February 29, 2012

I was unsure how to share all we have experienced this week – until I read Psalm 107 yesterday and found my answer.  “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his loves endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their STORY… (of) his wonderful deeds for mankind.” (vv. 1, 2, 21) 

So, today, I will share the STORY of last Monday’s tour with a new couple assigned to East Africa of the Baptist work in Nairobi, which we quickly realized also included the history of Baptist work in East Africa.  I hope that the photos album, “TELLING OUR STORY – Living out Psalm 107 through a tour of Baptist Work in Kenya/East Africa” will help you experience the joy of hearing/ seeing what God has accomplished in our part of the world – thanks to your prayers, sending personnel our way, and providing financial support through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Offering. 

Jack also has a STORY to share of a trip he made yesterday with another missionary and a Kenyan Baptist leader: Our family left Nakuru in 1992, closing the time of missionary involvement there.  During our seven years in the Rift Valley, God accomplished great things, including more than five new associations and hundreds of churches with discipled leaders who were moving Baptist work forward in all directions.  However, one of my ‘dream’ directions was not fulfilled –work along the Dundori to Ol Kalou road northeast of Nakuru.  Despite many attempts, Baptists had failed to find a home or reception there. 

Yesterday, I visited a new church exactly where I had prayed and worked towards establishing a place where Biblically based Believers could find a home.  As usual, God heard my prayers and in His time, he brought remnants together to form a new thing, Gataura Baptist Church. 

In 2007, Kenya witnessed the horrors of post-election violence.  Hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes and scattered across Kenya.  This was the 2nd or 3rd  time of violence for many and some decided to find their own haven of peace.  A group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  joined together to enter strange areas which were for sale.  They sold what they had left and trusting in God, they started anew in the area WHERE we were unable to start work!  Many of these IDPs had been discipled in their former Baptist churches in the Nakuru area, and yes, some had lost not only their homes during, but also their church buildings during the violence.

A Kenyan Baptist leader calls this settlement and people “Exodus” churches.  There are now three churches in the Dundori to Ol Kaou area – one of the first things that the new residents did! Their next decision was to call upon Kenyan Baptists to come and help.  The result is a Bible School training seven young adults.  They are already mapping their area for evangelism and church planting.  After all I saw yesterday, I have confirmation that God hears our prayers.  In His wisdom, He acts accordingly.  He brings all His promises to past.  After all, this is HIS WORK and HIS PEOPLE.  He is always faithful to those who wait upon Him! And one extra exciting bit:  Some of the items salvaged from the destroyed churches are now being used in the new churches! 

I know this is long, but as I tried to shorten Jack’s STORY, I realized it was too exciting – I have to fully share his STORY and give you an opportunity to join us in thanking our Father “for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds!” (Psalm 107:21)   BERT YATES

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TELLING OUR STORY  can be found at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150812747770130.513889.685050129&type=3&l=8922aa6346

2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa can be found at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa ) 

February 26th Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Some children in East Africa had adequate food last week, others did not. Some slept in secure houses, others in refugee tents or on streets. The buzz of malaria-carrying mosquitoes kept some awake, while a few were awakened by cattle rustlers attacking their village or a fire spreading through their slum.  Floods caused some kids to flee their homes, while others tried to remember what rain looked like?  Some children attended school, while others tended animals or walked miles hauling water.  Some learned new Bible stories, while too many were still waiting for someone to tell them of the true God who loves and cares for children!
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To view the "2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa" daily, go to  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/and become a follower via your e-mail or as a Blog Follower.  You can also view the daily Prayer Nudges as Bert's friends on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or as a friend of Imb EastAfrica on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

February 22, 2102

Another week of completing our update late in the day – Kenya is 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard time in the US, which means it is 3:30 in the afternoon as I write, and 7:30 in the morning for our kids in North Carolina!  Today the internet is working properly and the electricity is not fluctuating (though it was off for 8 hours yesterday, as it was last Friday), but my problem is getting over a cold – not a winter one as many of you are nursing at the moment, but a summer one as we are in the midst of our summertime!  At the moment, I’m not sure the fogginess of my mind is caused by the cold or the medicine I’m taking, but as I knew my mind was working rather slowly, I decided to share this week’s update in photos rather than words only! 

