May 28, 2014

Though it has been two weeks since our return to Kenya, sleeping through the night is still an iffy proposition at our house and there are still boxes to be unpacked as we return our house to being our home rather than a ‘guest house’, BUT life is feeling more normal!  

Yes, we felt very loved during our welcome songs!

Last week I shared "a sneak preview of one of our two very special blessings” since our return.   We were overwhelmed by our first blessing, a welcome prepared by the staff of the Kenya Baptist Theological College.  It included lots of singing and dancing, in addition to the “Maasai guard 'Welcome Back to KBTC'” video shared last week, as well as gifts before sharing a cup of real Kenyan chai and mandazi (East African doughnuts) with the staff! 

Bert's new FB cover photo taken after Jack and I were 'dressed' in our
new gifts of fabric.  If you are Facebook, look for the links
 on the top right and befriend us!

The second blessing was also totally unexpected and pure joy! A few days before our return, we learned that our church, Parklands Baptist Church on Mombasa Road, had finally found a permanent home. As no date was shared for THE move, we assumed it would coincide with the 3rd anniversary of our church in early July. We were partially correct as that is when the church will be dedicated, but the ‘trial’ move began on our first Sunday back in Kenya, which was truly a special blessing to share with our church family.

Our church's new home is at Embakasi Baptist Church, which was
begun years ago. Their members will be joining our congregation.

Our worship service will be held in a huge tent until a bigger
building is ready.

The old sanctuary has been divided into four 'rooms' for
use for Children's Sunday School classes and Worship...

The younger kids are meeting in these new 'rooms'.

One of the kids in the youngest class, most who have been born since our
church began, asked the first Sunday, "When do we go to our real class?"
- which the teachers assumed meant the hallway at the City Cabanas,
where their class had been meeting each Sunday!

The older kids outgrew their new classes on the first Sunday and
moved to the tents used before worship for adult Bible Studies.
Another group of kids meet in a tent on the left.

One of my favorite photos captured at our new church!  

Thus our first prayer item this week is three praises/ thanksgivings: Our re-adjustment to life one-third of the way around the world (A great intro to Africa Time Zone Map, this week’s addition to Missions Toolbox); our great welcome back to Kenya experienced at KTBT and with our church family; and our continued assurance that we are exactly where God wants us to be at work in His harvest field.

Just one view of the beautiful
flower beds at KBTC.

Our first prayer request is for Jack as he serves as the principal of Kenya Baptist Theological College, which is still in the process of being “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”( Oct 30, 2013/ Jan 2, 2013 posts.) It continues to be truly awesome to see how prayers are being answers and things are improving at KBTC, but there is still much to be done.  

Pray for Jack as he makes decisions, encourages the staff and restores confidence in the college.  Pray for the students who will arrive next week for a new session of classes; pray that they will come with the required fees and this will be a blessed time of learning.

Likely this photo of the kids repeating the teacher's
prayer last Sunday that they be good listeners will
illustrate a future Nudge to Action for SSAPeople!

My prayer request is for God’s guidance as I prepare the daily posts of Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  Pray that readers will be truly nudged to action through prayer, giving and serving. Pray for wisdom as I link those nudged by the shared needs and experiences with our workers.    

Pray also for the country of Kenya which is facing new terrorists’ threats and attacks.  Pray that during this unsettled time, Believers will be bold witnesses of our Father, the true source of peace.

And the kids were good listeners!

I will close again this week with these words: Before returning to the exhausting unpacking… I want to assure you that we are… thankful for your prayer support.  We have been able to continue, even when it seemed impossible… to overcome tricks sent from the devil, and we so thankful for your prayers, your giving to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering which provides the needed finances for us to be at work in Kenya, and your sending personnel so that “every nation, tribe, language and people” of Sub-Saharan Africa will have the opportunity to hear a proclamation of the eternal gospel (Revelation 14:6).  BERT

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Lots of links shared this week, including:

Yates-IMB-Kenya&SSAP blog – http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/

Missions Toolbox/ Africa Time Zone Map – http://missionstoolbox.blogspot.com/2014/05/africa-time-zone-map.html

Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples –  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607/. (For this link and the one for KBTC, simply scroll past the SIGN UP/ LOG IN bit if you are not a Facebook member.)

Kenya Baptist Theological College – https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege

Maasai guard 'Welcome Back to KBTC’ video – http://vimeo.com/95948701

Mandazi recipe - http://allthingskenyan.com/food-mandazi.html

Almost a full view of the area to the left of our new church property -
the church is in the background on the left.  We've been told that
 just one of the 'estates' in our new home (and there are
many) houses over 10,000 families!

May 21, 2014

JET LAG – a condition Jack and I are currently experiencing as explained at MayoClinic.com – “Symptoms of jet lag can vary… Jet lag symptoms may include: Disturbed sleep… insomnia, early waking… Daytime fatigue; Difficulty concentrating or functioning at your usual level… A general feeling of not being well…” 

The Mayo Clinic also added another bit which gives us hope: “It's estimated to take about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.” We returned to Kenya seven days ago, so hopefully our jet lag will end soon as we crossed seven time zones during our 21 hours of travel last week!

