July 9, 2014

Today I'm working at my usual in my closet-
office in Nairobi.  This is a photo of me finding an
out-of-the-sun position, but within internet
connection while at the game park in late June.
Did you spot the giraffe by the water hole?

During my devotions this morning, I pondered how to share our experiences of the past week. As I read Psalm 53, the fifth verse ‘jumped out’ at me: “There they were overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread.” On the first reading, I misinterpreted the identity of the ‘they’ and I applied these words to God’s children, rather than the ‘evil-doers’ being filled with terror and fear.

There was a bit of legitimate dread/ fear when we
came around a corner late in the afternoon while at
the game park and spotted a rhino family -
 especially when the big daddy crossed the road and
stared at us as though daring us to come closer.

As I continued reading and came to “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (54:4), I realized that my earlier interpretation was not a mistake. It was God’s reminder that I do allow things to overwhelm and confuse me, when I should be claiming His help and strength. I realized that my pondering what to share was based on the mixture of good and bad news experienced this past week. I was unsure how to balance the extremes as I tried to adequately share our prayer needs and concerns. His Word reminded me that I had to fully allow Him to help, guide and sustain me as I share today.

Pastors Ambrose (Parklands),  Samson Ojienda
 (Baptist Convention of Kenya) and  Bern Otuma
 (Eastgate Baptist) unveiling the dedication plaque.

The good, really good news was the joyful day our church family experienced last Sunday as we celebrated our 4th anniversary and the official inauguration of Parklands Baptist Church Eastgate (formerly PBC Mombasa Road) in our new home, the former site of the Embakassi Baptist Church. Words alone cannot describe the joy and praise as we remembered the beginning of our new church, how God has guided and sustained us, and the excitement of what is ahead as we minister in an area of with 1.2 million residents, with only “100,000 people attending church on any given Sunday” (shared in day’s program). Our prayer request is that our church family will put aside all ‘dread’ and anything that will keep us from claiming God’s power and being His witnesses in the eastern gateway to Nairobi and in all of Nairobi, Kenya, Africa and “to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

Jack and Pastor Ambrose with one of our favourite people -
Pastor David Kiatu!

Now for the bad or rather sad news. Early last week, we were keeping up with news from my family as my mother had risky hip surgery and my brother had a stroke. Just as we received word that the two of them were healing well, we learned that Jack’s Mom had suffered a mild stroke. As we began praising God for the care and healing she was experiencing, we heard that there had been another deadly attack on Kenya’s coast. (1) This did concern us as we prayed for peace and healing for all involved, unaware until late Monday that one of those killed was a friend and former colleague.

Weswah leading the procession for graduation at the
Kenya Baptist Theological College in 2008.

Jack shared the following on KBTC’s Facebook page (2) yesterday afternoon: “It is with profound sorrow and shock that KBTC announces the death of our former Principal, Enos Nambafu Weswah, 5 July, 2014. While visiting Mpeketoni near Lamu, he was brutally murdered along with 28 others. Weswah began teaching at KBTC in 1991 and served as Registrar, and Deputy Principal before becoming Principal in 2005. He served until retirement in 2010. He leaves Edna, his wife, and Yolanda, his daughter.”

Paper-thin chapatis, rice, veggies, chicken
and beef stew were served after Sunday's celebration.

Please join us in praising God for caring for our family members in the States and praying for continue healing. Pray also for God’s care, comfort and peace for Weswah’s family and all of the Baptist family in Kenya. Pray especially for the KBTC family as they serve our Father and minister during this time.

I know I often say that we are thankful for your prayer support, but please know that we do depend upon your prayer support and value the many ways you strengthen and encourage us. BERT YATES

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* Latest raids on Kenyan Coast - http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/06/us-kenya-attacks-idUSKBN0FB05R20140706
**Kenya Baptist Theological College Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/KenyaBaptistTheologicalCollege
Lots of great stories shared this past week in the Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples, which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607.

And the finale of last Sunday's celebration - a "Piga picha, Mama" request
as we left! The youngest was too busy eating her chapati to pose!

