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 )