My prayer is that these photos will help you understand how our lives are much like yours, but also different.  Our joys, sorrows and questions are also similar, but unique.  So to visit with us a bit and sample our lives, please take time to view “Joys, Sorrows and Questions.”  These photos are just a few of the views I captured last week (Feb 16-21, 2012) as we travelled around Nairobi working, shopping, going to church, etc. – views which left me with lots of thoughts and reactions, as well as a new understanding of Psalms 66 and 67!   Many of the photos are not that ‘great’ thanks to roads with all sorts of bumps, holes and traveling buddies and the sun being especially bright and glaring this time of year, which doesn’t always go that well with my ‘point and shoot’ style of photography, but my prayer is that these snippets of our week will strengthen your ability to understand our lives, as well as your ability to pray for us. 

So, although I know you are amazed, this week’s update is short for a change!  But I will add one more comment:  THANK YOU for all the ways you support us, which allows us to be where we are and do what we know God has called us to do!  Pray also that I haven’t shared my virus with Jack as we prepare for a trip to central Kenya next week, followed by a teaching session in early March in a Bible School in western Kenya.   BERT

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First two photos above are from Joys, Sorrows, and Questions - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150796511515130.511209.685050129&type=1&l=bd43ac7eca

Lower photo is from 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa  – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

To view the photo album shared last week, go to “Your love, LORD, reaches to…”  – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150775994625130.508717.685050129&type=3&l=407dcac196   

February 19th Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Blessing shared by an IMB missionary in East Africa:  “After arriving and greeting everyone at the village school, we unloaded 40 boxes (320 bags) of ‘Kits for Kids’ and gathered the students and told them the ‘story’ of how kids in America gathered the materials together and sent them through BGR (Baptist Global Response).  We read them the saying on the bags, ‘Connecting Kids in need with Kids who care.’  Everyone was thrilled!  There is a good chance these school supplies will last the stduentst throughout this school year.  What a blessing!”

For more on BGR Kits for Kids, go to http://bgrkitsforkids.com/
For more Baptist Global Response, go to:  http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/
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To view the "2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa" daily, go to  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/and become a follower via your e-mail or as a Blog Follower.  You can also view the daily Prayer Nudges as Bert's friends on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or as a friend of Imb EastAfrica on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

February 15, 2012

Another week of days of no electricity and poor internet!  It took hours, instead of minutes today, to post an album of photos, which means this update will fly (or creep) later than usual today through the internet never-never-land!  As Jack brought me lunch as I worked,  he asked if I could skip today’s photos.  My answer:  No, I want to share a view of our lives, my attempt to make “Psalms 36 and 37 alive and active with views spotted on one afternoon in East Africa, which included returning a group of Rift Valley Academy students to school after their mid-term break in Nairobi.”   RVA is the boarding school in the Great Rift Valley attended by many of our missionary kids and where our son boarded for grades 8-12 while we lived in Nakuru.  We are guardians for two families of kids from Tanzania and it is a three day drive home for one girl, so she spent the break at our house.  The photos are not great as most were taken from the back seat of our car on Monday afternoon, but these give a great view of our daily experiences – SO please take time to view “Your love, LORD, reaches to...”

Another frustration this week was reminders of African poverty found in a local news article.  “Deacons to quit Dar market after five-year loss” (Daily Nation, 2/13/12, p. 26) told of a store closing in Tanzania due to their “target market – the middle to upper income – being very small compared to other countries.  Tanzania’s middle class, those earning between $2 and $20 per day… just 12 percent of the total population, which is smaller than Kenya’s 44.9 percent and Uganda’s 18.7 percent of the population” and 7% in Rwanda.  Did you catch the part about middle income including those living on $2 per day? I have been in the Kenyan Deacon’s shops and I’m not sure how those on these salaries shop there as most items are much more than $20! 

I thought the lower earning numbers defining middle class was incorrect, but research proved it was not!  I found many quotes from those making the shilling equivalent of $2-$4 daily (50% of the middle class) sharing their frustrations of barely surviving and lacking adequate food, housing and education!  I looked for the percentages of those in upper class and finally gave up, but I do know that it is estimated that more than 50% of Kenyans live on less than $1 per day, with a greater percentage in neighboring countries. Another “Why am I sharing this?”  Because this is the world in need of our Father’s love and salvation!

