As I write, Jack is teaching at our seminary (Kenya
Baptist Theological College), which always leaves him HAPPY and EXHAUSTED! HAPPY because he loves teaching Church
Planting Methods (sorry, I gave you the wrong subject last week) and he is
always energized by working with pastors and leaders eager to learn more of how
they can serve our Father. This class
includes a young woman from one of our first Baptist churches in East Africa,
Shauri Moyo; a pastor ministering in the slums of Nairobi; and a student from a
People Group thankfully no longer among the “Least Reached” by the Gospel, but
in need of trained pastors, the Maasai.
His EXHAUSTION comes from the drive to and from the school, teaching
four hours each day, and answering lots of questions outside of class and then
returning home to do more research to answer their intense, deep questions!
Once again, I’m in awe of how
God answered my prayers and yours and made it very clear through scripture and
‘happenings’ what I should share this week – which is the JOYS and SORROWS of
my week! I first used these words in
“What
Is She Doing?”, the new photo album promised last week on our
Yates/IMB/Kenya blog, but
as usual I had written too many words and these were among the many I cut!
“What
Is She Doing?” is of a special view I spotted while Jack taught early
this month in western Kenya. As I worked
one day on my computer at the back of the Bible School classroom, a toddler
caught my attention. Thankfully I went
outside to see more and viewed a series of actions with touched my heart with
both JOY and SORROW.
JOY and SORROW also came this
week as I read co-workers’ blogs in preparation for the daily
Prayer Nudges from
East Africa. Today’s prayer
nudge is a great example of when you want to be positive and claim JOY, but you
are actually more in the SORROW category.
I encourage you to read my co-workers comments and the joy she later
claimed in today’s
Prayer Nudge from
East Africa.
JOY and SORROW also came this
read as we learned of other problems faced by
co-workers. Missionaries prefer
sharing good things that lead to praise, but often praise items follow times of
sorrow. We heard this week that one of
our families must return to the States due to the illness of a child. They are praising God for how travel/ medical
arrangements are happening, but they are hurting as they close their time here
and say goodbye to friends. More friends
are praising God for safety and protection after a very painful occurrence – a
violent robbery while on vacation. We
are praising God that no one was hurt in a very dangerous situation, but we are
also praying for peace and comfort for this family, which includes teens and
family visiting from the States.
I ask
that you join us in praying for these situations and many others, as I share
more ‘general prayers’ for missionaries:
Pray for wisdom as we make difficult decisions. Pray for a clear sense of God’s will in all
we do. Pray also for safety as we travel on not-so-safe roads and live in areas
where insecurity and tensions can always lead to problems, such as a recent
bombing in one of Nairobi’s transport centers.
Before I close, I must add thanks for your praying for my
patience and healing from a cold/sinus infection. I’m definitely on the mend, though a little
‘dinghy’ at the moment from the medicine to deal with the cough left
behind! One more thanks: Thank you for your prayers and the many ways
you support us, BERT
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