April 29, 2009

More medical tests (a weird one for Bert and an uncomfortable one for Jack); dealing with a difficult issue (not solved, but...); meetings (including one with a friend who is covering my work during my absence – a true praise!); cleaning muddy shoes (a praise/continued prayer item as it rained heavily for two days, but has stopped once again!); staying home more than usual as we awaited news from the States (which finally came Friday when Isabella arrived – Thanks for praying, Mom Jenny, Dad and baby are all doing great – pictures will be sent of her in our arms!), collecting a new African shirt for Jack and dress for Bert (and no, they aren’t just for our Stateside Leave show-and-tell sessions, we wear them in Kenya!); Jack answering umpteen phone calls and replying, “No, it is too late. I can’t do it this week, call me in September!”; preparing our home for use by other missionaries during our absence; eating weird meals as we clean out the fridge/cupboard – these are just a few of the things that kept us busy this past week. Today includes sending this prayer update (Bert), collecting our airline tickets (Jack), placing all the items stacked around the house into our suitcases, eating more odd meals, and trying to stay sane!

As always, the devil tries extra hard to discourage us as we prepare for a leave, but your prayers got us through last week! Yes, we are eager to arrive in the States for four months, but we are also eager to return to new opportunities of involvement in our Father’s work in East Africa. As many of you know, the IMB is in the midst of a re-organization. We learned yesterday that Jack will be continuing with his assignment as a trainer with the Church Planting Movement. There will be some changes, but most are based on adjustments as the needs of the established Baptist work changes. Those above us are still deciding how to handle prayer advocacy in our new set-up, so I will not know my assignment until later. I love working full-time as a prayer advocate and would enjoy continuing to develop this position, but I am confident that I will find plenty to do. Pray for patience as I wait.

It may be two weeks before I sent the next update as we greet family (including meeting our granddaughter and an important woman in our son’s life – she has already passed the sibling test, the most important test in our family), unpack suitcases (the packing/unpacking is the part I hate most about being a missionary), and set up internet, etc. Do pray for safety as we begin traveling tomorrow (Thursday around mid-night) and strength as we get settled. Pray also for wisdom and sensitivity to God’s will as we set our schedule for family and friends/work/rest during our short stay. We definitely want it to be God’s plan for our time. Pray also that we will clearly share how God is at work in East Africa and how others can join us in the harvest!

Thank you once again for being our prayer supporters. We definitely depend upon your involvement in God’s work in East Africa! Bert Yates

April 21, 2009

A few minutes ago as we returned from yet another step in our pre-leave physicals, I made two decisions: First to write our update a day early as there is another test in the morning. The second decision: When my current cell phone dies, I must upgrade to a camera phone. This is not a vanity issue or a desire for newer technology – it is my desire to share incredible scenes from our daily lives that cannot be fully shared with words. But as my otherwise adequate cell phone is camera-less, I will rely upon words to share today’s bit of life in Africa.

As we drove past our regional office on a winding well-used city road, we realized that the expected pot-holed road had just been repaved. THEN we came around a curve and spotted an expected scene with an unexpected twist: Ahead was a flagman alerting drivers of the road crew/equipment ahead. At the head of the line awaiting the all-clear flag to use the open lane . . . . . was two young Maasai men with their herd of scrawny cows and sheep – not on a truck, but on foot searching for green pastures or a slaughter house!! As they took the entire open lane, we had to follow patiently behind the herd when we were allowed to move. As we’ve often said: Life in Kenya comes with problems, but we cannot honestly ever say, “We are bored!”

Things became drier after I wrote last week, but we have had heavy rains the last two nights and other parts of the country are reporting rains. Weather experts predict that although there is flooding in western Kenya, this will be the 5th failed rainy season and the number of Kenyans starving will rise above the current 10 million.* So through May, please continue praying that the rains will be adequate and farmers and herders will make the required profits to support their families. Pray also that food will be available/affordable to all Kenyans – not just the bodies of flying ants, a free delicacy that is a highlight of the rainy season for many!

Thank you for praying for last week’s AGM (Annual General Meeting) of the Baptist Convention of Kenya. The meetings went well and the leaders and churches are growing in their desire and ability to share our Saviour’s Good News. Continue praying for Jack as he relates to our leaders and pastors – pray that he will be wise in knowing when/how to speak/act and when to “take a backseat.” Pray for me also as I make the needed decisions/plans related to my work during our four month stateside assignment (furlough). Jack and I are eager for the opportunities to share how God is at work in Kenya and enlist your support, yet we need a true break from the stresses of Kenya. I especially need wisdom in how to balance enlisting prayer support and getting a needed time of refreshment!

Thank you for praying for our daughter Jenny, our Mom-to-be. After a test tomorrow, the doctor will decide whether to speed up the little one’s arrival. Pray for wise decisions by the doctor and for good health for Mom, baby and Daddy Aaron. Pray also for good communication with the grandparents-to-be who will be in the States in less than two weeks! Bert Yates
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* Omba4Kenya: “Poor Rains to Persist” – http://omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2009/04/poor-rains-to-persist.html

April 15, 2009

It’s another beautiful sunny day in Nairobi, which is good, but not good as the needed rains are still “a-comin’ and a-goin’”. Please continue praying that the rains will be adequate and farmers and herders will make the required profits to support their families. Pray also that food will available/affordable to all Kenyans.

The Alabama, the ship carrying relief food, did arrive safely at the port in Mombasa, so now prayers are needed for speedy clearance and delivery of the containers on the ship. Continued prayer is also needed for relief agencies and Kenya’s government leaders as they meet the short and long term needs of the hungry in Kenya. Pray that Christians will be strong and able ambassadors of our Father’s love and salvation as we seek His guidance in responding to the needs.

To be honest, we did pray for clear skies during lunch on Sunday. One of our personal ministries has always been to help other missionaries, especially new families, have a touch of their American culture on holidays. Our guests this past Sunday were: the three other IMB missionaries in Kenya with over 25 years of service; one of our adult missionary kids, Robin Curp Stow, who serves in Kenya with her husband and four kids; as well as a newly appointed couple who arrived in Kenya with their five kids on Good Friday. With nine kids hoping to find Easter eggs, you can understand why we were thankful for clear skies during the hunt for 250+ eggs! And yes, we are still missing a few eggs – Uncle Jack, Uncle Gene R, and Aunt Janet McDowell hid a few a little too well!

It is AGM (Annual General Meeting) time for the Baptist Convention of Kenya, so today Jack is at the first of three days of meetings. Pray for good meetings that strengthen and encourage our Baptist leaders and churches. Pray that a true revival will begin in our churches that will lead to a renewed desire to share our Saviour’s Good News. Pray for Jack as he relates to our leaders and pastors – pray that he will be wise in knowing when to speak/act and when to “take a backseat.”

Our daughter Jenny, our mom-to-be, was told yesterday that her doctor may help our first grandchild arrive next week rather than hoping for the expected after May 1st arrival – the day we arrive for our four month leave! Our prayer request is first for a safe delivery for Mom and baby; our and Jenny’s second request is that the little one will be patient and have a May rather than April birth date!

Do continue praying for Jack and me as we prepare for leave. There is always much to be done to be away from our work/home – from packing our suitcases to working with those who will cover our work, to adding a better lock – which is being done at this very moment – on the door of the bedroom which is my office and will be the store-room for some personal items during our leave. Pray for us also as we plan our time in the States – we truly want it to be God’s plan for us. Bert Yates
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For a view of Easter Sunday in Samburu Land, go to: http://omba4kenya.blogspot.com/2009/04/praising-god-on-easter-sunday-in.html