Now for some good news!  In last week’s photo album, “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes,” I shared that our new church has lots of college students and kids, but very few teens! Last Sunday, I discovered how some older kids are finding their place by helping in the preschool class!  I loved watching one young man retrieving little ones roaming from their open-air class, his inspiring the little boys to act-out the songs (photo above), and especially his trying not to laugh when the teacher told the story of Jonah and asked, “What does it mean to obey?” One little one’s reply: “You better obey your Mommy or God will send a big whale to eat you up!” I will close this update with a thanks for your obeying our Father and your involvement and support of His work in His harvest field, BERT

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“Your love, LORD, reaches to…”   is at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150775994625130.508717.685050129&type=3&l=407dcac196   

2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa  – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb

EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

You can find last week’s at “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes”  – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150754353430130.506490.685050129&type=1&l=4f5f0908c3    

Happy Valentine's Day!

Not sure a tub of shortening/ fat has our best interests at heart, BUT we know who does - Our Heavenly Father!  Praying today that we always make Him the heart of all we do, experience, think, say, etc., and yes, the heart of every meal (Acts 2:46)! Thanking God today for our partnership in the faith and your desire for a deepened “understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.  Your love has given us (and our co-workers) great joy and encouragement” and refreshment of the heart – A true Valentine’s gift!   (Philemon 6,7)  PHOTO:  East African wall advertising

February 12th Prayer Nudge from East Africa

From an East African missionary 3rd grader: "One of the things I love is having new friends … I like being an MK! One of my favorite things is I get to have my mom as a teacher. I love doing art projects and horse-riding along the Nile River. Uganda has so many different animals… I really love the beautiful birds and silly monkeys in our backyard. Please pray for me and my little sister to do well in school, be responsible and show kindness to everyone. BYE”  


From the girls' Mom:  Thanking God for homeschool books that the IMB has shipped around the world to us!
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You can easily follow the daily 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa (http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ ) by going to the blog and subscribing to it, or by becoming Bert's friend on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a friend of Imb EastAfrica on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

February 8, 2012

It happened again this week, two verses ‘jumped out’ from the pages of my Bible during my time of devotion!  I have read both verses many times, yet this time the words were extra alive and active – “If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes … What will I do when God confronts me?  What will I answer when called to account?”  (Job 31:7, 14)

Had these verse ‘jumped-out’ to Jack this week, he would understand as he spent the week reviewing his work of 2011 and perfecting his plans for 2012!  Even he was astounded by the totals that appeared in his final 2011 report:  108 teaching assignments in 94 associations; 1929 persons in attendance from 624 churches which resulted in 1799 times of witnessing during the trainings, 560 decisions and 160 baptisms, 23 new church plants, 5 preaching points, 10 new small groups, 39 new disciples of his disciples – and this is only the immediate results from the teaching sessions and not later additions which would greatly exceed these totals!  Oh, I can’t overlook the last group of 2011 tallies:  Teaching in 6 new Bible Schools with 85 students!   

I can’t fully explain why these verses spoke so loudly to me, but it does relate to issues missionaries face constantly.  Our eyes see so much that affects our hearts – good things such as spiritual growth and answered prayers, as well as evil things such as inequalities and injustice.  Our ‘pockets’ never match the needs we encounter daily, so we do face guilt/questions related to when/ how we should respond.  We are constantly searching for the right balance of matching what our eyes see to what our hearts can and should respond – which explains why most missionaries spend lengthy times in devotion not because we are so spiritual, but because to stay sane we must be in communication with our Father and rely totally upon Him for direction!

Don’t worry, all this philosophizing today does not imply a bad or difficult week – There have been difficulties and disappointments, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives, and it was truly amazing to watch God either work things out or provide the needed strength/ wisdom we needed!  One positive was spending time last night with two young youth ministers, one from the Atlanta and the other from Kenya! We had never heard of either until Monday, yet now are both dear friends and we are excited about (yet feeling a little apprehensive for them) as they bring a volunteer group of 100 to Kenya this summer! 

