Update on Yesterday's Prayer Request

Jack is now at home, still waiting for the kidney stone to complete its journey, but feeling fine. Thanks for your prayers.

In response to the update I sent yesterday, a retired missionary from West Africa wrote and shared one of those “GREAT MISSIONARY STORIES” that missionaries know comes with a little extra meaning! Her husband had a kidney stone attack in Nigeria. She wrote: “I took him to Ogbomosho to the hospital 80 miles away, and by the time we bounced over those rough roads, the stone decided to pass - so it did.”

Years ago, I traveled from our home in Nakuru to Nairobi for surgery for a cyst, but after I arrived the cyst no longer showed up in the new scan. Some would say of this and the man’s healing, “Prayers were answered and a miracle occurred!” Yes, it was a miracle, but not the kind likely prayed for! Trust me – no special medical equipment can zap/rearrange things as well as our bumpy, potholed, nonexistent-in-places roads!

Jack doesn’t want to try this option of healing, so he is staying away from any country roads or even our Nairobi pot-holed ones until he can see a specialist tomorrow – so keep praying! He really needs to travel immediately to check on areas that need relief food! Bert

February 24, 2009

Yes, I am sending this a little early, but there is a good reason – one of those “be careful what you wish” reasons! Jack mentioned on Sunday that he needed a break after a week of meetings last week and he is getting it – unfortunately it is at the hospital as he waits for a kidney stone to finish its journey! He awoke Monday morning feeling great and an hour later the pain hit. Thankfully the doctor was able to see him within two hours and immediately placed him in the hospital. He has been pain-free since the first massive injection, but the stone is being slow, so the doctor kept him overnight again.

Our praise is for the great care that he is receiving! Our Ethiopian doctor is excellent and Jack is receiving expert/quality care at the Aga Khan University Hospital, which is less than 10 minutes from our home – when the traffic is reasonable. Our request is that the stone will move quickly and painlessly and not require further treatment. Jack would also like it all to be finished quickly as he had several trips planned with our convention leadership to check on the needs of those affected by famine in the country.

Do continue praying for those facing starvation in Kenya. Pray also for wisdom and patience as Kenyans deal with reports almost daily of new forms of corruption related to the government. It is a discouraging time, but the good news is that unlike past times, Kenyans are speaking up, asking for change, and many groups – churches, companies and churches – are taking positive/peaceful steps to confront the problems. Pray for us as we seek to do our part in meeting the needs of those that are starving – Jack as he completes forms, works with others planning feeding projects, encourages others, etc, and for me as I try to raise prayer support. Pray for me also as several missionaries and Kenyan Baptists have asked for help this past week in setting up their own prayer support systems. Pray that I will be able to help them build the perfect blog/facebook group/etc. to meet their needs and increase their prayer support.

Thanks for your prayer support – we do depend upon them. Thank you also for giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program. Your support means we don’t have to worry about finances (thankfully medical care is one thing that is less expensive in Kenya compared to the States) or receiving the best care when medical emergencies arise. At this moment we are extremely thankful for this confidence. Bert Yates

For Your Prayer Tool Box: Nairobi in BAPTIST PRESS articles

Whatever your special interest – urban cities, slums, national Baptist churches, reaching business people, sharing God’s love and salvation with people from other countries and faiths, etc – at least one of the articles released yesterday (February 19th) by Baptist Press will motivate you to pray with more nguvu (en-gue-vue / Kiswahili for strength) for Kenya. The pictures and other information found in these articles will broaden your prayers as you learn of many praises and needs. These articles also share how Southern Baptists and Kenyan Baptists are obediently working in the Harvest Field of Kenya.
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KENYA--NAIROBI: Healing Africa's wounded urban heart. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29911
KENYA--Hope flickers in Nairobi's slums. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29912
– This story includes “An audio slideshow about life in Nairobi's ‘trash dump’ slum at: http://www.commissionstories.com/?p=53
KENYA--No throwaway people: Church aids forgotten 'trash dump' community. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29913
KENYA--Penetrating Nairobi's rugged business scene. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29914
KENYA--Nairobi's south Asians respond to prayer. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29915
KENYA--Cruising Nairobi's 'Little Mogadishu.' http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29916 KENYA--WORLDVIEW (Erich Bridges): The next Nairobi. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=29919
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MORE FROM Baptist Press
BPNews -- Witness the difference! http://www.bpnews.net/
BPSports -- Sports with a spiritual attitude! http://www.bpsports.net/
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