Joys, Sorrows and Obstacles

Before Jack left this morning for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Baptist Convention of Kenya (BCOK), I asked him to answer a few questions to share in this week’s update, beginning with: What’s happening at Kenya Baptist Theological College? What has brought you joy this week?

KBTC staff kids can also be very serious workers,
as proven by the young bike rider! 

JACK: My staff bring me joy every day because they pray; laugh a lot; encourage one another; fully support the college vision; anticipate the needs of one another and the school; get 120% of the work accomplished; and are loyal, confident, self-disciplined, wonderful Believers. We are family!

BERT: I want to begin sharing bits about students. Tell me about George.

JACK: George Kaniki is the chef for Brackenhurst Conference Centre (KBTC’s neighbor). He is a father and husband. He is a pastor of Tigoni Baptist Fellowship. He is a student at in class 112 (Theology). He is responsible for the food service at KBTC. He has studied 38 TEE (Theological Education by Extension) books in the last 10 years. He is a great guy!

Thankfully, we do not need to ask for prayers for no
squawking Ibises on the roof of our KBTC cottage
as they awaken BEFORE roosters! So far, these
characters are happy strolling outside our front door!

I didn’t ask Jack, but I know his answer to: How can others pray for you and KBTC this week? It would be: Pray for physical, spiritual and mental strength as new opportunities arise for KBTC to serve and train church leaders for ministry in today’s world, as well as opportunities to respond to people who are responding to God’s call to serve or study at the college.

One of my praises is for our Eastgate Baptist Church
family. Some would say that kids running in church
is wrong, even if  worship happens in a tent, but I
love seeing how excited our kids are about going to
Sunday School! Another joy? The usher on the left
in the long skirt is another KBTC staff kid!

Pray also for the church leaders who are making decisions this week at the BCOK’s AGM; decisions that affect our churches and their ability to serve our Father and share His love and salvation. Pray for the KBTC staff attending the meeting and sharing how KBTC can help our churches carry out the Great Commission. Pray that they will be great messengers of what God is doing at KBTC and the bright future, especially the progress in receiving accreditation by the Kenyan government. Please join us in praying for the KBTC Day to be held in BCOK churches on June 7th, a special day when churches can pray and give towards meeting the costs required to complete the accreditation process.

In last Friday's Bits of our Hearts post, I shared
of a God-incident which occurred as I went to
tell a friend of Nancy's death.  I used another photo
of this bird, but this was my favorite as Nancy
would have loved the humor of it hiding!

AND this would be my answer if Jack asked me to list my current prayer requests: In last week’s update, I shared of the need to “not give the devil a foothold” as in the midst of incredible God-incidents, we face “lots of accumulated discouragements, disappointments and frustrations.” We truly needed the added prayer support that you offered after reading that update. When I opened my e-mails last Thursday morning, we learned of the death of a retired co-worker who was a very dear friend, Nancy Jones, as well as news of the death of one of Jack’s cousins. To be so far from family and friends was difficult, as was sharing the news of our retired co-worker with Kenyan friends who also loved Nancy, many who had served God beside Nancy over the years.

Then yesterday I received news that another close friend and mentor had died in the States. Ann Smith, a Woman’s Missionary Union leader, personally walked me through becoming an adult on mission with our Father. She spent hours training, encouraging and strengthening me. Being able to communicate with mutual friends via e-mails and social networking during times like this is a true gift from God.

For more of my encounters with Bee-Eaters, visit last week's
Bits of Our Hearts posts by clicking that tab at the top of this page.

As I shared in yesterday’s “Bits of Our Hearts”, we are so thankful for those of you who stay “alert and always keep on praying for us EVEN when you OR WE are sure of the details!” Our God is listening and your prayers do lead to our being strengthened, encouraged and able to serve our Father. BERT YATES

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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

Like the daily Bits of our Hearts posts at https://www.facebook.com/bitsofourhearts, it can be viewed by non-FB users and tabs at the top of this page, make viewing extra easy!

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Now for some photos that share our lives, our joys

and the obstacle course we encounter in our lives in
Kenya, beginning with this view as you leave Nairobi!

