April 28, 2013 - SSAP Nudge to Action

Pray for training in Zombo today through the 30th for Alur and Lugbara women led by a missionary and Ugandan trainer. Volunteers from Florida will assist and record stories to be used on the megavoice solar powered audio devices. Pray that these devices will be an encouragement to the trainers.

--- --- --- --- ---

For daily Nudges to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, check out  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

and at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl

(non-Facebook users can view this page).

April 24, 2013

Jack is teaching Church History this week.

Two stories to share this week or rather two responses, one to a problem and the other to a quandary over a sign!  The first response is how God answered a prayer need shared last week in a way that I am certain you never envisaged as you prayed!  But first, a repeat of those prayer needs for Kenya Baptist Theological College and how God answered (in red) your prayers!

As some in the music program practised teaching
music in a 'classroom' setting (fellow students
were their 'class'), others had keyboard class.

Pray for the students who are still seeking current and unpaid tuition fees so that they can return to classes. (14 students have cleared fees and returned to class.) Pray also for wisdom as Jack and his team decide which needs are the greatest as they balance finances with the need for hot water in the dorms (hot water is now in the

Guitar lessons are also on the schedule.

dorms and a shower block is being added to the new building), repairing of impassable, slippery roads on campus (the unexpected answer shared below), as well as taking care of leaking roofs in old buildings… especially in the new building which lacks a proper roof! (Heavy rains are continuing; the older buildings are still on the to-do-list, but repairs are being made to provide a dryer first floor of the new unfinished building. Pray that these repairs and the new shower block will be ready by this Sunday when a large group arrives for a conference.)

Jack pondering the slippery steep road.

Now the first response story: The good road to the new building is no longer available to KBTC and the alternative road led to the prayer for “repairing of impassable, slippery roads on campus.”  From our little cottage, I was constantly hearing cars, trucks and motorcycles slipping and sliding and trying multiple times to go up the incline even when they were only carrying passengers.  Thus, hauling needed furniture and supplies to the new building was especially treacherous and often impossible!  Jack and others discussed many solutions, but all were too expensive and then THANKS to your prayers, Jack had an inspiration from Bible days that led to one friend saying, “You have definitely lived in Africa a long time.” 

The solution:  KBTC hired a donkey, his cart and his two handlers - who were known for treating their donkey well!

With the help of staff, the two men loaded mattresses, bed frames, kitchen items, etc., on their cart...

 while the donkey helped 'slash' some of the fast-growing grass on campus by grazing contentedly...

and then the donkey had no problem following orders to ‘sukuma’ (push) up the hill!

At the top of the mountain, beside the new building, there are piles of stone bits and pieces.  The two donkey handlers refilled their cart for each of the return trips with this unusable rubble...

which was deposited beside the “impassable, slippery” part of the road.

So, thanks to the help of a donkey, which by the way, cost much, much less than hiring modern equipment and a road-repair crew, the KBTC staff is now making the road passable with the bits and pieces of stone!

The dirt piled beside the road (above) was delivered before rocks were added to the road, so this sand needed for the construction of the shower room and partial roof on the new building was left on the side of the road and members of the construction crew are hauling it to the property where...

the building that looked this way on Monday morning...

looked like this yesterday morning on the front right corner.

The second story/response, unlike the first has not led to lots of laughter and amusement, and I believe it is also an answer to my request last week for prayers as I work as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples. I recently spotted a large banner near our home in Nairobi that bothered me, but I wasn’t sure why.  Later as I prepared for a nudge*, I read several Psalms and realized what concerned me!  The banner’s message, announcing the dedication of the largest church building in East Africa, did not include any of God’s words or even His name!

Spotted this week while walking on the KBTC campus.

This is a quandary that we often face as we do God’s work and as we encounter others joining in the work in our Father’s harvest field.  How often do I and others get so involved in good works that we forget why we are doing this work and who we are doing it for?  How often do I rely upon my gifts and abilities and forget to rely upon God?  

Viewed from the chapel/dining hall window.

How often do I question if the desires of my heart are in line with His desires or that all I do is according to His will and done to bring glory to Him and not to myself? Please join me in praying this week that Jack, I and our co-workers will always be able to confidently pray, “Test me, O LORD and try me, examine my heart and mind,” as we do His work and proclaim praise to Him and tell all of His wonderful deeds (Psalm 26:2,7).

