Singing out of Joy

Added JOY: Colobus monkeys were spotted
again this morning on the KBTC campus!

Things are not always perfect in our lives and things happen that concern us, even hurt us, but there are more moments when we want to “rejoice… (and) sing out of the joy of OUR hearts” (65:13,14) as we see God at work and view what He has done and is doing! This week’s update contains bits we’ve heard and seen this week, how we’ve seen our Father “come down to make His name known” (64:2) and views of the “awesome things” (64:3) He has done, is doing and can/will do as He leads all to know and call upon Him. (Bert’s interpretation of bits from Isaiah 64, 65.)

“Hakuna shule leo?” Jack’s question to four boys cutting grass around the tea fields beside Baraka Hall as we headed to chapel yesterday. There was ‘No school today' as teachers in Kenyan public schools continue a strike for better salaries. The youngest boy replied, “I want to SOMA.” In a country where many lack school opportunities, it was a joy to hear this child say, “I want to go to school and study." He and his brothers were having fun as they cut grass, but I’m sure he didn’t want to do this forever, to be daily cutting grass for free on someone’s land in exchange for grass to feed the family’s animals.

“‘Hallelujah, thine the Glory.’ The roof has ridges!” After leaving the grass slashers, we turned a corner, spotting a completed roof on Baraka Hall! I was surprised by how excited we got about seeing the ridges, the bits topping the roof panels, in place! Kenya Baptist Theological College continues to face many challenges, but all on campus are astounded by how God is providing for the college’s needs as we strive to obey and serve Him. We are thankful for those responding to His nudges to aid the college, but we know He is the One who deserves all the honor and glory for the awesome things we see happening.

“These are my students. I’m already training them.” This was shared outside of Baraka Hall by a student who recently completed his diploma in Christian Education. He had two young men with him (possibly also out of school due to the strike), showing them around his alma mater. It was a joy to hear him speak of the importance of discipling and training the younger generation. It was pure joy to dream that one day the four brothers and these youth may receive a degree and theological training at KBTC!

Viewed through the almost finished roof
is Dean Kamau and a student.

“Oh, they are still completing the porch roof.” We soon saw that workers were adding the last few ridges on the roof of the entry way as we entered Baraka Hall, where two classes working towards a Diploma in Theology were completing their morning studies before chapel. High on our list of current joys is that students’ fees are being paid and an even greater joy is that the newest of these classes has 20 students in it, a change from recent years when many classes had only a few students, which is definitely not a good situation for paying bills! An added joy? That students are from many people groups, as well as those from other countries, including South Sudan and Rwanda.

Variable Sunbirds are 4 to 4.5 inches in length,
a truly colorful creation of our Father!

“How big is the bird casting that shadow?” My question as I returned from chapel. As I searched the sky I discovered that it was not a huge bird, but a small Variable Sunbird in the perfect position under the mid-day sun to cast a huge shadow. Maybe due to my old habit of ‘composing’ Bible studies, which I did for years as I wrote materials for Kenya Baptist Media, my next thought was, “This is what we must be doing. Believers must be getting in the perfect position with the SON, our Savior, so that we can cast a big shadow on the world around us as we reflect Him in our world, as we go, make disciples and teach.”

Spotted as we returned VERY SLOWLY from church
last Sunday as streams of people headed to a stadium
in the city centre hosting a football game between the
Kenyan national team and the team from Zambia.

“They had never led a time of communion in their churches.” What Jack was told this week by a Kenyan missionary reaching other peoples in in own country. The young man shared that in a being-reached people group, he found churches, but their pastors didn’t know how to offer communion or even that they should be doing it. Pray for KBTC and others as they seek to find the best ways to train pastors and church leaders to truly guide their churches to know our Savior and be witnesses of Him among their people.

This was my surprise capture when I edited photos
taken outside of Jack's office last week!

Pray for our personal and KBTC concerns that we cannot openly share. Join us in praying that we will always be in line with our Father’s plans and purposes, and always ready and able to cast a ‘big shadow’ when it comes to reaching those who are still waiting for our Good News of the One who “Before they call… will answer; while they are still speaking… will hear” (65:24).

And one last story which I have to share happened last Sunday during worship with our church family at Eastgate Baptist Church.  As a group of our men led the service, I looked up and spotted the almost 4 year old son walking onto the stage with a small guitar.  This little one is very shy, so I was surprised, but a small chair was placed beside an older guitarist and he played the last song with them!  Later his Mom explained that he had begged for lessons and they finally accepted that this was not a whim, put his passion.  What I truly loved was learning that the men on the instruments that day had welcomed him to join their worship team and were working with him, helping this preschooler use his passion to praise God!  Another great lesson of always keeping our eyes open to the "awesome things" God adds to our journey with Him!  BERT YATES

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Remember to view the daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples (CLICK tab at top of page), a part of Bert's work as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples. This site and those below can be safely viewed by anyone!

Don't miss the new photo album, Boasting in the Lord – KBTC – September 4, 2015  at  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1032191763465776.1073741839.466678516683773&type=1&l=a5e58b9d62. 

CLICK the KBTC tab (top of this page) to view more of what is happening at KBTC and in Jack's work.

AND for added photos of our lives and experiences, also CLICK the BITS OF OUR HEARTS tab above. 

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Three added photos captured this week, chosen simply because I love them!

The bird was spotted in Nairobi last weekend as I
tried to focus on having devotions while sitting on our verandah,

The photo below was taken this morning from
the window in Jack's office at KBTC.

And the photo below was captured as we returned to KBTC last Sunday!