE among the Peoples of our part of the world!   BERT

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(1) 2012 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering – http://www.imb.org/main/give/pagelm.asp?StoryID=8078&LanguageID=1709

(2) Week of Prayer: Be His Heart, His Hands, His Voice –  http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=5624&LanguageID=1709

(3) imb connecting – http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp

(4)  How IMB work is funded - http://www.imb.org/main/give/page.asp?StoryID=4426&LanguageID=1709

(5) Lottie Moon at Work – Every dollar making a difference at http://www.imb.org/main/give/lmw/default.asp

(6) “What Can We Do? (Responding to the needs of our world guided by Romans 13:15 with photos from a trip earlier this year when Jack taught Church Planting Methods at a rural Bible School in western Kenya – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150846014900130.518785.685050129&type=1&l=7944f4f7da

(7) Thanksgiving – Psalm 118 used as a tour guide for scenes viewed by IMB Women of East Africa during a Prayer Retreat - a gift from those who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151505000150130.597467.685050129&type=1&l=375eb07f30

(8)  2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

(9) Sub-Saharan African Peoples – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?fref=ts – IF you’re not on Facebook, simply CLICK close on the lower corner of the big square that appears, if you are on FACEBOOK, log in!

(10) 2012 Lottie Moon: Sub-Saharan African Peoples -  https://www.facebook.com/LottieMoon2011.EastAfrica?ref=hl (follow above instructions)

December 2nd Nudge from Sub-Saharan Africa

Gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering enable workers to define reached, unreached and unengaged people groups.  Do you know why this is needed?  What is the difference between reached, unreached and unengaged people groups? Find the answers at “Research for a Reason” at http://www.africastories.org/the-road-less-traveled/research-for-a-reason/.

Praise God that the little boy in the photo is a member of a Reached Sub-Saharan African People who are learning to reach their People and neighbouring People Groups! 

For more daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa, go to: http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

November 28, 2012

Do you ever question if you are making the right decisions? I did this week and once again I have proof that “the Word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).  I'm continuing to ‘break-in’ my new Bible by reading it through and marking favourite verses and yesterday, it was time to begin at Joshua 3. I should not have been so astounded, but I was by how God’s Words offered the assurance that I needed – just when I needed it!

I was on my way to meet new co-workers, offering to help share their stories of how God is at work among Unreached People Groups in their adopted homes. To be honest, I'm a bit overwhelmed by expanding my work area to all of Sub-Saharan Africa and unsure of my ability to capably share the stories of people from countries where I have never visited or had close friends – thus my questions about if I was on the right path!

Then, as has often happened, the thoughts and plans bouncing through my head, took a new direction with the needed assurance that I was responding not to my ‘chosen’ path, but the one God had chosen for me to follow as my ‘work area’ expands. So, this week rather than a report of our week in words, I'm sharing our week through today's photos and am sharing what I learned in yesterday’s devotion:

As the Israelites began their long awaited journey into their promised land, “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). My reaction: This is a rather exciting expectation, but I usually spot the truly amazing things that our Father does. My problem is overlooking the little every-day amazing things AND that is what I think God is asking and gifted me to do – to see the little stories of how He is at work among the People Groups of Sub-Saharan Africa – the little stories which I have learned are often the ones that our supporters need and/or want to hear, the stories which touch their hearts and their desire to be a part of God’s work in our part of the world.

“Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God’” (Joshua 3:9). I had noted this verse before, but yesterday it reminded me that this is what Jack, I and our co-workers are seeking to do: SHARE God’s words with those who have never heard or understood them.

Joshua 5:1 shares the response of the kings along the Israelites journey when they “heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan” – the amazing promised thing – and how “their hearts melted in fear and no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.” This is what Jack (as he teaches and mentors) and I want to be a part of – the hearts of Peoples Groups melting as they hear of the amazing stories of our Father resulting in their no longer having the courage to face anything but His truths, His promises!

I hope by now you understand why these verses offered me God’s assurance that I am obeying His direction! After 34 years of working in Sub-Saharan Africa, I know we must have prayer, financial and personnel support. I also know that when you and others hear our stories of what happens when we share God’s Words with the unreached, you will offer the needed support. And that is what I want to do – help my co-workers share their stories of the amazing things God is doing among the Peoples of our part of the world!

Yes, this is long again, but a few more areas where prayer is needed. Pray that God will direct us as we meet many old and new friends today at the funeral of the mother of Victor Kimani, our Kenyan pastor. Pray for wisdom as Jack attends meetings with leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya this week. I need prayers as I begin this year’s Lottie Moon emphasis with stories from all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Pray especially for me as I find creative ways to share the stories of those who cannot freely share their work among some Unreached People Groups. BERT
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For a sneak preview of https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?fref=ts – IF you’re not on Facebook, simply CLICK close on the lower corner of the big square that appears, if you are on FACEBOOK, log in!
Or you can view/read the stories of what God is up to in Sub-Saharan Africa at 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa - http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/.

November 21, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!  We had a head start last week on giving thanks and not just the beautiful things we saw such as the one above!  As our early day of celebration was the follow-up of something Jack did years ago,  I've asked him to share our thanksgiving story with you.
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Last week, I sat in the office of long-time friend and co-worker, Rev. Samson Kisia.  He showed me on his office map of southern Sudan, locations circled where he has former members, TEE (Theological Education by Extension) students, and churches.  There were at least ten circles!  It all brought back memories and assurances of how God answers the prayers of our hearts.