BERT YATES

---   ---   ---   ---   --- 

* One part of Bert's work is posting daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples on a blog, Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on the SSAP Facebook page, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl ). Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page.

Menu for lunch at KBTC yesterday. 

April 21, 2013 SSAP Nudge to Action

From young missionary in West Africa: “In the village, children gather around me; in the city, it seems men like to talk to me. Pray that I will make the most of these opportunities and have the language skills to tell stories from the Word to those who are interested in talking to me.”

---   ---   ---   ---   ---

For daily Nudges to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, check out http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

and at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl

(non-Facebook users can view this page).

April 17, 2013

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”  Jack quoted Philippians 4:4 yesterday as he opened the first chapel service of the being Revived/ Restored/ Resurrected/ Revised/ Rescued Kenya Baptist Theological College.

He didn’t quote verse 6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but… by prayer and petition… present your requests to God,” but it would have fit his challenge to the students (12 have now cleared fees), staff, teachers and administration to focus on God and nothing else. Why? His listeners have been praying and petitioning for the things included in his list of things to not focus upon – things which are needed, specifically electrical outlets, hot showers in the dorms and a proper kitchen! 

KBTC's version of Psalm 33:1-3: Sing joyfully to the Lord...
Praise the LORD with the keyboard and the guitar.
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

When classes, chapel and the dining hall were moved into the partially completed new building, the music teachers and kitchen staff quickly spotted the lack of outlets in the new building, nor was there running water in the kitchen. I should note that the major reason for the immediate use of the new building was that the old building housing KBTC’s kitchen/ dining room/ chapel was no longer usable thanks to termites!

KBTC family praising God during chapel with their
hands and feet while singing a Swahili chorus!

So fundi (plumbers/ electricians/ repairmen) have been and are busy in the new building providing overhead lights, outlets, as well as water in the kitchen!  Needless to say, Jack has been very thankful that the staff, teachers and students are being very understanding through all of this.

Students reading the scriptures during the chapel service.

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27) is another verse Jack did not quote yesterday, but it is a great verse to describe what happened on the campus in recent days.  It has been a team effort as the KBTC staff, volunteers, electricians, plumbers, etc. use their gifts, talents and abilities to accomplish the desired RESULT of all the R’s listed in the first paragraph:  For the college to be 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.

The opposite end of the room housing the dining area/chapel...

All that is happening at the college is a great example of how it takes more than professors/ teachers for God’s work to be done, but it takes those doing the finances and running the offices, those preparing hot meals for students, those who make sure that water is running and electricity working, and many more non-teacher/preacher jobs for God’s work to be accomplished.

... where the staff prepare the Kenyan delicacy...

The job we need you to do at the moment is to join us in prayer.  Join us in thanking God for all those at KBTC, for their patience and desire to serve our Father and be his fellow workers.  Pray for patience and wisdom as Jack and others try to rectify/ resolve old problems, so that they can focus on the future goals of the college, including adding a new set of courses preparing God’s children to serve in those areas where our Father’s love has not yet reached or been accepted. Pray for the students who are still seeking current and unpaid tuition fees so that they can return to classes.

... CHAPATI!

Pray also for wisdom as Jack and his team decide which needs are the greatest as they balance finances with the need for hot water in the dorms, repairing of impassable, slippery roads on campus, as well as taking care of leaking roofs in old buildings (this rainy season has brought unusually heavy rains) and especially in the new building which lacks a proper roof!

One of the rooms in the unfinished second story
of the new building and in the distance is...

Thanks also for praying for me as I sought help last week with my asthma.  Things didn’t go as planned!  The specialist I visited has changed his policies and announced that I was TOO OLD for him to treat me (he now treats only kids and young adults), so my regular doctor prescribed added medicines which are thankfully working and other than feeling a bit ‘drugged’, I am much better.

...  the tea fields that border the KBTC campus.

Continue praying also that I will have sensitivity as I seek to strengthen and encourage my coworkers, many who are facing many frustrations and spiritual attacks, by sharing their stories of how God is at work among their Sub-Saharan African Peoples and nudging* you and others to join in God’s work in His harvest field!  BERT YATES
---   ---   ---   ---   ---
* One part of Bert's work is posting daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples on a blog, Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on the SSAP Facebook page, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl ). Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page.

This week's random photo! Not sure if I will use this one day
in a NUDGE TO ACTION, but I love all the colour captured
in this photo taken along the drive to Nairobi from the campus!

