December 10, 2008

Fear, anticipation and excitement – Jack’s range of emotions was mixed this past week. When he goes to train in CPM (Church Planting Movement) Methodology with the Kenyan churches, he is always confident and excited, but last Thursday morning as we left home, the excitement was mixed with fear. Why? He was conducting a training among a strong-willed group with many more questions and opinions that his usual audience – his first training among missionaries!

His fear soon subsided as he sensed the eagerness of the three Master’s couples (IMB programmes for “retirees”). All are in “support roles” – their work as our Logistics, Travel, Conference Centre Managers, etc., supports those working full time reaching the lost. Two of the couples have been in Kenya for over a year and are already using their free time to share their faith. The third couple have just arrived and are eager to find where they can minister on the weekends.

Yes, our friends did challenge Jack and he and I answered lots of questions, but we left the day-long meeting strengthened as we realized anew their desire to find where they could best use their knowledge, skills, and witness in reaching the lost in Kenya and nearby countries. It is especially encouraging to us that we are now a part of a team that shares our belief that one of the greatest ways to win Kenya and Africa to Christ is through partnership with the established Baptist churches.

Jack doesn’t usually add lots of exclamation points in his writing, but his weekend report is the exception: “Last Friday, Baptist Convention of Kenya leadership (Daniel Thiuri, Sammy Mbiti and Linus Kirimi) and I travelled to Maralal to assist Sandra and Charlie Daniels in ordaining five Samburu pastors. On Saturday, Linus and I went to a boma (homestead) where 11 women and 3 men) were baptized in a shallow mountain stream. We learned that 20 persons were baptized at the same place the previous week! The Convention Moderator, Rev. Thiuri, and Sammy remained behind in Maralal to teach and question the five candidates for ordination. Sunday was special beyond description! The Maralal church was packed as ordination was followed by singing and preaching AND 19 adults accepting Christ! Afterwards the leader of the baptism location told us he had another 10 that wished baptism! We left that for Charlie and the newly ordained pastors to do.”

I used my weekend to complete Strengthening and Encouraging Through Lottie’s Support for Education , my planned last “Thank You, Lottie” blog – but as Jack called during the trip (missionaries are especially thankful to God for cell phones!) and as he shared after his return on Monday, I knew I owed it to those of you who give to Lottie Moon and support us in other ways to share this story of how God is at work among the Samburu, one of Kenya’s unreached people groups!
So, I need your prayers as I complete this new blog before next Monday evening when our youngest daughter arrives for Christmas. We had anticipated Jessie remaining in the States this year with her older brother and sister, but after the post-election events of last Christmas which were still very unsettled when she left in mid-January, we felt that she needed to return home to refresh memories of the Kenya she loves. So pray also for Jessie as she travels next Sunday and Monday.

Thank you for being our prayer supporters – We depend upon you and know that you are a part of the incredible blessings we are experiencing in our work. Bert Yates

Strengthening and Encouraging through Lottie's Support for Education

“Thank you for the nice school room. Thank you for all the nice things in my school room. I hope you're enjoying America and I would like to send you a lesson about why I like my school room. Lesson number 1: I like my video games. Lesson number 2: I like the big dipper story. The big dipper is my favorite book, because it's magical. Lesson number 3: I really like my new stories. And lesson number 4: I like my math, but I'm getting tired of it. So please send me something that will not make me tired. Love, Joseph”

This is a thank you note from five year old Joseph, whose parents work with the Samburu, one of our unreached people groups. Joseph’s note and much, much more appears at the newest blog to thank Southern Baptists who give to the Lottie Moon Offering – the offering which allows your IMB missionaries to be workers in our Father’s Harvest Field. This blog entitled Strengthening and Encouraging Through Lottie’s Support for Education is found at: http://lottiemoonkenyaeducation.blogspot.com/

Through “thank you notes”, testimonies, and lots of pictures, this blog has been prepared to share how your gifts to Lottie Moon and the Cooperative Program are used to support the education of IMB missionary kids. Thanks to your gifts, missionaries are able to provide great educations for their kids while obeying God’s call to share his love and salvation among the unreached of our world – one more example of how your investments that are still providing incredible returns even in these days of economic turmoil! The blog also shares information about Kenyan national schools, including a slideshow of Kenya students in their rainbow of uniforms as well as a slideshow sharing different views of Kenyan schools.

Please take time to view this blog – it is my gift to you to thank you for supporting me and my IMB colleagues around the world and for allowing us to support our families as we obediently serve our heavenly Father. Bert Yates

December 3, 2008

Jesus did not use the word when he sent out his disciples with instructions to “not take a purse or bag or sandals” and eat or drink “whatever they give you” (Luke 10:4,7), but He was preparing them to be FLEXIBLE, a needed ability for any missionary! I had planned to do housework before beginning this update, but the electricity went off a few minutes ago. “Plan B” is now in effect which means working on the computer until the battery light flashes. Thankfully we do now have a power back-up system, but iffy power situations has trained me to ration any computer power just in case” the power is off for a LONG time!

Flexibility was also needed last week as we celebrated Thanksgiving. We were to share the traditional meal with the Barnetts, new friends with the Master’s program (the IMB’s program for retired persons). Between their helping a young couple whose second child decided to be born on the eve of Thanksgiving and their being without electricity for 12 hours on Thanksgiving Day, we took another Plan B and ate a great turkey dinner at the Mennonite Guest House!

I hope you were able to view our thank you blog at: Thanks to Lottie. My greatest prayer need this week is for wisdom and insight as I prepare one more Lottie Moon promotion to share how your giving to the Lottie Moon Offering and Cooperative Program provides for our children’s education. Preparing these blogs takes time, but as I gather all the information, I receive a blessing as I hear the testimonies first-hand and remember how blessed I and other IMB missionaries are thanks to your support. Pray that I will share the information for the education blog in a way that will also bless others and help those of you who support us know that your gifts, prayers and involvement are good investments that are providing incredible returns even in these days of economic turmoil!

Jack is receiving reports this morning of our churches from the chairman of the Nairobi Baptist Association. We praise God for how many of our churches are producing disciples and reproducing churches, but join us in praying for those churches that are struggling. More dedicated men and women with hearts for sharing God’s Good News with the lost are needed, as well as more Christians who truly know God’s words and commands and desire to serve and not be served.

Tomorrow Jack will train several IMB support staff in Church Planting Movement methods. Pray that he will share exactly what is needed to strengthen and encourage these friends, who work full-time supporting the rest of us in administration, logistics, finances, etc, as they use their limited “free time” to share their Saviour’s love and salvation.

Pray for safety in travel, wisdom, and the ability to strengthen and encourage for Jack and the leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya as they travel to Maralal this Friday through Monday. The Samburu missionaries, Sandra and Charlie Daniels, will see a dream come true as some of their pastors are ordained this weekend. The Samburu are one of the unreached pastoral groups (those who follow their animals in search of pasture and water) and the Daniels’ dream is that the Samburu people will “hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and then “carry the Gospel … into the neighbouring tribes.”

Thank you once again for your prayer support – our heavenly Father is answering our prayers as we work together as workers in His Harvest Field, Bert Yates