July 10, 2013

Nairobi - a city with lots of people, vehicles, and tall
buildings, as well as lots and lots of colour! This
and the next few photos were taken as we took
diversions to our church last Sunday.

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:1,2).  As I read the psalms, I often question the writer’s use of the word WILL.  Is he saying he WILL willingly and eagerly do the action? Or is a bit of effort needed, resulting in I WILL force myself do this thing which I should do?

A city with lots of street-side vendors selling sugary
snacks as well as healthy bananas...

This has been a week when praising our Father and extolling his name has been the willing/eager action on our part, a week of seeing His greatness and eagerly desiring to praise His works and tell of his mighty acts (v.4).  We experienced this last Sunday, although getting to church was a bit difficult this week thanks to a marathon blocking movement east of the city, where Parklands Baptist/Mombasa Road is located.

... and a special favourite, roasted corn.  

But after many diversions as we moved around the blocked roads, it was truly amazing to hear testimonies of His “abundant goodness and (to) joyfully sing of (His) righteousness” (v.7) with African Believers! We were blessed to hear a sermon in which we were challenged:  God has invested a great deal in your life.  What are you doing to allow His investment to fulfill His purpose?

One can also purchase clothing, new and used.  The choices
will increase after the sacks are emptied and displayed
on the lower row of barbed wire fencing.

Which leads to two always needed prayer nudges for missionaries:  Pray for encouragement and strengthening for missionaries ministering among Unreached Peoples as they often lack the opportunity to worship weekly with fellow mature Believers who know “of the glory of HIS kingdom and speak of HIS might” (v.11).  Pray also that as we serve our Father, which can lead to exhaustion and even frustration and discouragement, we will never forget that He wants “all men may know of HIS mighty acts and the glorious splendor of HIS kingdom” (v.12). 

Handmade furniture can also be bought along the roadside
and yes, some of the furniture in our home was purchased
at road-side shops.

We are also praising God for the opportunities we’ve had this week to be with volunteers, which included Jack showing one medical team what God is doing through His Kenyan Baptist servants at SEMA Leatherworks and the Kariobangi Baptist Youth Centre.  We also spent time with volunteers who are serving at the Kenya Baptist Theological College.  One of the joys of sharing these ministries with Baptist volunteers is showing them the results of their investments in prayer and giving as all of these were begun by IMB missionaries thanks to gifts given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the Cooperative Program and to Baptist Global Response!

We were not surprised when last Sunday's marathon blockages
resulted in the 3 lanes on our side of the road becoming five lanes.
The big truck coming in the wrong direction did surprise us!

We also visited last night with a special group of volunteers – family members of a young couple from North Carolina who serve among Unreached Peoples in northern Kenya and in South Sudan.  It was truly a time of praising our Father as they shared how the Turkana and Toposa peoples are responding to His Good News!

We did finally arrive at church, a little late, but in time
for a short visit with the toddler Sunday School class...

I could go on sharing our praises and prayer needs, but I will stop now and share only these current requests:   Please continue joining us in praying for the Kenya Baptist Theological College as decisions are made related to the college’s leadership and future in training and equipping God’s workers in East Africa. Pray that we will clearly see and know God’s desire for Jack’s involvement at KBTC.  Pray for me as I nudge you and others to action for the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa, especially during Ramadan, a special time when more than one billion people in our world are fasting, praying and seeking the true source of forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. BERT YATES

... a class of a dozen or so kids - not quite sure as
 most are very energetic, even during snack time. 

Most have been born since our church began.

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SEMA Leatherworks – http://www.semaleatherworks.com/

More on the Kariobangi Baptist Youth Centre at http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2012/06/june-6-2012.html

Kenya Baptist Theological College - https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege

Daily Nudges to Prayer for Sub-Saharan African Peoples can be found at Sub-Saharan African Peoples ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl) and at SSAP Nudges to Action – Praying, Serving and Giving.

Spotted outside our gate as I walked to a 'real' store
to buy milk and bread last week.

July 7, 2013 SSAP Nudge to Action

Posted on FB by a missionary among SSAP: Our electric shower head (instant hot water) died 2 weeks ago. We purchased another one… the new one was faulty… frustration but wait.. Yesterday the new one (2nd time) came in. My husband, went to town to pick it up and shared the GOOD NEWS with 4 in the electrical shop. One said, "Yes to Jesus”… delay of a working shower head is nothing compared to the gift of eternal life in Jesus! ♫ O Happy Day! ♪

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For daily Nudges to Action - Praying, Serving and Giving for Sub-Saharan African Peoples

visit http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/ or 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl

(non-Facebook users can view this page).

