VALENTINE'S DAY - 2011

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/