There were THREE hogs being transported in this THREE wheel vehicle.
No vehicle was used to move this herd of cows - which were moving
in a rather chaotic way -  which we realized upon moving to the front
of the herd was likely because THREE donkeys were leading the herd!

The rainy season is in full force - which leads to lots of mud
-  which leads to AN added appreciation for a bit or more of colour!

Not in Africa, but...

Nepal is located in South Asia, not in Sub-Saharan Africa, BUT believers in African churches will be praying today for those affected by yesterday’s earthquake in Nepal where “99 percent of… 28.8 million people are Hindu. Of the country’s 263 people groups, 252 are unreached.” Will you join African believers in praying and responding in “actions and in truth” as our Saviour commanded? (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 3:18,23)

When major events happen in our world in need of relief and you want to respond, make https://gobgr.org/news your first visit for trustworthy assistance. To respond to the current need in Nepal, visit http://bit.ly/1DKAq2j.

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The above was shared as today's Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  (tab at top of this page).  The following was shared as today's Bits of Our Hearts post after we returned from church. (You can easily view both these sites by CLICKing the tabs above posts on this page.)

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I planned to take my phone with a camera to church today to get a photo of something I knew would happen, what I had said would happen in today's Nudge to Action SSAPeoples, AND it did happen, BUT I left my phone home, so I could not share it with you instantaneously as today’s Bits of Our Hearts post. Thus I had to wait until we returned home to share this photo taken with my camera. The unexpected part was that as our church, Eastgate/ Parklands Baptist Church, joined other African churches in praying for yesterday’s earthquake in Nepal, there was a thanksgiving that the son of one of our deacons and his wife, good friends who were sitting in front of me as I took the photo, is in the area of Nepal, but not affected by the earthquake. Our world is big, but sometimes it is very small!

Not Giving the devil a Foothold!

As you may have seen, my Bit of Our Hearts' post yesterday was a bit more honest than usual. No major problems, just lots of accumulated discouragements, disappointments and frustrations. I cried a bit, considered calling Jack to share my distress, and I even contemplated a l-o-n-g break from social networking and sharing Nudges to Prayer for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.

I even checked on the year I began blogging and preparing Nudges to Action.* At first, the realization that I’ve been doing this for seven years plus only strengthened my desire for a break! At times I do get a bit overwhelmed by all the stories I encounter in our personal experiences and in the prayer letters of co-workers. Yes, there are lots of joy and praises, but there is also much sorrow, often sorrow that I cannot openly share with you. And although I am very thankful for the opportunities to encourage our co-workers (most often younger workers as we are definitely now in the ‘experienced’ phase of our missionary career) this often leaves me with a heavy heart!

Tugs at the heart moments came last weekend as we watched a new
road being built in preparation for the reopening of the Westgate Mall,
 the site of a terrorist siege in September 2013. Our first concern was
for the men scavenging for metal on and around the dump trucks
emptying rubble and huge out-of-sight backhoes breaking up the
rubble. The greatest heart tug came when we learned that the
rubble came from the bombed and burned bits of the Westgate Mall.

And yes, social networking does require being more honest and ‘exposed’ than I would desire at times. BUT in these years of doing social media, I’ve learned that to help you pray and support us and other missionaries and the work God allows us to join Him in doing, it takes honesty and being exposed!

Jack says that I now have a special category of thoughts - Prayer
 Nudge thoughts.  I admit that upon spotting this view, I thought of
 using this to illustrate a prayer for teaching and encouraging others

As all these thoughts passed through my mind yesterday, a memory surfaced. When I've hit low points such as this before, it was usually because God was up to something good and the devil was not happy! So, I took time for a Bible study on verses about the masquerader who wants to entrap us, fool us with his lies, and tempt us to follow his schemes, rather than God’s plans and purposes.

This walking auto store may
also appear one day as an
a nudge to prayer illustration!

