March 27, 2013

Dilemmas or Reality Checks – Not sure which term to use.  One of these dilemma/reality check moments happened as I wrote last week’s update.  As often happens, I deleted a prayer item as I felt it was selfish. But, I couldn’t stop thinking about my omission as all my colleagues serving among Peoples with very different lifestyles and needs also face their own dilemmas/reality checks.

Sunrise at KBTC this morning

So moments after sending last week’s update, I began composing today’s Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples:

March 27 Nudge to Action from SSAP

 “Reality Check Time: As a missionary adds to a prayer letter the need for a capable ‘Maytag repairman’ for her dryer, she remembers meeting the kids living in this house! Pray for God’s strengthening as missionaries balance their lives with the needs of the People they minister among.” (Nudge photo at right, click to visit more Nudges to Action from SSAP.)

Close-up of girls in today's Nudge - the one in blue was
at first overwhelmed by all the guests to her house, the
one with the balloon loved posing for the camera!

Yes, we can use a capable repairman for our dryer, especially as the rainy season is beginning. Earlier this month, a repairman arrived at our house with only one tool, a screw driver which fit none of the screws on our dryer.  His verdict, a new dyer belt, which a volunteer brought to us.  Short version of a long story – the old belt was fine and the problem is worse than before! 

Foggy morning last week at KBTC

But the quandary remains – Should I seek  prayer for my ‘need’ for a working dryer when most of my African friends have never owned a dryer, including two neighbors whose clothes lines, even on rainy days, are filled with diapers?  Or when I remember all the times I’ve passed creeks bordered with women and children washing clothes by hand, usually in unclean water, and drying garments on nearby bushes?  After 34+ years in Africa, these events are more reality checks for me than dilemmas, but you can see how these situations do lead to a lot of soul searching and even frustration for new missionaries!

Later afternoon  at KBTC

Which leads to another ‘Dilemma/Reality Check’ moment I experienced this week during devotions: “We have not brought salvation to the earth” (Isaiah 26:18). It is painful to realize that many people, including entire People Groups in our world, have yet to hear of our Father’s Good News. As I searched for more on this verse, my study Bible led me to Isaiah 42, a very affirming reality check!

Sunset last Thursday evening at KBTC

In recent weeks as my prayer networking responsibilities has expanded to cover all of Sub-Saharan African Peoples and as Jack has begun serving as the Principal of Kenya Baptist Theological College, we have known  without a doubt that God called us to serve Him in these new ways.  And YES, there have been many moments when we have been overwhelmed by all the ‘dilemmas’ provided by the devil to discourage and prevent the revival/ restoration/ resurrection/ rescue of KBTC.

Jack, Zack and Ron walking to north campus where
the new building is being....

Dilemmas provided by the devil as we are certain that he dislikes one of the new goals of the college – For African Believers to be trained to serve as missionaries in their own cities, countries and continent!  He doesn’t want training Believers singing “to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,” to the seas, islands, deserts, towns, settlements, and mountaintops where there are People who have not yet had the opportunity to hear and know of our Father’s love and salvation.

...cleaned and prepared for use for music classes, dining hall
and chapel when classes resume the second week of April.

So, I ask you to join us and Jack’s team in praying that KBTC will once again become a place where African Believers can be prepared to reflect the presence of God and become qualified and capable workers in our Father’s Harvest Field.  Pray that God’s servants at the college will listen, pay close attention and take to heart all His commands and guidance. I know our Father can answer our ‘big’ prayers BECAUSE I know He also cares about and answers our seemingly “mundane and not worthy of sharing” prayer requests!

Dyring out hidden mold behind the blistered paint

Do you remember my asking last week for prayer for our mold problem?  We had tried multiple things to rid the problem as it was leaving me very sick, but nothing had worked.  Thirty minutes after I sent the request to you, I ‘discovered’ the source of the mold - blistered paint along the bathroom floorboard – and via the internet I found home remedies to remedy the problem! Thanks to answers to your prayers, I am now breathing freely again and thinking clearly!  God has also answered a major prayer need of the college this week.  His children in a Kenyan Baptist church are not only paying one of the large debts accrued over the years, but offering improvements that will reduce future bills.  So one more request:  Praise God with us for answering our and your prayers!  BERT YATES

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Updates to last week’s prayer request for co-workers who have a very sick baby, can be found on Sub-Saharan African Peoples Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl . Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page.

Another photo of Little Miss Personality who 'starred'
in today's Nudge to Action from SSAP