I have really worked today at putting together a knowledgeable report of all the great happenings since our return, as well as a few not so great things (additional security concerns), but I’ve given up on sharing in a knowledgeable way this week.  Hopefully by next week our jetlag symptoms will have disappeared, as will the total exhaustion from unpacking the household items stored in our bedroom during our six months of Stateside Assignment, and the emptying and sorting things in our luggage! 

At the close of this update, I've shared a sneak preview of one of our two very special blessings of the last week via a video entitled “Maasai guard 'Welcome Back to KBTC'” (http://vimeo.com/95948701). Sorry, you'll have to wait for next week's update for the other very, VERY special blessing!  

As my current “Difficulty concentrating or functioning at your usual level” leaves me unsure how this happened, I have accomplished one bit of my work this week and I encourage you to view last week’s daily posts of Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607).  Lots of action (prayers, giving and serving) is needed as Believers seek to share our Father’s love, salvation, hope and peace with all our peoples, so please take a few moments to join others in learning what God is up to among our peoples and how to join in His work!

    

And now before returning to the exhausted unpacking (which I hope will leave me tired enough to make a speedier recovery from JET LAG), I do want to assure you that we’re not too tired or affected by insomnia to be thankful for your prayer support.  We have been able to continue, even when it seemed impossible in recent days, we have overcome a few tricks sent from the devil, and we are concentrating and functioning enough to know that your prayers are being answered!  BERT

ADDED NOTE:  And if I’ve not yet gotten the point across of the problem of jetlag – I just caught myself sleeping at the computer as I reread this update! My remedy?  I got up and fixed myself a mug of Kenyan style chai made with DECAF tea bags!

May 7, 2014

Two down and four to go – the count-down for packing suitcases for next Tuesday's flight.  NO, a local moving company is not aiding our packing and return to Kenya, but viewing this truck was one of those 'teaching' moments that I know was straight from God!  

Last week, as I worried if everything, including lots of clothes that will keep us warm when we move 'up' (1500+ feet higher) to housing at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, would fit in our luggage, I spotted this vehicle parked near our borrowed mission home!  I should add that the truck was close, but not that close, and I don't need new glasses!  My comment to Jack: I hoped the young ‘movers’ knew what they were doing as the lamp would be in tatters when they closed-up the truck and moved on!  The next morning as the truck left, I realized that the back door was closed and the lamp and nearby 'ready to roll' basketball was PAINTED ON THE TRUCK!  

Viewing this beauty last week was another reminder
from God to stop worrying and trust Him!

The lesson I learned? I have been praying for peace and a lack of stress as we pack and I have asked others to pray for us, THUS I need to trust answered prayers and stop worrying and expecting imagined problems. But please don't stop praying as we zip-up the remaining suitcases and say our farewells to family and friends.

Jack is eager to get back to his office at KBTC!

Pray for us also as Jack continues linking with future volunteers and others concerned for KBTC.  Pray that he will always clearly share the vision God has given him of how the seminary can train African men and women to carry out our Saviour's Great Commission.  Begin praying also for physical, emotional and spiritual strength as he returns to his work next week on the KBTC campus.  

Old photo used in last Sunday's Nudge to Action
for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  Bert is looking
forward to getting back to Kenya and taking lots
of new photos to share what God is doing in Africa!

Pray for me during this time of transition as continue nudging you and others to action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples (1).  Pray that I will use my time wisely and be stress-free as we prepare to leave the States and as we resettle in life in Kenya.  We learned today that the room where our personal items are stored in our home in Nairobi has been attacked by ants.  So a 'unique' item needs to be added to your prayer list: Pray that the damage is minimal and that the exterminators can rid the house of these damaging irritants and not add to the list of things to be done upon our return!

If you keep-up with international news, you may know that Kenya is experiencing new threats by terrorists (2). Join us in praying that calm will quickly return to Kenya and leaders will make wise decisions that lead to long-term resolutions.  Please continue praying that the more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted in mid-April will be found and returned to their families (3).  Pray that during difficult times African believers will be bold and strong proclaimers of the true source of peace.

I do have a bit of good news.  If you would like to join others in learning and sharing best practices for missions, check out the new post at the Missions Toolbox (4), which shares a new way to connect with others with a heart for being at work in our Father’s harvest field!

I will not be posting an update next week as we return to Kenya, so keep praying for the needs shared this week.  Remember that we are depending upon your prayer support – so, now I’m going to stop worrying and start claiming your answered prayers and go fill and close those last four suitcases!  BERT

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(1) Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607

(2) Kenya buses hit by deadly twin blasts in Nairobi - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27277811

(3)  Nigeria abducted schoolgirls: Police reward offered - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27310183

(4) Missions Toolbox - http://missionstoolbox.blogspot.com/