Minutes after I completed my Bible study, Jack returned to our cottage at KBTC, on his way to teach about the ‘Education Ministry of the Church’ course to Class 112/113 and I was SOOOOOOO glad that I had not called him to share my pity party! His morning had not been filled with discouragements and frustrations, but he was exhausted – EXHAUSTED from trying to keep up with God! As he left for his class, I asked him to write a report of his morning to share with you, which he did, and YES, all of this happened yesterday morning!

– MY DAY – Psalm 133 – God’s Blessings – Our Commitment –

>>> My morning’s e-mails included a message sharing of funds sent to allow KBTC to being completion of our unfinished college building. Another e-mail assured KBTC of future support. We are on our way to raising the $200,000 needed to complete the Baraka Building used for classrooms, dorms, dining room, chapel, etc.

Had this photo of Baraka Building been taken a bit later it would have
included students taking turns cutting the grass with the new mowers.
It was not the students on work scholarships doing the work of staff
members, but eager volunteers enjoying a new adventure!

>>> A student at the language school located on the KBTC campus stopped by my office to share that his supporters have provided $4,000 for KBTC student scholarships. He also shared news of a potential partnership with a major Evangelical seminary which would bring Chinese to Kenya to study for a Masters of Divinity. He also shared his desire to help KBTC develop a School of Missions for African and Chinese missionaries – not just missionaries to Africa and China, but for missionaries who are African and Chinese!

Smiles from one who answered God's
call to minister to street kids as she
watches a rescued boy talk confidently of
his new life and his new future which
is now filled with joy, safety and love.

>>> A co-worker returned to work out details for the partnership between KBTC and the Naivasha Street Boys Rehabilitation Centre which will begin this week as two groups of our students and staff visit and minister at the Centre! (For more on this view the April 16th post on KBTC FB page.

>>> Phone call from the Baptist Convention of Kenya Moderator concerning a retired US seminary professor coming to serve long term at KBTC. The woman is also offering KBTC her library!

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After I finished my computer work yesterday
afternoon, Jack sent me outside for a bit of
photo-therapy.  Not having a clue of my
difficult morning, a passing KBTC student
laughed and posed for me, and thanked
me for my work sharing prayer nudges!
DEFINITELY a touch from God!

Yes, this is long, so I’ll give myself a break and allow you to glean the nudges to prayer from this week’s update, but I cannot close without thanking all of you who sent notes of encouragement yesterday. Love can stretch around the world! I also must take an extra few lines to thank you for your prayers, your serving with us and your giving to the LMCO and Cooperative Program. Yes, we do get exhausted and discouraged, but most of the time we are 100% certain that we are doing what God has called us to do and we thank you for enabling us to obey and serve our Father. BERT YATES

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*The Prayer Nudges for East Africa began on December 30th, 2007 - http://www.omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2008/01/sunday-december-30-2007.html. Today's Prayer Nudges cover work among Sub-Saharan African peoples - https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples.

Our Yates-IMB-Kenya (now expanded to include SSAPeoples) blog began in April 2008 - http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

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And a group of photos taken this week that show

the colours, activity and joy of life in East Africa.

Bits of Our Hearts

Sometimes grown men and women cry and some of those crying yesterday were in KBTC’s chapel service hearing how some churches respond as ‘goats’ to the call to minister to the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46). Pray for KBTC's commitment to partner with a rehabilitation home with a desire to shepherd these former street boys in need our Saviour’s love. When it came time for the prayer of commitment at the end of chapel, one student quickly asked to pray – a student who was once a street boy!

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Remember that we share "Bits of Our Hearts" daily at https://www.facebook.com/bitsofourhearts. Yes, this is posted on FB, but it can be easily viewed by anyone.  Simply CLICK the button at the top of our page!

Fellowship, Swallowship and God-Incidents

Jack left his phone at our cottage AGAIN this morning as he headed off to his office, which gave me the opportunity to also make the three minutes' walk and ask him three questions: What were the highlights of your past week? What was discouraging? Current prayer requests for KBTC?

Highlight #1: A great retirement luncheon for Ron and Jan Langston, our co-workers at KBTC. Jan has served as a teacher and encourager and Ron taught and served as Academic Dean, among many, many other untitled jobs and responsibilities! As our Kenyan friends say, it was a great time of fellowship and swallowship!

