August 29, 2012

I spend hours each day on the computer and the internet, thus after completing needed work, I rarely read the internet articles which flash across my screen. But last week I read one with guidance for handling fridge items after electricity outages.  Their #1 rule: Throw out most of the food in a fridge after more than two hours of no electricity!

My reaction was disbelief and laughter!  Following this rule would require restocking our fridge once or more times weekly!  At our house when the electricity returns (often hours and hours later) and you reopen the fridge, you only throw out food which feels ‘warm’!  Our #1 rule: Never, never, never open the fridge when the electricity is out!  I once visited a friend with young kids who kept duct tape on the fridge ready to tape the door shut during outages!

Articles such as this remind us that we do live a different life from friends and family in the States.  It is important for us to feel at home, to be comfortable in our routines, but we do need reminders to take extra caution and care OR I should say, sometimes we need to remember that the needed caution and care can become ROUTINE and we should constantly reevaluate our alertness and preparation!

Most missionaries don’t include in newsletters that current work included completing contingency plans, but most of us do this at least yearly, not just because our bosses ask for this, but because we know it is wise to pre-think what do to if we are kidnapped, hijacked, robbed or caught in riots, etc.  In East Africa, this is becoming more and more necessary, yet in many other places where missionaries serve this has been and is even more of a necessity!

Example – As friends in the States prepare for presidential elections, I doubt that they stock-up on cooking gas and tinned/ packed foods which do not require refrigeration.  Elections are scheduled for next March in Kenya and we are already stocking-up on long-life milk, packaged and canned vegetables/ fruits/ meats (which we rarely use), cooking gas, etc., in case there are riots and chaos which limit our routines. But to be honest, we usually keep a small ‘store’ of these things as one never knows when problems might arise – as happened this week in Mombasa, our home years ago.  This island city on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast is usually a very laid-back place, but after the murder of a suspected terrorist last Monday, there has been ongoing unrest, including destruction and more deaths.*

But, as a friend shared this week, “I don’t want you to worry about us.”  We are OK.  Jack got a good report from the surgeon in South Africa last week and can now go another three years before his shoulder replacement is checked again.  He is tiring as he continues teaching this session at our seminary from 7:30 till 4 each day, but he is truly enjoying teaching “Principles of Teaching” to a new class of 21 incredibly talented and dedicated young men and women.  I am enjoying ‘camping-out’ in our little mountain-top teacher’s cottage at our seminary and viewing and hearing lots of birds as I work, but I’m very ready to return home Friday afternoon and unpack our suitcases for a few weeks!

We did receive a special ‘perk’ last week!  Due to security issues, I shop more often these days in the out-of-the-way stores rather than the big malls, but I did visit a grocery store in a big mall last week when I learned they had my favorite soda as well as Jack’s!  So, our cupboards at the moment also hold cans of Diet Caffeine Free Dr Pepper and A&W Root Beer!

How can you join us in prayer this week?  Pray for peace and safety in our world.  Pray for open hearts and ears among those affected in the Mombasa situation and other places of unrest and that true communication and solving of problems will occur.  Pray that Believers will be strong ambassadors of their Father‘s love and peace as they react/respond to situations and individuals.  Pray for calm in the hearts of those living in the area, especially wisdom for parents as they help their kids make necessary adjustments.  BERT YATES

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* “Kenya cleric Rogo death: Grenade kills Mombasa policeman” – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19396421

Many of the photos were taken during last Sunday’s kid-led service  at our church Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road. For a mini-sermon/challenge video, “Who is Imitating/Watching You?” made last Sunday at Parklands Baptist/ Mombasa Road, go to https://plus.google.com/photos/105343089902291545775/albums/5781271000965291889 -   Make sure you watch the little kid in the centre!