Another positive this week was attending a Leaders Retreat last Saturday of our church, Parklands Baptist Church Mombasa Road, with 30 plus of our friends!  Jack and I are at least 10 years older than any of the others and double the age of many!  One of the most exciting parts was linking so many of these well discipled African Believers to former missionary colleagues and Kenyan pastors and leaders!  It’s truly awesome to see what God is doing in East Africa, how He has blessed the past work of His children and is blessing the current work!  To share part of our joy, we invite you to view “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes” or “A day in the life of two IMB missionaries in East Africa filled with hijackings, joys and prayers!”  I promise these photos and captions will leave you praising God with us for the opportunity we have to watch Him at work in our part of the world!  BERT Yates

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To view our weekend view of God at Work, go to “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes”  – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150754353430130.506490.685050129&type=1&l=4f5f0908c3

For the 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa  – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa ) 

February 5, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Shared by a missionary in East Africa: “While ministering in a village our daughter went out to play with the kids. She just went out and sat down ... 2 seconds later one came close... 10 seconds later they were all gathered around her giving high 5's... singing and playing. When we returned to the van, our 9 year old informed us that while we were with the family, she had her own ministry outside. She told all the children about Jesus.” Added by a missionary aunt: “She had all the children doing whatever she did - no language barrier here.”
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You can easily follow the daily 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa (http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ ) by going to the blog and subscribing to it, or by becoming Bert's friend on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a friend of Imb EastAfrica on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

February 1, 2012

I planned to complete this week’s update early, but “I was defeated” yesterday by yet another day of no electricity!  I was frustrated, but as I read a note from an East African coworker I realized it is a good reminder of what many people in our world, including missionaries, face daily.  Some East African co-workers, and not just those in rural areas, have learned to adjust to only a few hours of power and/or water each and every day.  Others have no need to budget for electricity and water bills as electricity lines and piped water have yet to arrive in their part of the world! 

As I ran (actually walked) errands yesterday – my back-up plan – I realized that one of the tensions shared by most missionaries, is that as we plan our days, we always need back-up plans.  Sometimes these are on-paper back-up plans, such as planning two menus, especially when guests are coming – one relying upon electricity, the other for no-electricity days, such as buying bread when fresh bread is planned.  No-water days?  A plan with few messy dishes!   Back-up plans also include ministry options according to how many expected/ unexpected people arrive, their ages and whether you can meet in the hoped-for spot!

More of yesterday’s realizations: Most often I’m not aware I have a back-up plan until it arises when needed from the special back-up part of my mind!   As I thought of friends in places with no or limited resources, I remembered that the ‘lack-of things’ often require extra work!  My friend who wrote yesterday has no water or electricity in their new home in another East African country and limited things available to buy, such as no fresh vegetables, fruit, milk, etc.  So rather than she and her husband focusing fully on their work of sharing our Father’s Good News with Unreached People Groups, they must spend major time in surviving – such as learning to use a solar cooker, extra time preparing a nutritious meal, and locating suitable water for cooking, drinking, and bathing! 

I’m not sharing all of this today to cause you to feel sorry for us and our friends, but to emphasize our need for your support!  We want to be focused on sharing our Father’s Good News with those in need of His Eternal Gospel, but our focus is often elsewhere due to shortages and things such as political unrest, as well as dealing with lots of the devil’s ‘plans’ – missionaries know he is also a planner with un-limited back-up plans – so we definitely NEED your prayer support!

Jack’s specific prayer request this week continues to be for wisdom and strength as he and the other members of the Board of Governors of the Kenya Baptist Theological College make and carry out plans for guiding KBTC as our seminary serves our Father. Pray for me as I become involved in two ministries away from the computer, an established ministry to kids who have just finished high school and planning a new ministry for strengthening and encouraging a group of Kenyan ‘home missionary’ women.  Trust me, an important part of any of our plans is depending upon your PRAYER SUPPORT!  BERT

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A large part of Bert's ‘planned work’ is connecting East Africa via the Internet (sharing the stories/ praises/ needs of co-workers with one another and with our supporters and also as a tool to encourage and strengthen them) is the daily Prayer Nudges which appear on a blog and on FB. 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa can be found at  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )