February 8, 2012

It happened again this week, two verses ‘jumped out’ from the pages of my Bible during my time of devotion!  I have read both verses many times, yet this time the words were extra alive and active – “If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes … What will I do when God confronts me?  What will I answer when called to account?”  (Job 31:7, 14)

Had these verse ‘jumped-out’ to Jack this week, he would understand as he spent the week reviewing his work of 2011 and perfecting his plans for 2012!  Even he was astounded by the totals that appeared in his final 2011 report:  108 teaching assignments in 94 associations; 1929 persons in attendance from 624 churches which resulted in 1799 times of witnessing during the trainings, 560 decisions and 160 baptisms, 23 new church plants, 5 preaching points, 10 new small groups, 39 new disciples of his disciples – and this is only the immediate results from the teaching sessions and not later additions which would greatly exceed these totals!  Oh, I can’t overlook the last group of 2011 tallies:  Teaching in 6 new Bible Schools with 85 students!   

I can’t fully explain why these verses spoke so loudly to me, but it does relate to issues missionaries face constantly.  Our eyes see so much that affects our hearts – good things such as spiritual growth and answered prayers, as well as evil things such as inequalities and injustice.  Our ‘pockets’ never match the needs we encounter daily, so we do face guilt/questions related to when/ how we should respond.  We are constantly searching for the right balance of matching what our eyes see to what our hearts can and should respond – which explains why most missionaries spend lengthy times in devotion not because we are so spiritual, but because to stay sane we must be in communication with our Father and rely totally upon Him for direction!

Don’t worry, all this philosophizing today does not imply a bad or difficult week – There have been difficulties and disappointments, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives, and it was truly amazing to watch God either work things out or provide the needed strength/ wisdom we needed!  One positive was spending time last night with two young youth ministers, one from the Atlanta and the other from Kenya! We had never heard of either until Monday, yet now are both dear friends and we are excited about (yet feeling a little apprehensive for them) as they bring a volunteer group of 100 to Kenya this summer! 

Another positive this week was attending a Leaders Retreat last Saturday of our church, Parklands Baptist Church Mombasa Road, with 30 plus of our friends!  Jack and I are at least 10 years older than any of the others and double the age of many!  One of the most exciting parts was linking so many of these well discipled African Believers to former missionary colleagues and Kenyan pastors and leaders!  It’s truly awesome to see what God is doing in East Africa, how He has blessed the past work of His children and is blessing the current work!  To share part of our joy, we invite you to view “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes” or “A day in the life of two IMB missionaries in East Africa filled with hijackings, joys and prayers!”  I promise these photos and captions will leave you praising God with us for the opportunity we have to watch Him at work in our part of the world!  BERT Yates

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To view our weekend view of God at Work, go to “Activity, Colour, Variety and Extremes”  – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150754353430130.506490.685050129&type=1&l=4f5f0908c3

For the 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa  – http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa ) 

February 5, 2012 Prayer Nudge from East Africa

Shared by a missionary in East Africa: “While ministering in a village our daughter went out to play with the kids. She just went out and sat down ... 2 seconds later one came close... 10 seconds later they were all gathered around her giving high 5's... singing and playing. When we returned to the van, our 9 year old informed us that while we were with the family, she had her own ministry outside. She told all the children about Jesus.” Added by a missionary aunt: “She had all the children doing whatever she did - no language barrier here.”
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You can easily follow the daily 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa (http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ ) by going to the blog and subscribing to it, or by becoming Bert's friend on Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a friend of Imb EastAfrica on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )

February 1, 2012

I planned to complete this week’s update early, but “I was defeated” yesterday by yet another day of no electricity!  I was frustrated, but as I read a note from an East African coworker I realized it is a good reminder of what many people in our world, including missionaries, face daily.  Some East African co-workers, and not just those in rural areas, have learned to adjust to only a few hours of power and/or water each and every day.  Others have no need to budget for electricity and water bills as electricity lines and piped water have yet to arrive in their part of the world! 

As I ran (actually walked) errands yesterday – my back-up plan – I realized that one of the tensions shared by most missionaries, is that as we plan our days, we always need back-up plans.  Sometimes these are on-paper back-up plans, such as planning two menus, especially when guests are coming – one relying upon electricity, the other for no-electricity days, such as buying bread when fresh bread is planned.  No-water days?  A plan with few messy dishes!   Back-up plans also include ministry options according to how many expected/ unexpected people arrive, their ages and whether you can meet in the hoped-for spot!

More of yesterday’s realizations: Most often I’m not aware I have a back-up plan until it arises when needed from the special back-up part of my mind!   As I thought of friends in places with no or limited resources, I remembered that the ‘lack-of things’ often require extra work!  My friend who wrote yesterday has no water or electricity in their new home in another East African country and limited things available to buy, such as no fresh vegetables, fruit, milk, etc.  So rather than she and her husband focusing fully on their work of sharing our Father’s Good News with Unreached People Groups, they must spend major time in surviving – such as learning to use a solar cooker, extra time preparing a nutritious meal, and locating suitable water for cooking, drinking, and bathing! 

I’m not sharing all of this today to cause you to feel sorry for us and our friends, but to emphasize our need for your support!  We want to be focused on sharing our Father’s Good News with those in need of His Eternal Gospel, but our focus is often elsewhere due to shortages and things such as political unrest, as well as dealing with lots of the devil’s ‘plans’ – missionaries know he is also a planner with un-limited back-up plans – so we definitely NEED your prayer support!

Jack’s specific prayer request this week continues to be for wisdom and strength as he and the other members of the Board of Governors of the Kenya Baptist Theological College make and carry out plans for guiding KBTC as our seminary serves our Father. Pray for me as I become involved in two ministries away from the computer, an established ministry to kids who have just finished high school and planning a new ministry for strengthening and encouraging a group of Kenyan ‘home missionary’ women.  Trust me, an important part of any of our plans is depending upon your PRAYER SUPPORT!  BERT

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A large part of Bert's ‘planned work’ is connecting East Africa via the Internet (sharing the stories/ praises/ needs of co-workers with one another and with our supporters and also as a tool to encourage and strengthen them) is the daily Prayer Nudges which appear on a blog and on FB. 2012 Prayer Nudges from East Africa can be found at  http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or find the Prayer Nudges and other updates from East Africa on Facebook – Bert Yates (https://www.facebook.com/bert.yates) or become a Facebook Friend of Imb EastAfrica  ( https://www.facebook.com/Imb.East.Africa )