February 11, 2009

Jack and I really try to work from planned schedules, but often the greatest (for Jack) and most disappointing (Bert) experiences are the unexpected ones. I didn’t ask for prayer last week for what Jack would do on Saturday simply because it was not yet planned. I’ll let Jack share now:

SERV Ministries International is a Christian organization that receives emergency food from USAID and ships it in containers to Kenya. It is estimated that a third of all Kenyans are currently experiencing famine and I had been bugging the Kenya Baptists who receive this food to disburse it to the critical areas. USAID food is dehydrated and requires a short lesson in how to prepare it without waste. It is a great reminder of how Jesus fed people after blessing and multiplying the food. So after plans were made suddenly, I and several others left Saturday morning with the “Big Blue” Baptist Mission truck on a six stop, 17 hour drive throughout Lower Eastern Province known as Ukambani, the home of the Wakamba People. As we left food at each of the Associations, I could not help but thank God for many things:
1) To be here at this time with these resources (food, truck, people).
2) For cell phones that allowed all of this work to happen like clock work! Every Baptist leader was on time, his people prepared and waiting.
3) For those IMB Kamba missionaries who worked so hard to establish churches in such remote areas in every location.
4) For safety especially on the three hour drive from Ikutha to Wamunya at midnight!
5) For my car to continue going for 100 kilometres after the fuel light had come on! A modern-day Biblical Miracle - There was a petrol shortage in Kenya this past weekend leaving many places without gas, including where I needed to refuel.
6) The 1,000 hungry families who were touched by God’s love as they received food.

Jack explains well why – other than just now catching up on his sleep from getting to bed at three last Sunday morning – this was such a great experience. My disappointment came from not being able to go as I had developed a really bad cough. We weren’t sure if I was contagious, so I stayed home, not for my sake, but for the sake of others – hungry people are weak people who can catch illnesses easily. I am also praising God for cell phones – which meant I wasn’t surprised when Jack arrived home so late – and for the safe travel Saturday evening of the group in our RAV and the Big Blue Truck. We rarely drive late at night – it simply isn’t wise in Kenya between bad roads (one stretch was under construction with 50 metres completed followed by 50 metres of no road, and of course with NO notice boards!), bad drivers, broken down vehicles, bandits and animals on the road, plus this trip was definitely not on the beaten or well marked paths! I also have a praise for SERV based on a memory of when I met many of those involved with this program – over half based their love for missions on having WMU Moms!

To help you experience all we’ve shared, you can find pictures from last Saturday at: http://picasaweb.google.com/omba4kenya/UkambaniRelief?feat=directlink
To view larger pictures, simply click slideshow. And thank you also for your love of missions and your desire to be a part of God’s work as you pray and are involved! Bert Yates

February 4, 2009

Flags are flying at half-mast this week in Kenya. Last Wednesday as I sent our weekly update to you, Jack called to say their coastal survey trip had been completed in record time and he would be in flying into Nairobi by the time I arrived at the local airport. As we drove home, we spotted a spiral of black smoke in the city centre. The downtown Nakumatt (Kenyan version of WalMart) was on fire. The first radio announcements were hopeful saying their might be few casualties, but the media now reports that 29 bodies have been recovered, at least 17 others are missing, and many people were injured.

Then as Jack collected our newspapers on Sunday as we left for church, I heard him moan. The headlines told of horrible fire outside of Nakuru, the town where we lived for many years. As people siphoned off the petrol from a wrecked petrol tanker in the Molo countryside, a fire began leaving 120 dead and 150 or more injured. The newspapers are filled with questions of why people took such a risk, but all know that the poverty and desperation were a part of the problem.

The Molo fire has especially touched us as Jack helped the local association begin and build a church in the area where the fire occurred. We have not learned if any of those affected by the fire are Baptists, but we are certain that some are. Please join us in praying that Christians in the area, some who have been well discipled, will be strong ambassadors of their Father’s love and comfort at this time. Join us also in praising God for a bit of good news that we heard as prayers were lifted on Sunday morning at our church for the Nakumatt fire victims. The management of the store had allowed a pastor from our church and others to lead daily devotional times at this Nakumatt. As the pastor led our prayers on Sunday, he praised God that many of the Nakumatt staff who died were Believers.

