Open Minds and Burning Hearts

Another special joy this week for Bert was collecting
Macadamia nuts from trees in our yard and
cooking 'the best brownies ever' with earlier
freshly picked and roasted macadamias.

“Then He (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” I’ve read and typed Luke 24:45 (ESV) many times this week as I’ve had the joy of preparing Nudges to Prayer for an ongoing StoryTogether workshop in South Sudan. This is the 4th and final workshop for a few Toposa and Turkana Believers who have been taught to craft God’s Word into stories and songs in their heart languages which can be shared with and understood by their peoples who have not yet heard our Good News.

Will you pray for these men as they discuss and choose the best stories to build a foundation which allows their people to hear, understand and accept our Father’s love and salvation? One of the trainers also asks that we pray that the hearts of those trained will burn to share the Good News.

Joy came last week from attending a special conference uniting Believers from Africa and from East Asia. It was a time of realizing anew that having a heart for missions begins with obeying the teachings of our Savior and His definition of the “greatest commandment in the Law.” To have a fire in one’s heart for missions one must “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). We felt like we were viewing a preview of heaven as we worshiped with Believers, many who have faced persecution, and heard their testimonies of how God is at work among their peoples.

Joy was also our reaction last Sunday as we attended a special worship service at Riruta Baptist Church which included the church family officially accepting John Ndebe as their new pastor. This church was begun in the late 1950’s soon after the first IMB (then FMB) missionaries arrived in East Africa. Joy came from listening to the church history and recognizing the names of many of those, missionary and Kenyan, who years ago invested their time and lives in sharing our Father’s love and salvation in the city of Nairobi, Kenya. It was also a joy to remember that gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering helped begin this church and provided the first small building to house the Riruta church family.

"How Great Thou Art”, sung by the Riruta Choir last Sunday in Swahili, “Jinsi Wewe ulivyo Mkuu, Roho yangu na ikuimbie, Jinsi Wewe ulivyo Mkuu.”

There was joy in passing that old building, now used for Sunday School and other activities, as we entered the newer and much larger building for worship – a building erected by the current church members to house their growing church family – a church family which has continued to grow as they obey our Savior’s Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).

And as I write today sitting in an empty classroom at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, Jack is filled with joy!  First he is teaching (Old Testament Survey this term), which always leaves him exhausted, but super happy.  Second, he is teaching the first class to enter KBTC who will finish with a college degree!  There is still much work to be done at KBTC from increasing enrollment in the new degree programs and the ongoing diploma and advanced diplomas in theology to finding additional teachers. Many new buildings are needed as well as more scholarship assistance and so much more, but as Kenyan Believers often say, we are praising God for how “Thus far the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV). 

Special view of God's creations viewed this week.

I could go on and on sharing joys and blessings, but I will close by asking that you join us in thanking God for the opportunity to serve Him in Kenya.  Join us in praying for open minds to do His work and burning hearts for sharing His Good News.  We must also thank you for enabling us to be a part of His work in East Africa which you do as you support us through your prayers, giving to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and as you come and send volunteers to join in His work.  

JACK AND BERT YATES