others to lead the 2nd Timothy Discipleship training” of the Baptist Convention of Kenya/LifeWay Partnership in the Machakos (traditionally Kikamba People) and Kajiado (Maasai) churches. Prayers were answered as the volunteers ended their time teaching trainers of discipleship with high expectations of multiplication. Praise God for the pastors and church leaders who said, “I can do this.”Your prayers were answered for our weekend trip to Tumaini (Hope) Baptist Church
in Kitale for a Church Planting seminar. After praying as he greeted the pastors and church leaders, Jack changed his teaching plans and he was “able to share his love for church planting in a way that we believe will awaken a new desire in that area for sharing our Father’s love and salvation.” We experienced joy again as we met with the leaders of the three associations represented at the meeting and heard: “This is easy. We can do this.” Pray that the 75+ men and women – from many people groups – at the training will boldly share their Saviour’s love and salvation as they entrust all 
they have heard to other reliable men and women who are also teach others (2 Timothy 2:2) and live out the Great Commission. Thank you also for praying that “I would have an open heart, mind, eyes and ears as I absorbed all that we experienced last weekend.” I returned home with more ideas than I can process, so pray that I will use my time wisely and totally depend on God’s guidance as I share how He is at work along Kenya’s Ugandan border.
We truly needed your prayers “for safe travel – it WAS a long trip.” One third of the seven hour trip was on newly paved great roads and the rest were incredibly horrible!
Many stretches are under construction, so we were on dirt roads – remember we are in the midst of a drought. Walls of dust clouds followed the 18 wheel trucks pulling double loads to Uganda and other parts of Africa, which made passing risky, but swallowing their dust was also a risk! Other large sections need rebuilding with very deep ripples caused by the overloaded trucks OR islands of old paving competing with cavernous potholes! The further northwest we moved, cars were increasingly outnumbered by bicycles and motorcycles, often carrying one or more paying riders, plus we were sharing the road with cows, goats, sheep, chickens, zebra, warthogs and baboons – yes, we had to swerve/stop at least 
once for each of these, as well as for broken down/accident vehicles and bad drivers!The travel led to many emotions, but heartbreak came from viewing the signs of drought including people hauling water. There were signs of hope as we passed miles of tilled fields awaiting planting and rains. There was deeper heartbreak as we passed hundreds of tents still housing families displaced during last year’s post-election chaos. As you join us in praying for rain, pray also for safety for these “forgotten” people who will face further discomfort and illnesses when the rains come.
Viewing the many burned/destroyed houses was also painful, but most heartbreaking was passing an empty hillside which before elections housed hundreds
of simple homes and shops. The church that Jack helped Kenyan Baptists begin in this village during our time in Nakuru is also gone. A praise is that recently Jack learned that some of the fleeing pastors moved to a place east of Nakuru and they have begun many new churches there – a reminder of the new churches begun when early Christians were dispersed due to persecution.Thank you once again for your prayers and for you support through Lottie Moon/Cooperative Program which allows us to be in part of God’s work in Kenya. Bert Yates
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Words in blue are from last week’s update (with grammatical changes) to remind you of past prayer requests and the words in red are the new prayer items.