I read the third chapter of Lamentations during my devotions this morning and it reminded me of a praise/request that should be offered. Many Kenyans do question if this week’s tragedies are related to their need to seek forgiveness for sins (v.42) and they question if this has led to God covering himself “with a cloud so that no prayer can get through” (v.44). Please join me in praying that those who are who are unsure of the one who hears their prayers, either because they are not Believers or because they are “baby” Christians, will come to truly know and claim the love and salvation of the true God.

We do have some good news to share this week. Jack was very pleased with last week’s coastal survey trip that he made with Baptist Convention of Kenya leadership and two Southern Baptist volunteers. He asks that you join him in praising God for these signs of strength that he viewed during the trip:

<>Mombasa Baptist High School, begun by IMB missionaries and now owned and managed by the Baptist Convention of Kenya, is experiencing great interest in enrolment for the first time in nine years. The headmistress, Millicent Omondi (there are no longer any missionaries on the staff), is doing a marvellous job.

<> The number of churches continues to grow on the coast despite the absence of IMB staff, divisions in the convention and the local leadership, as well as the impoverished nature of the region. Associations are finding their way in the midst of a poor economy and famine and a growing strong leadership is evident.

<> Malindi and Magarini Associations hope to partner with IMB volunteers to reach the whole Tana River area in the next ten years!

<>The LifeWay discipleship program has the potential of making a defining impact on the coast. Join us in praying for the volunteer group made up of pastors often considered mission pastors, pastors of Hispanic churches in North Carolina, who are leading the training on the coast through this Friday.

I do try to keep these update short, but this week there is simply too much that needs your prayer support – and we do depend on your prayers! Bert Yates

January 28, 2009

Last week I shared that Jack was waiting on the Lord for this week as he faced several “I might’s.” He asked: “Join me in praying that God’s doors will open and I will choose the work that He has chosen for me.” Your prayers were answered and he left last Saturday for a survey of the coast of the Kenya with two Southern Baptist volunteers and five leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya (BCOK). Other than bits of horrible road and a few moments of frustration, the trip has been great AND they have sensed how we – the BCOK, volunteers, and missionaries – can strengthen and encourage the existing Baptist churches in the Mombasa and Malindi areas as we engage lostness together! Thank you for your prayers, but keep praying as God’s will and guidance is sought for the next steps.

I know that I am continually using these words, "Strengthening and encouraging as we engage lostness together,” as I write, but we are continually being reminded that God is at work in Kenya and He is raising a mighty army of His children who must be discipled and prepared to do His work. Jack will do this in the next week as he prepares reports/plans and as he meets with volunteers and others sharing what God is teaching him about being a part of engaging those who do not know of our Father’s love and salvation. Pray that Jack will rely completely upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all that he does.

I strive to strengthen and encourage as we engage lostness together by seeking prayer for Kenya and Kenyan Christians – AND yes, I’m often discouraged as I “absorb” the needs of Kenya. As I prepared this update, I looked at the list of Omba4Kenya* (Pray for Kenya) updates that I’ve sent recently and the repetition of the needs is frustrating! The January 15th update was titled, “Strikes, Scandals and Famines,” and yesterday’s was entitled, “Frozen Pay, Artificial Shortages, and a Lack of Confidence,” as the strike by government primary school teachers continues, the lack of food worsens, and scandals erode more confidence!

So why do I do this work? Because I know that through our prayers we bring glory to our Father and receive the guidance we need to be a part of completing His work; it is also how the world will know of the love and salvation offered through His Son (John 17). So my prayer request is for strength and wisdom as I prepare the weekly updates to send to you for our personal work with the Kenyan Legacy work and the updates I prepare for my other “job” as prayer advocate for all of Kenya. Pray that I will sense clearly which prayer items to share and that I will share these praises and needs clearly and in a way that will bring “renown, joy, praise and honor” to our Father as we participate together in making certain that “all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will stand in awe...” of Him! (Jeremiah 33:9)
Bert Yates

* The Omba4Kenya are found at: http://www.omba4kenya.blogspot.com/