November 13, 2013

We are loving all the colours of
a North Carolina fall!

Puddles of ice are outside our window this morning and we slept through a bit of a snow flurry last night, which makes us very thankful for the heat flowing into our hotel room this morning!  Thanks for praying for us as we helped 'man' the International Mission Board at the North Carolina Baptist State Convention which ended last night.  It was a great time of visiting with old friends and making new friends.  For me (Bert), this included meeting many people who have become good friends and prayer partners for our work and all the work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples via Facebook and the internet!

And we are definitely enjoying highways without potholes!

Adjustments are continuing:  Even though we are truly appreciating the warmth of indoor heating, our bodies are having to adjust and a huge bottle of intensive moisturising body lotion is on our to-buy list!  Toilets that flush without warning are also a bit  unsettling as we are more accustomed to toilets with no running water when travelling away from home! But no adjustments are needed to enjoying HOT doughnuts at Krispy Kreme, although we're still looking for a cup of coffee as good as Kenyan coffee!

Rosalind and Ralph Harrell

One of the joys of working at the NC Baptist convention was sharing lunch last Monday with the North Carolina IMB Emeritus group.  The luncheon speaker, a co-worker from South America, talked of the giant guiding footprints left by the workers before us on the mission field.  His thanks to them was very sincere, but was more so for Jack and me.

Zeb and Evelyn Moss

Among the group were two couples from North Carolina, who not only made our early transition to life and work in Kenya easy, but Ralph and Rosalind Harrell and Zeb and Evelyn Moss were active parts of the work Jack and I have the joy of continuing today at the college, in media and even in our church family.

One special joy of life on STAS:  Water pressure! A load is washed
and ready to dry at our mission house in half the time it takes to
fill the machine for the wash cycle in Nairobi!

Do continue praying for us as we adjust to life on Stateside Assignment.  Pray that we will connect with the people and churches who truly desire to learn about God's work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples and how they can join in His work.  BERT
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During our STAS, I will continue adding daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, which can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607, which included guidance shared on Monday of on how you can pray and donate towards the Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines.

November 10, 2013

Thanks for praying for us!  We finally slept (or more accurately stayed in bed) until the alarm clock buzzed at 6 this morning, so hopefully we will be less dinghy today.  After being more than a bit overwhelmed by buying a car so quickly, God led us to the perfect spot (one of those times when you're heading one way and remember another option as you pass it) to purchase exactly what we needed from a young Christian man God had waiting to help us! We've also had great visits with two of our kids and their family and will visit with our youngest today!

We're heading out in a few minutes for our first opportunities to share what God is up to among Sub-Saharan African Peoples (Bert) and at the Kenya Baptist Theological College (Jack) and how others can join in His work. Pray for us especially as we represent the International Mission Board (IMB) at the North Carolina Baptist State Convention this week.

I had a photo to share with you today of water rushing into the washing machine of the Temple Baptist Mission House, but posting it seemed very insignificant as I read of the typhoon that hit the Philippines on Friday.  Updated reports of how you can pray and help can be found the IMB Connecting website (http://www.imb.org/main/default.asp).  BERT

November 6, 2013

We're loving the colours of a NC autumn.

For the second morning straight, we awoke early and had breakfast before 4:30. By 6 this morning, we had the internet system purchased last night working in the mission house of Temple Baptist in Raleigh, NC., so I can  send a very, very short update today!

Welcome home...

We arrived on time and with all our luggage on Monday afternoon - a true praise! Thanks for praying. We've also survived our first visit to a grocery store and a Walmart, and yes, both were more than a bit overwhelming. It did help to be told that the Walmart was an extra big one, so we were not simply responding as culture-shocked missionaries!

... BABU and BIBI (Swahili/granddaddy and grandmama).

We've yet to arrange for transport or to locate my 'stored' coats and purchase Jack a warmer jacket - it is COLD here - so keep praying as we adjust to six months of life and work in the US during our Stateside Assignment (STAS).  Pray especially that we will be good ambassadors for the IMB and especially for our Father's work among Sub-Saharan African Peoples as we 'work' at the North Carolina Baptist Convention next week.

I'm enjoying watching the birds, especially as the
cardinals and blue jays, play outside our window!

And yes, do pray that we will adjust to living one-third of the way around the world. We wish there was a re-set button for our internal clocks which are a bit confused.  With the 8 hours time difference, our bodies are finding it confusing to be going to bed for the evening when we usually are arising for the day!  BERT
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During our STAS, I will continue adding daily Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, which can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607.