July 6, 2014

Posted on Facebook last week by worker: “Love ALL the LIKES on my new elephant FB cover and profile picture, but what I really want is lots of people viewing / hitting LIKE on the SSAPeoples* page! Lots more people are needed to LIKE/ SHARE that page so even more people can be nudged to join God's work in Africa via praying, giving and serving!” RESPONSE: 86 new LIKES on the page - passing 1000 LIKEs! THANK YOU!!!
* https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607

July 2, 2014

One bird flew away before I could grab my camera!

A symphony is playing outside the window beside my desk and it is very, very difficult to stay focused on my computer screen. During yesterday’s mid-day symphony, I quit working and looked outside, spotting three very different performers beside the window harmoniously chirping away!

A photo of a unique 'rider' on a motorcycle
that I did capture!

One of the joys of life in Africa is constantly seeing God’s beautiful creations – which makes me thankful that my job as the Prayer Networker for Sub-Saharan African Peoples gives me an excuse to take lots of photos as words alone cannot describe the exquisite and unique views and experiences we encounter. BUT I’m constantly not able to capture desired views including a photo this week of a goat sitting on the back of a moving motorcycle, his front legs around the driver’s neck and his head bobbing as he took in the view! Needless to say, ‘boredom’ is never one of our reactions to life in Africa!

Need a new bed frame delivered?
Hire a motorcycle!

Another reason we are never bored is that God is at work in Africa and it is truly amazing to view what He is doing. Jack continues to see how God is at work at the Kenya Baptist Theological College and in the lives of the students, especially as they raise fees. God also continues to lead the right people to KBTC when there is a need. Our daughter, Jessie, is with us for the summer and is fitting her talents with the needs of the college by working in the library assisting the Librarian, Evelynne. Hopefully Jessie, who has worked at Wake Forest University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary libraries, will give us good advice on securing a software program to help us manage the 60,000 books.

This photo was captured through a very dusty
car window, but it is worthy of sharing!

The college is being revived, but there is still so much to be done, including putting a roof on one building, paying bills from past years, and on and on. Yet, Jack is becoming more and more aware that the revival/ restoration is not happening because of his actions or the action of others, but because he and others are trusting and obeying God and then depending upon God to act – WHICH GOD IS DOING!

Signs spotted along the way in Africa
are also worthy of capturing as a photo!

Another joy of my job is reading the incredible stories of our workers throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and sharing these stories with others, nudging them to prayer, giving and serving. Stories such as that of a worker who is thankful for those who prepare BGR Bucket Project Hospice Kits as these allow him to share our Father’s story with those who are dying “who do not know the HEALER” (June 27).

We took a mini-vacation this past
weekend at the foot of Mount Kenya -
Jack loved having devotions outside!

Also shared this week was the story of boys and young men of the Jola-Ejamet People (West Africa), “preparing for a once-in-30-year ceremony… (who) came to see the JESUS Film… watching Jesus speak their language.” The result: Prayer is needed for these boys and young men, one… whom prayed… to receive Christ” (June 30). Another story shared how a prayer request for “well behaved internet” was answered as missionaries met their newborn grandchild via SKYPE (June 29)!

For a view of all these and other great stories of how God is at work and how you can join in His work via prayer, giving and serving, check out this past week’s posts at Sub-Saharan African Peoples on Facebook . If you are not on Facebook, simply pay no attention to the SIGN UP/LOG IN bit and skim on down the page! If you are on Facebook, please hit the LIKE button for the page to the left of the words, Sub-Saharan African Peoples. The more people who LIKE the page, the more times it appears on Facebook, which allows even more people to be nudged to join in our Father’s work in His Harvest Field!

Bert's new FB Cover photo - captured this past weekend at
Sweetwaters Tented Camp. I'll share more photos in coming weeks!

Thanks again for the ways you join us in God’s exciting and never boring work as you pray for us, give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program and serve with us. BERT
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Mission’s Toolbox: Did you know that “Millions of Muslims across Africa observe Ramadan, which provides a unique opportunity for God to draw them to the Gospel” this month? Do you know how to pray for those observing Ramadan this month? Check out the newest tool added to the blog, Mission’s Toolbox - Ramadan in Africa* at http://missionstoolbox.blogspot.com/2014/07/ramadan-in-africa.html.

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

One last photo this week - one of the sunrises
viewed during our mini-vacation.