February 8, 2011

I’ve been trying to write this update all day, but just took another break from my desk. Spotting the timer on my desk, I remembered it chirped several minutes earlier – which meant the Banana Macadamia Cake in the oven was approaching over-done! Thankfully, it was not burned, which is very important as it is to be served tomorrow to some of our “bosses”. The cake made of locally grown products shares a clue to why I am posting this Prayer Update a day early – Jack and I are helping to a host an outing tomorrow for the IMB leaders of Sub-Saharan Africa who are in the midst of a week-long meeting.

Sometimes people ask about our lives and one difference is that we likely entertain more than the average American – which in our part of the world requires lots of “from-scratch” cooking. This week’s schedule included a Super Bowl party at our house last night with 15 friends, including 10 day-old Zoe, the youngest member of our East Africa mission family who slept through the game! Thanks to a colleague’s projector, we had a “big-screen” view of the game which was recorded (9 hours time difference) during the night on our satellite TV system (our splurge). Later this week, Baptist volunteers to western Kenya, will visit before returning to NC. We also are awaiting a phone call to set a time to visit with colleagues from another country and a Baptist pastor from Virginia.

In the midst of guests, Jack has been in meetings this week – this time with the Baptist AIDS Response Agency, learning how leaders and boards of organizations can strengthen their ministry through better planning. Jack never likes sitting for days, but he is excited about sharing this training with our Baptist churches.

My week has included adding new prayer nudges to Facebook and to 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EASTERN AFRICA* as I seek prayer support for our work and the work of others who cannot share their requests/ praises. Two of these additions share awesome experiences of how our God works! The first “happening” occurred last Sunday while attending Parklands Baptist Church/Mombasa Road. A bit of the caption that was attached to the photo (right) posted on Monday: Praising God today that He provides affirmation that we have chosen the right work/ways to do His work! Affirmation … came when I saw children studying GROWING IN CHRIST, a discipleship book that I spent days re-editing/ re-designing while with Kenya Baptist Media. What a joy to see young believers being trained to be one of my Father's Fellow Workers! A co-worker visiting our church for the first time found affirmation when her new "assignment" of finding pockets of Unreached Peoples in Nairobi WAS THE CHALLENGE of our Kenyan pastor's sermon!

This account of the second “happening” was posted this morning: Began my day by reading the end of King Solomon's story during my devotions - a great reminder that we must not only seek a "wise and discerning heart" (1 Kings 3:12), but daily obey what our heart tells us if we truly desire wisdom. Then a prayer nudge for those who worship Saraswati appeared in my morning's e-mails. Praying that my friends in East Africa desiring wisdom through this goddess will learn that "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10). To find the link to this special prayer nudge blog, go to: http://prayforgujarat.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/wisdom/

Thanks for taking time to read this prayer update and for joining us in praising God and seeking His guidance and wisdom as we seek to do His work, BERT

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* 2011 PRAYER NUDGES FROM EASTERN AFRICA: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

February 2, 2011

Have you ever read a scripture during your devotions and a few hours later felt that you were reliving the verses? As we visited Ridgeways Baptist Church last Sunday, I did feel as though I was experiencing 1Kings 6:31-32: “For the entrance of the sanctuary … he made doors with… carved … open flowers.” We wanted to worship with friends, but we also visited to give a partial update of a Prayer Nudge Photo Album that I shared last July: Bursting at the Seams Legacy Churches (1) - a “tour of three Baptist churches in north/east Nairobi, Kenya, whose sanctuaries are bursting at the seams, so they are building new sanctuaries. A great source of praise and an incredible sign of the continuing reaping of benefits from past investments to the Lottie Moon Offering and Cooperative Program!”

It was an exciting day of making new friends and greeting old ones, AND a little embarrassing as we arrived an hour late due and were escorted not to the back row of seats, but the second row FRONT AND CENTER! As I settled in , I realized that we were sitting with two of the Wanje “boys,” the sons of one of our first Baptist pastors in Eastern Africa. Another son, Elijah, is the pastor of Ridgeways Baptist. Times like this do make us happy as we view how the work of past co-workers is continuing to impact God’s current work in our part of the world. To share the day with us, you can find more on how “God is at Work at Ridgeways Baptist” (2) at a new Prayer Nudge Photo Album – I think you will find it worth your time to view these photos/story! More about the history of this church which was begun by IMB missionaries and committed Kenyan Baptists can be found on an older blog, Bringing People to Christ- Ridgeways Baptist Church (3).