Highlight #2: Students are here! Twenty-two men and women are on campus, studying in three areas - Education, Music and Theology.

Students in the music program shared their talents and
training during the Langston's retirement service.

Highlight #3: God’s unexpected gifts of people, ideas and opportunities. Praising God for last week’s great meetings related to the accreditation of KBTC. Thanking Him for those who offer encouragement and help as KBTC rebuilds and offers the training now needed by God’s servants! Praising God for those who are showing interest in joining classes at KBTC. Thanking God for the confirmation that those making plans at KBTC are sensitive to God’s guidance. It is not a coincidence, but a God-incident that in the past week several potential students showed a desire to do studies in Christian counseling, the same area of study that potential teachers shared their interest in teaching!

There was laughter and tears as co-workers shared their
memories and appreciation with the Langstons.

Highlight #4: RAIN! Green grass and beautiful flowers everywhere! The buckets and the plastic bags covering Jack’s computer, etc., have been well utilized in recent days thanks to an unpredictable roof!
Discouragement: Still facing frustrations related to a lack of support and shared vision for the need for quality and multi-purpose and multi-level training for those God has called to shepherd His people.

And more laughter and tears as Pastor John,
KBTC's master of flowers and plants,
prayed for the Langstons.

Prayer Request #1: Pray for good preparation and response to the KBTC Day/ Special Offering which will be held in Kenyan Baptist churches in June. Pray that this will be a time of strengthening the bond between our churches and KBTC.

Prayer Request #2: Pray for wisdom and direction for the team working towards the accreditation of KBTC and all that is required, such as contacts, connections, fees, etc.

Another special KBTC memory:  After Pastor John prayed, Ron asked
that Nelson (the official chai brewer and #1 go-to guy) to join them.
Ron shared that during KBTC's 'lowest days', these two men 
(like other staff, receiving no salaries for months) met each
morning before work to pray for the future of KBTC.

Prayer Request #3: Thanking God for the wonderful and patient staff at KBTC! Even when salaries are delayed, all are still in good spirits and working diligently.

KBTC staff wrapping the Langstons with their gifts of African cloth.

And as always we must close with one final thanksgiving – A huge thanks for those of you who read our update, joining us in praising God for all the great things He has done and is doing around us and the joy which fills our lives (Psalm 126:3) as we seek to join Him in His work!  BERT YATES

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More views of the celebration at KBTC, including a video of CHAPATI MAKING, are shared at '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.

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One of our greatest joys this past week was viewing the joy
of the KBTC staff during the retirement celebration.  The best part?
Their joy is now a daily part of KBTC life!

And YES, we ate dessert before having an incredible
African feast at the Langstons' Retirement Luncheon.
(Cake: God be with you all of your life, Ron and Jan)

Bits of Our Hearts - Chapati Making

Shared as yesterday's (April 14th) 'Bits of Our Hearts' post: When we arrived in Kenya, chapatis (similar to flour tortillas) were the special food served at Christmas and special events such as weddings. Now served more often, they are still considered a needed part of any special meal, such as last Friday's retirement celebration for Ron and Jan Langston. I truly enjoyed eating one of these chapati, but I cannot make good ones. The healthy cook in me always prevents adding the amount of fat/ lard/ Kimbo required for really great chapati! So, tune out Jack and others talking during the retirement party and enjoy watching these goodies cook above a charcoal stove.

URGENT prayer request from a Friend

Today's Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples:

Will you pray for strength and courage for workers seeking a new path for sharing His Story with an unreached People? They say: “It’s like walking through six foot high elephant grass along a narrow, sandy footpath, a wall of green on every side, knowing there might be lions and snakes nearby, but trusting that we are walking beside a beautiful, mango filled tree with smiling friends awaiting us at a nearby opening.” Pray for them as they trust God for “friends and sweet, sweet mangoes.”

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. 