July 3, 2013

Over a year ago, “at a large church, I left my 30 year old NIV Bible on the pew and the Bible ‘walked away.’” I shared this event in our January 4, 2012 update and how God provided me with a new Bible.  As always when I share our lives with you, I write much more than I can include, which always leads to lots of deletions.  This morning during my morning devotions, I was reminded of one of my responses to losing my Bible that I removed from that update.

Photos this week include scenes viewed as we ran errands
this week, such as this outdoor market of colourful pots...

My Kenyan friends responded to my loss by assuring me that “God will use your notes to speak to the one who ‘borrowed’ your Bible. He will use it to bring that person to Him.”  My reaction was not as ‘spiritual’ – it was embarrassment!  I worried about what the person who ‘borrowed’ my Bible would think of my many notes in the margins beside verses – notes related to my responses as God’s Words became “living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12a) – notes which included my usual response of lots of personally directed questions and responding with very, very honest answers as God “judges the thoughts and attitudes of MY heart” (Hebrews 4:12b).

... and colourful fruit..

Notes such as the following questions recorded this morning as I read verses about keeping my ‘eyes’ or ‘focus’ on God:

... and creative versions of some of God's marvelous creations!

Psalm 25:15: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”  As a Believer, who is a ‘professional’ missionary, I’ve often told people to do this as I’ve mentored and in materials that I’ve written, but how often do I fully keep my eyes on my Father?  Do I worry and try to fix problems or look for His answers to any ‘snare’ I encounter?

Surprises are also spotted, such as scenes viewed in
Nairobi today that could have been spotted in Bible days

Psalm 118:23,24:  “… the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” In my work as the Affinity Networker, I have the joy of nudging you and others to the marvelous work God is allowing our co-workers among Sub-Saharan African Peoples to join Him in doing, but how often do I take time to be in awe of our Father, to thank Him, rejoice and be glad for all the marvelous things He does in my own life?

Photos this week also include scenes spotted during our
late May trip to the coast...

Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”   Do I truly want to open my eyes and always “obey your word” (v.17) even when it is difficult, risky, uncomfortable, or even something I really would rather not do or face?

... including this elephant family... 

I think I’ve shared enough to help you see that serving our Father as a ‘professional’ missionary does not mean that we are free of frustrations, exhaustion, doubts, weaknesses, disobedience, and on and on.  If anything, it seems that the more our eyes are opened and we recognize His call on our lives and the burning He puts in our hearts (Luke 24:31,32), the greater the attacks the devil sends our way!  Which is my motivation for sending our weekly newsletters – we must have people claiming Hebrews 12:2,3 for us – people praying that we will “fix our eyes on Jesus… so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” – people like you whose eyes are opened and are ready to respond to our Saviour’s challenge in John 4:35, “Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” 

... when we stayed atop a hill overlooking Tsavo Park.

It is difficult to fully share our thanks for your support which does encourage and strengthen us, but I can offer one small thanks this week – an event that brought us joy this past week – a video made last Sunday morning as Believers at Parklands Baptist Church sang “Bwana Mungu, Nashangaa.”  “How Great Thou Art” sung in Kiswahili will likely also lead to you rejoicing and being glad in the marvelous actions of our Father! 

The balcony of our room was the triangle in the centre -
a great place for viewing all the elephants below!

I can go on and on sharing – the reason I always, including today, must delete lots of thoughts and prayer requests as I write – but I do want to thank you for the many ways you support us and allow us to serve our Father in His Sub-Saharan African harvest field. I also ask that you join us in praying as decisions continue to be made related to Kenya Baptist Theological College’s leadership and future in training and equipping God’s workers in East Africa. Join Jack in praying that he will clearly see and know God’s desire for his involvement at KBTC.  Pray for me as I nudge you and others to action for the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa.  Pray for me as I begin seeking nudges related to Ramadan. BERT YATES

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Now it's time for you to focus a bit - can you spot the
elephant that entertained us during breakfast one morning?

January 4, 2012 Yates/IMB/Kenya blog post – http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-4-2012.html

Daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607?ref=hl

“Bwana Mungu, Nashangaa” – https://plus.google.com/photos/105343089902291545775/albums/5896288918094168913?authkey=COWxvdat-uO92QE

Close-up - the 'rock' on the far right is an elephant...

...walking down the hill!