Jack was busy last week completing another teaching session at our seminary, Kenya Baptist Theological College – I would not enjoy grading the papers, but he does as it provides a glimpse into the hearts of our pastors and leaders. This week he has been attending meetings – a good one yesterday of Kenyan Baptist leaders as they discussed problems and dreams. Today, Jack visited another of church highlighted in the Bursting at the Seams Legacy Churches (1) Prayer Nudge Photo Album, Kahawa Sukari Baptist – yet another church begun by IMB missionaries and committed Kenyan Baptists. He returned home a little tired and very excited: Tired as the road work in the area leads to delays and cautious driving, but excited by seeing the progressing road work and viewing/ hearing a very positive update of Kahawa Sukari Baptist Church. The construction of their new enlarged sanctuary is progressing and they are preparing to plant a new church. Pray for the church as they dedicate new leadership on February 13^th.

Next week holds more meetings as we learn more of how we can serve our Father and help others do the same. Pray for Jack as he attends a meeting with BARA (Baptist Aids Response Agency) and as I raise awareness of how people can join God’s work and assist others in using the internet as a Prayer/Missions tool. And once again: Thank you for all the ways you support us – we do depend upon you! BERT YATES

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(1) Bursting at the Seams Legacy Churches: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=256919&id=685050129&l=b7bdb367c9

(2) God Is at Work at Ridgeways Baptist Church - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=363345&id=685050129&l=3c51a48b03

(3) Bringing People to Christ- Ridgeways Baptist Church - http://ridgewaysbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/

January 26, 2011

Electricity went off at lunch time – so please forgive any errors as I complete this update before my faulty back-up battery dies and Jack’s in-need-of-recharging battery expires! As I’ve said before: We may be frustrated, but we are never bored! Jack’s battery is free as he is at our seminary, Kenya Baptist Theological College, teaching another round of Baptist Faith and Principles. Once again, he is very, very happy with the excitement and dedication of his students. Please join us in praying that he will clearly share the information and that the students will understand all he teaches and apply it in their ministries.

I am late today in writing this update as I’ve been busy preparing a new blog, 2011 Prayer Nudges for Eastern Africa (1). Since early January, I have added prayer nudge photos almost daily to FACEBOOK. Many of you are not Facebookers , so the blog was prepared to allow you to view or receive via e-mail (by subscribing to the blog) these Prayer Nudges which share our lives, hearts and prayers. A second reason for sharing these prayer nudges is to help my many colleagues who work in areas with restrictions. My prayer is that as you read our praises, concerns, heart-breaks, joys, etc., it will expand your knowledge of how you can pray for those who cannot freely share their heart and their work.

To share what you may be missing, here is today’s Prayer Nudge: Our God does has a sense of humor! It is amazing the number of my rural-bred colleagues He has called to serve in a city and how many city-folks He sends to rural areas … Jack and I (country-kids) where overwhelmed by the hugeness of Nairobi when we arrived in 1978. The then estimated population of 827, 000 has now swelled to over 3 million … Pray today that as the areas where we serve grow and transition, we will grow and transition in our ministries so that we are always alert to how to best share God's love and salvation.

Other times the prayer nudges share great moments: January 23, 2011 – Have you ever been so excited at church that you couldn't stay in your seat? In this morning's Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road Sunday School Class for Preschoolers … This little one tried, REALLY TRIED to stay seated during a scripture song, but every time he "got" into the song, he would stand up! He even tried holding on the chair's arms, which only meant he got in extra trouble for lifting his chair! Praying today that God's Word will leave me as excited and cause me to praise and focus on Him rather than anything else!

I’ve also learned recently of two other internet sites which could help you pray for us and those from areas with restrictions. Simply knowing the weather and being aware of the time say in Bangkok or Ahmadabad can give you clues to how to pray for those sharing our Father’s love and salvation in those areas. Those of you who work with kids may find that going to this site, Time and Date.Com (2) is a way to expand missions horizons while having fun checking out different cities in the world – especially the city of a missionary you know or are studying!

Another site shares “excerpts from various IMB missionary blogs.” You can find this blog, MISSIONARY BLOG SPOT (3), which you can also subscribe to via your e-mail.

The electricity has returned (after my computer battery and both back-ups died and I had to surrender for a bit), so I can now send this message. But I must add one more comment: Thank you for all the ways you support us, especially your prayer support, BERT

(1) 2011 Prayer Nudges for Eastern Africa: http://easternafrica2011prayernudges.blogspot.com/

(2) Time and Date.com: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=170

(3) Missionary Blogspot: http://missionaryblogdigest.wordpress.com/