Over 20 years ago in the height of the Sudan Civil War, Samson started a special worship service for Sudanese refugees at his church, First Baptist Ruiru, north of Nairobi.  He taught them TEE, found them Bibles, and began to disciples these refugees. When a UN camp was built for the Sudanese near the Sudan/Kenya border, he began working at Kakuma.  Eventually, with the help of other Kenyan Baptists and missionaries, five churches were started in the Kakuma Camp.  When peace finally was restored, Samson became their mentor as they returned to their new nation, South Sudan. 

Near the end of 1989, while we were working in the Rift Valley, Nakuru Baptist Church began work among the Turkana (an Unreached People Group) in northwest Kenya by sending their associate pastor back to his ‘home area’ to plant churches.  Eventually the Baptist Mission (IMB) also sent personnel, and just north of where they lived was the Sudanese Refugee Camp at Kakuma – connections which led me to the area and the camp. 

Later, I joined others (IMB missionaries and Kenyan Baptist leaders which included Pastor Kisia) on a survey trip across the border to Narus, Sudan (South Sudan as of July 9, 2011) and found the Toposa People, one of the many Unreached People Groups of South Sudan.   I still remember Samson’s words to me, “Jack, this is the real Africa!”  Somehow though, our mission plans were put on hold.  Samson continued however and as a result countless Sudanese have graduated from our seminary, KBTC, and returned home to work in churches and schools for their new country. 

God honoured the ‘promise’ we all felt that day in 1990 as we stood in Narus; that we (Baptists) would be back and the Toposa of Narus would no longer be unreached! The reason we visited Samson at First Baptist Ruiru last Friday was to take a young IMB couple to meet him who will be moving to Narus in 2013!  God has prepared the way!

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BERT again:  A added bit of our excitement is that the young IMB couple that we took to meet Samson last Friday is from our ‘home area’ (term often used in Africa) – North Carolina!!! Hope you have enjoyed our early Thanksgiving event, and don’t worry, our turkey is already baked (iffy electricity leads to baking early) and we will share a traditional meal tomorrow with colleagues and friends.  Also be assured that your support of us will be high among the things we are thankful for tomorrow!  BERT
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Special THANK YOU gift for you – A slideshow sharing some of Kenya’s beauty can be found by clicking the top photo and viewing Thanksgiving –Psalm 118 guides you on a tour of scenes viewed by IMB Women of East Africa during a Prayer Retreat - a gift from those who give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151505000150130.597467.685050129&type=1&l=375eb07f30

Remember to view the new daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

All the photos in this week's update were taken this past week as we visited Samson or as we worshipped with our church family last Sunday or views in our yard! 

Nov 17th Nudge from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa

IMB workers and Kenyan Baptist leaders once made a survey trip to a village in southern Sudan, but doors did not open for work.  Yesterday, one of those missionaries took new IMB workers to meet one of those Kenyan Baptist leaders, who continued praying as his church ministered to Sudanese refugees.  Praise God for this new couple who will soon BE our Father’s Heart, Hands and Voice in the little village in South Sudan that was ‘surveyed’ 25 years ago!

Personal note:  Jack was the missionary who made that survey trip and this time I was able to tag along as we took a couple from our 'home area' (North Carolina) to meet Pastor Samson Kisia, whose church in noth of Nairobi!

For more daily Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa, go t: http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

November 14, 2012

Do I or do I not share?  I've asked myself this many times since last Thursday night.  Like many of our missionary colleagues, we often choose not to share events which may alarm others, lead to worry about us, or cause new personnel/ volunteers to fear coming to our part of the world.  But after lots of prayer and internal ‘debates’, I WILL share as I believe it will strengthen your prayers for us and others.

A little before midnight last Thursday night, Jack and I were awoken by the barking of our two dogs (mixed Jack Russell/ Dachshunds).  We live in a valley and can hear sounds from miles away at night, so that was not unusual.
After several turns of getting up to yell at Angel and Gypsy, we heard our night guards (we have two for the three mission homes on our compound) talking loudly, so Jack went to the door to check.  A young Asian couple, who had been hijacked a kilometre or so away and left at the end of our lane, had come to our gate needing a cell phone to call for help. Their families arrived with armed policemen soon after we went outside to be with the traumatized young couple. (Added note: When help is needed in our part of the world, you must provide transport for the police – which is a bit awkward when you are being robbed!)

The next morning, Jack and I questioned our delay in responding, but we knew that trickery is often used in our part of the world to gain access into homes/compounds.  We had debated before going out if this was a ‘con’ job and the thieves were using the couple to gain entry into our homes.  We realized again that you can plan/ prepare for things such as this, but when it happens, you truly must trust God to know what to do. 

We learned more of what the couple had experienced when the families of the young man and woman visited to offer thanks on Sunday.   The couple had returned to one of their homes from a date and discovered it was being burglarized.  When the woman screamed, alerting the neighbours in their apartment complex, the thieves forced their way into their car and drove to our lane where the couple was robbed and beaten.  The family and young couple wanted to thank us for helping them – which once again led to questions on our part of how much more we could have helped them IF we had not taken time to debate the safety of offering assistance! 

Jack and I are praying that this will open doors to building a strong relationship with these families of another faith, especially as the young man’s family owns a shop in the shopping area where I already have two friends of other faiths who often share their prayer needs with me.  Pray for us as we choose what to do and what not to do as we seek opportunities to be our Father’s heart, hands and voice. 

Lots more happened last week, including bits from the women’s prayer retreat I attended, but I will stop now as I think I've shared enough to keep you praying for us and others this week – a comforting assurance that we will know how to discern and act upon God’s will and direction!  BERT

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For more Nudges from East Africa/Sub-Saharan Africa go to http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/. 

Additional photos were taken during last weekend's prayer retreat for IMB missionary women of East Africa at Lake Naivasha.