April 13th Nudge to Action for SSAP

Pray for adjustment for Missionary Kids living in a new country where everything looks different, sounds different, smells different, feels different and even tastes different! Pray for patience and wisdom for their parents, who may be experiencing their own culture shock!

For daily Nudges to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, check out    http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/
and at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl
(non- Facebook users can view this page).

April 10, 2013

“O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.” Psalm 57:1 is a great verse to describe what the Kenya Baptist Theological College staff has done in the last three months. They have depended totally upon God as they sought to REVIVE the college.  They have often made decisions not knowing from where the needed resources would come or what battles would be faced next as they joined God in His work of fulfilling His purpose (v.2) for the college.

Random Photo of the week - spotted this morning on campus!

But as Psalm 57:3 affirms, God has surrounded them with His love and He has been faithful as impossible and sometimes years old problems are being resolved.  Salaries are almost caught up, long-standing bills are being paid, and most importantly joy has returned to the campus.  There is a new excitement as they dream of how KBTC is being RESTORED and how our God will “Be exalted… above the heavens,” His “glory be over all the earth” (v.5) through the staff, faculty and students of KBTC.

KBTC staff meeting held yesterday morning.

As I read Psalm 57 in my devotions early this morning, I laughed in amazement.  Reading this chapter was not a result of searching for a ‘guide’ for today’s update; it was simply the next chapter as I work through the Psalms. But once again, God provided the perfect ‘links’ for my planned thoughts! Such as in recent weeks, some have spread nets and dug pits (v.6), hoping to discourage those working towards the RESURRECTION of KBTC.  Thanks to your prayers, the KBTC staff has been steadfast (v7). 

Dining Hall/Chapel in the new building on the upper campus.

Another awesome ‘link’ in verse 7 – Not all of their jobs require singing and making music, but all have worked long hours to accomplish one thing being REVISED - the move of the college’s music school to the new partially completed building on the upper campus. No harps or lyres are awaiting students resuming class this week, but I did spot lots of drums, guitars and keyboards in their new classrooms this morning!

Students were to return to class this past Monday, but there have been deterrents, with the greatest being that in recent years most students were allowed in class even though they had not paid the current or past tuition.  This is no longer being allowed and many students have arrived without any funds believing the staff would waiver as in the past and allow them in class. But to our amazement, none have become angry and several, before returning home to find the needed funds, thanked the staff for what they are doing to RESCUE the college!

A few students (five by mid-day) have paid their current and past fees.  Their classes began this morning as Jack met with those in the Baptist History class, giving them a short lecture before assigning independent work to do as more students arrive with fees.  Hopefully before next Monday, this three week term of classes can fully begin, which leads to the staff’s goal – that KBTC will be revived/ restored/ resurrected/ revised/ rescued, RESULTING once again in 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.”

First class in the new (partially completed) building - Jack giving
independent work to the two students who have cleared fees!
Another student was allowed in the class later in the morning.

Please join us in praying that students will be do their part in all the above R’s by being RESPONSIBLE stewards and RETURNING to campus with their REQUIRED tuition fees!  Pray also for strength and refreshment for Jack and me.  We are more certain than ever that God has called us to be at the College at this time, but we are tired! Pray also for strength and refreshment for the KBTC staff as all of them have worked very long hours in the last few months.

Sunrise last Thursday morning at KBTC.

I also ask that you join us in praying that the specialist I will see on Friday afternoon will help me gain control of my asthma, rather than it controlling me as we live at a higher altitude where it is very damp and cool! Pray also that I will have sensitivity as I seek to strengthen and encourage my co-workers by sharing their stories of how God is at work among their Sub-Saharan African Peoples, nudging* you and others to join in God’s work in His harvest field!  BERT YATES

---   ---   ---   ---   ---
* One part of Bert's work is posting daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  These Nudges can be found on a blog, Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on the SSAP Facebook page, Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl ). Non-Facebook members can visit the Sub-Saharan African Peoples FB page. 

Bert's page on Facebook can be found at https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates.

Bert's new cover photo on Facebook.

Prayer Request for KBTC

Prayers are needed as students return to Kenya Baptist Theological College tomorrow, April 8th. During the last three months, the emphasis of administration and staff has been on Reviving, Restoring, Resurrecting, Revising and Rescuing, Resulting once again in KBTC being 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 for safe travel for the students of two music classes and the teachers’ class as they return to campus. Pray that they will return with their tuition fees so that classes can begin. Pray also for the administration and staff as they continue with all the R’s!