Bits of Our Hearts - April 3, 2015

Yesterday afternoon as we drove down the mountain from our KBTC cottage to our home in Nairobi for a long weekend, I thought, “When did things such as the attack in Garissa become a ‘normal’ occurrence in our part of the world?” Before lunch we heard a report that the newest attack was over, with 20 deaths. Only hours later when we turned on the evening news did we learn that the earlier report was so incorrect. Our prayer is for this Easter weekend to be one of peace and healing. Pray that we and others will find the right balance of being alert, but also bold ambassadors of the Prince of Peace.
Garissa University Assault - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32169080

Bits of Our Hearts - April 2, 2105

As I write our weekly updates, I want to truly share what God is doing, focusing on Him and not us. When I finish, I’m always tired and unsure if I’ve shared the right things in the right ways! I was filled with extra doubts yesterday afternoon after posting the update. A bit down, I went outside and within 15 minutes I spotted a dozen different colourful flying creations of our Father! Was this a coincidence? NO! Definitely a God-incident and a true gift of encouragement!

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We truly want and need your prayer support so as of today, these BITS OF OUR HEARTS will be found on a special place on this page - at the top in the BITS OF OUR HEARTS tab.  That way when I forget to post it on our blog, it can still be easily found.
https://www.facebook.com/bitsofourhearts

April 1, 2015

"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2

Last Saturday’s graduation ceremony at Wamunyu Baptist Bible College (two hours east of Nairobi) was a day of celebration as 15 men and women received a Diploma of Theology from the Kenya Baptist Theological College. It was a day of commitment as the class stood with one of their professors (purple cape) to sing Send the Light in Kikamba, their heart language.

It was a day of acknowledging the completion of studying a few days each month for five years to become “thoroughly equipped” (2 Timothy 3:17) as workers responding to His plentiful harvest and sharing His "blessed Gospel light."

It was a day of rejoicing for the family members, church family and friends of the graduates. It was also a day of encouragement for KBTC staff and teachers as they recognized these 15 men and women who have responded to our Saviour’s request for more workers in the harvest field (Luke 10:2).

We are also praising God this week for how He is continuing to send needed direction and co-workers as Jack and others make a new thrust to the accreditation of the college. To be honest, so much is happening that Jack is exhausted, partially because he stays so excited about how God is moving. There was also a moment of humor this week as Jack learned that one important connection of a knowledgeable person occurred through a car accident, a ‘fender-bender’ which led to a friendship which may likely open needed doors in the accreditation process!

Will you join us this week in praising God for how He is guiding Jack and others at KBTC? Pray for discernment and wisdom as they seek to do God’s work and train and equip workers in His harvest field. Pray also for physical strength as they seek to keep up with God!

Praise God also for the many potential students who are contacting the college for information on studies. Pray for safe journeys as the music class return to campus next week for a new term of study. Pray for their teachers as they prepare to strengthen and encourage the students.

Please continue praying that Jack and I will not let busy and often changing schedules overwhelm us. Pray that we will have more patience with computer/ internet problems.  Pray also that we will also be true ambassadors of what God is doing and can do through KBC and among unreached peoples.

Pray that I have will have the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength as I seek to nudge you and others to prayer and action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Please join me in praying that as I lead others to prayer for the praises and needs of co-workers, that I will always be sensitive to opportunities to encourage those sharing their stories.

What always makes Bert happy - spotting women
wearing the Baptist Women of Kenya head scarves!

And once again, I cannot close without thanking you for allowing us to be at work in our Father’s harvest field.  Thank you also for all you do as His co-workers as you pray, serve/send, and support us and others financially through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and other ways.   BERT YATES

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Remember to view the daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan Peoples which shares what God is doing among Sub-Saharan African Peoples and how you can join in His work through prayer, serving and giving! https://www.facebook.com/SubSaharanAfricanPeoples

Send the Light -
 http://www.hymnary.org/text/theres_a_call_comes_ringing_oer_the_rest

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All the fancy gifts around the necks given to the graduates after the ceremony were for sale at the church gate.

My prayer after viewing the next photo of gifts for graduates:  That these kids began dreaming last Saturday

of the day they would receive degrees from

the Kenya Baptist Theological UNIVERSITY!