Wednesday, August 8, 2012

August 8, 2012

This has been another week when Jack and I have experienced so many feelings – another good week and definitely one in which we had glimpses of the joy that comes from being His children.  The week has included cheering for the USA and East African countries while watching the Olympics and proudly watching the college/university students at our church lead Youth Sunday at our church.
The week’s schedule also included tests for a yearly physical (Jack described these as not great, but better than in the past) and meals with friends and guests (Indian food one time and Mombasa Arabic food the second meal).  Yesterday found us busy taking two Journey(wo)men and the family of one of these young women on a tour of the Baptist work of Nairobi, which although we never leave the city limits, shares bits of the history of all Baptist work in East Africa. 
My week has included hours taking, editing photos (it appears that I’m a good photographer, but my true skills are in editing), and downloading a  video of our students of our church singing a familiar song in Kiswahili(1), composing a new slideshow entitled, “Shopping Experience Prayer Walk/Drive”(2) and preparing the daily Nudges from East Africa (3).  During the editing of the photos, as often happens, I found a few surprise views within the photos, including a new way that an enterprising Kenyan has found to make a few shillings, a little boy playing with a homemade toy, and two special stories.  All but one of these are shared in the slideshow (Shopping Experience Prayer Walk/Drive”), the other ‘story’ is shared below!

The highlight of our week occurred during our Nairobi tour.  Jack always includes in the tour a visit to the Nairobi Baptist Centre in Shauri Moyo (where he first worked and we lived for a while), where the offices of the Baptist Convention of Kenya are now located.  We had learned that morning of the death of one the early missionaries to Kenya, Betty Evans, and were searching for time during our busy day to share the news with the leaders of our convention, Betty’s co-workers and friends.  When we arrived at the office, many of those we hoped to contact where in a meeting and graciously took a break to meet our Baptist guests from the USA and our two young colleagues.  This led to one of those moments which will forever be etched upon our hearts.  I don’t mean to hold you in suspense, but to best share what we experienced, you need to view today’s Prayer/What God is Doing in East Africa Nudges.
Yes, we’ve had discouragements, frustrations and a bit of fear (driving in Nairobi always includes this), so do continue praying for peace and safety for us and our colleagues.  But as I’ve shared and I hope you will experience by taking time to visits the links I’ve shared, we have been blessed this week by seeing how God is at work in Kenya and we know that your prayers are a part of this!  Thank you, BERT


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(1) Cha Kutamanini Sina (Ndiye mwamba, ni salama) – Last two verses of THE SOLID ROCK in Kiswahili with a different tune - sung by choir on Youth Sunday (August 5, 2012) at Parklands Baptist Church/ Mombasa Road, can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151301793155130&set=vb.685050129&type=2&theater
(3) 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa  – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

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