April 3, 2013

“I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places.”  I laughed when I read Isaiah 45:3 during devotions this morning as God’s Words provided the perfect intro for a praise I wanted to share today.  My current “treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places” was the fan hidden in the dark of our dryer that had lost a clip and was in the wrong place – the reason our dryer sounded so horrible, especially upstairs in our coworkers’ flat where it echoed louder than in our flat!  Added reason the word ‘riches’ caught my attention?  The second repairman who visited our home on Monday replaced the clip, without us having to wait for weeks for a new, possibly costly part from the States and now our 32+ year old dryer is purring quieter than in years.

Photos this week are all views of the week which brought us joy,
although this Yellow-vented Bulbul was a little freaky with his stares!

 As Jack often accuses me, I am ‘subconsciously’ always on the lookout for a great NUDGE TO ACTION from our part of the world and later while drying a load of clothes which had just received a ‘rain’ rinse on our clothes line, I realized that our dryer story is a true modern-day parable for God’s children who want to join His Work in His Harvest Field!  So here goes:

Not sure what kind of sunbird this was,
but she entertained me for hours with her songs!

A man arrives to repair a clothes dryer with one tool, which fits none of the screws on the dryer.  Borrowing tools from the home-owner  he refuses to listen to any information about the dryer.  After an hour of fumbling, trying things that do not work and breaking a hinge on the dryer door, he suggests getting a new dryer belt as he eagerly receives payment for services.

Little bugs are on the hibiscus bush outside our cottage window,
likely bad for the leaves and flowers, but the birds love it!

After the new dryer belt is ordered and brought from afar, it is determined that the belt is not the problem, so a new repairman is called.  The second man comes with a bag of tools, asks questions to determine the needs, quickly opens the dryer and  within minutes solves the problem!  He also sees the broken hinge on the door and repairs it – all for the same pay given to the first repairman!

We celebrated Easter with a drama by the kids at
Parklands Baptist Church - the kid in the centre
was one of the 'guards' who put Jesus on the cross,
the other two are angels in African 'designer' outfits!

Story to be learned:  The first repairman is like one of God’s children who chooses to do God’s work, but his focus is on meeting his own needs, not bringing glory to God.  He is interested in carrying out his own plans and purposes.  He is not willing to be flexible or do whatever it takes for all people to believe God’s words in Isaiah 45:21,22.  “There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour,  there is none but me.   Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth.”   

A special Easter joy, sharing communion with
Peoples from across Africa and our world.

The second repairman took time to prepare himself to do his Father’s work.  He came ready to respond to the needs of those in His Father’s harvest field. He arrived prepared, equipped, seeking God’s will – ready to do whatever it took to display his Father’s glory and accomplish His work. 

No, I’m not a great writer of parables, but I think you get the idea and the nudge to prayer for God’s workers, especially missionaries among Unreached Peoples.  Pray that we will not be so busy meeting our needs and the needs of those around us that we forget to spend quality time with our Father in prayer and in His Word.  Pray that nothing guides our service to Him other than seeking His glory and doing His Work.  Pray that the praise and honor we receive from others, our supporters and those we minister among, will never guide our hearts. Pray that as we face conflicts, difficulties, insecurities and fears we will always rely upon our God, the one who called us by name and created us for His Glory (Isaiah 43:7) for our source of guidance and strengthening. 

Street-side shop spotted not far from our home
in Nairobi as we drove to church last Sunday! 

We know that we can pray for these things because we have seen our Father guide and strengthen in recent weeks as Kenya faced a tense time of elections and court cases.   With only a few exceptions, Kenyans chose to put their personal agendas aside as they sought peace and a bright future for their children and their country, which leads me to another very simple parable comparison. 

Heavy rains began last Saturday afternoon soon after
the Supreme Court of Kenya validated the election of the
4th President of Kenya, followed by a double rainbow.

 Pray that Believers will put their personal desires aside as they seek to fulfill God’s Words in Isaiah 45:6,8: “So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me.  I am the LORD, and there is no other…. You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down.  Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it” as true peace is found by all in our world.   BERT YATES
---   ---   ---   ---   ---
Another view below of the photo used in today's Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudge to Action.  These daily updates, including great news for baby Grady, an earlier prayer nudge, are shared  at Sub-Saharan African Peoples Nudges to Action and on Facebook 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.