April 8, 2015

It happened again on Monday – I took a photo (blurry, thanks to potholes), overlooking the best part of the scene! While returning to the KBTC campus after the Easter break, we spotted the ‘obstacle course’ view shared below. I realized before taking the photo that the green cap man was not sitting on the front of the car, but riding on a donkey cart. I thought he was waving at the driver of the truck carrying mattresses and sofas, BUT I WAS WRONG. He was returning waves to three men sitting comfortably on the rear sofa on the truck! Look carefully and you can see the head of one of the men.

Why share this today? To share happy news before sharing of the horrible report you may have heard over Easter weekend, the news of last Thursday’s terrorist attack at the Garissa University in northeast Kenya. As we grieved and checked on friends after this day-long attack which left 147 people dead, I remembered two encounters during our visit to Kenya’s coast last month. We used a tuktuk to get to meetings with volunteers and to check on the Malindi KBTC campus, plus a taxi for airport runs. One day our tuktuk driver asked if we had a few extra minutes and took us to his home to meet his wife and his youngest child. Then as we returned to the airport with time to spare, our taxi driver gave us a tour of ‘old town’ Malindi along the Indian Ocean.

Viewed during our tour of 'old town' Malindi along the Indian Ocean.

These added perks from our drivers were very enjoyable surprises and later we questioned why they had gone out of their way, offering their time at no extra charge to us. Our conclusion both times was that our drivers, committed followers of the same faith as those involved in the terrorism threats, wanted to assure us that not all of their faith are evil people. They both talked of their desire to serve God and the time they spend in prayer for the problems Kenya is experiencing.

To our surprise, we learned recently that the Westgate
Mall, which was attacked in September 2013, is to
partially reopen in a few months.  Their signs which
 were removed earlier were replaced last week.

So this week, will you join us in praying for peace and comfort for those who lost loved ones last Thursday? Pray that in this time when “the minds of unbelievers” have been blinded “so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,” that His light will shine in the hearts of His servants and that we will boldly share “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” to all around us (2 Corinthians 4:4), including Believers in need of strengthening and encouragement.

One of the ways that God strengthens and encourages
me AND keeps me sane, is the gift of viewing all
the beautiful birds in Kenya.  I spotted this a few
minutes after completing last week's update.

Pray for the Spirit’s guidance as we decide what precautions to take and how to respond to the problems. Pray that our actions will always show that we are not losing heart and “are being renewed day by day” as we trust and obey our heavenly Father. Pray also for open eyes and willing hearts for old and new workers God is calling to share His love and salvation among Sub-Saharan African Peoples BECAUSE in the midst of all the worries and evils, “the fields… ARE ripe for harvest” (John 4:35 NIV).

This Golden-Breasted Bunting put on quite a show
for me, including the pose shared in the
top photo with the Bible verse!

A special prayer need this week is for a very important meeting Jack and others will have on Friday morning concerning the national accreditation of KBTC, a critical step in the future of the school. Join us in praying that they will be well prepared (Jack’s team are busy preparing as I write this update) and always depend fully upon God’s guidance in every step/decision they make.

Thank you for reading this week’s update. Thank you for being our co-workers. Thank you for your prayers for us and those around us. BERT YATES

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Garissa University Attack -  http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/07/africa/kenya-attack-victims-vigil/

More of our thoughts and feelings related to the Garissa attack and other events are shared as Bits of Our Hearts at  https://www.facebook.com/bitsofourhearts (shared also in link at the top of this blog)

Remember to also view the daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, a part of Bert's work as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at  https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.

And for more from KBTC, visit  https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege.

Westgate Mall Siege - http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html

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God sent lots of beautiful birds our way this week,

which I know is one way He answers your prayers
for encouragement and joy for us.

A group of Firefinches (I think) appeared on Friday
morning as we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast
on the porch of our mission house in Nairobi.

Then a Paradise Flycatcher made an appearance as we ate both
breakfast and lunch on our porch on Easter Sunday.

And Jack first spotted this Hornbill as he returned to our
cottage at KBTC today for lunch.  It was perched on the
tree along the walkway to his office.