August 25th Nudge from East Africa

What does it require to be witnesses of our Saviour “to the ends of the earth?” (Acts 1:8 NIV)  One couple doing research among the Unreached People of South Sudan are learning that it takes waiting days for wet roads to dry, driving through rivers, getting totally and completely stuck, walking for miles in the dark, thumbing a ride on a truck with suspension problems (forget that, what suspensions?) on roads requiring a new word to describe the extreme of bumpiness, while being hit by a metal object and discovering it is a AK47, which for the uninformed is a really big gun!  For more of this story, go to: http://exploringtheland.blogspot.com/
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To view daily Prayer/What God Is Doing Nudges from East Africa, go to: http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

August 22, 2012

“The only thing that counts is…”  I wouldn’t say that Paul’s words in Galatians 5:6 haunted me after I read it during my devotions last week, but the words definitely became alive and active, challenging me to apply this to my life, to my work.  I’m sure one reason is that I’m seeking to find a new balance in my work as I respond to a request to assist our affinity media team.  But, I have found in the last few days, that as I determine what I do, how I plan my time, “The only thing that counts” is a valuable guide!   

I also thought of this as someone commented that I was rather ‘passionate’ about my work.  I am, but I believe without a doubt that this is another guide which the Holy Spirit gives us – Passion!  I know that Jack and I are the happiest when we are busy doing work that we are passionate about, probably because it is the work God has called us to do.

For me, that is using media – internet media these days – to share what God is doing in our part of the world and how others can join in His work by coming as short or long term staff, providing the needed finances, and by praying.  Pray for God’s guidance in ‘what really counts’ as I reorganize my work in the coming weeks, subtract some things and add other work. Pray also that by sharing the stories of our co-workers, they will receive encouragement and strengthening.

You can also likely guess Jack’s passion – Teaching!  As I type he is teaching another day of three/two hour classes at our seminary.  This week he began teaching ‘Principles of Teaching’ to one of the newer classes of the seminary.  As he returns between classes to the cottage where we are staying during this three week session, though his level of being tired grows after each class, his excitement also increases! I often ask him after a class, “What excited you during this class period?”  Here are a few of his answers in the last two weeks:

- “They gave their testimonies today.  I’m not sure if they were more excited about the opportunity to share or from hearing the testimonies of others.  All Believers should do this more often!”

- “I just love teaching!  I love hearing of fruit produced, seeing maturity in action or experiencing a student’s epiphany!”

- “It thrills me to hear a student share, repeat or use a lesson I taught.”

- “I enjoy the students.  I enjoy our discussions.  Several thanked me today for solving a great riddle in their lives or churches.”

- “They got excited this morning as I taught about teaching people with learning disabilities.  It was really cold (high 50’s in the early morning), but they were following what I taught.  For some, it was like I was ‘connecting dots’ in their past experiences as students or while relating to friends, family and others in their lives and ministry.”

- “I loved today how they responded by saying, ‘I’ve never heard this before, but it explains things.’”

Jack also enjoys teaching in a different way, such as he did last Sunday when he was asked to speka during the men’s Sunday at our church, Parklands Baptist Church/Mombasa Road.  His theme, “Be strong and courageous,” based on Matthew 10:9-20, provided a great opportunity to challenge Believers to go out as our Saviour taught us to do, to share His Good News and obey His commands in Matthew 28:19-20 of going, making disciples, baptizing and teaching – which includes doing all of this with younger generations who will continue doing all these things!

Jack’s prayer needs this week is for a safe and good two day trip to South Africa where he to have a check-up with the doctor who did his shoulder replacement a few years ago.  Pray also for strength and wisdom as he completes this ‘session’ of teaching with another marathon of teaching from 7:30 till 4 next Monday through Friday.   

Now for praises.  My internet strength has been adequate, but not great during the last few days, but things improved this morning and I was able to download a new video captured last week, “Lessons from a Bird” (link below).  Another praise is that Jack had a great birthday last Saturday, with his celebrating continuing through Sunday thanks to all his friends at church, and though we celebrated a ‘quiet’ 41^st anniversary this week at our temporary home at the seminary, it was a great day!  Thanks for all the ways you encourage and support us as we seek to encourage and support East African Believers! BERT YATES

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To view one part of my work, the daily Prayer/ What God is Doing in East Africa Nudges at http://easternafrica2012prayernudges.blogspot.com/

 "Lessons from a Bird"  - “Watching and listening to this bird outside my window as I worked at a teacher's cottage at the Kenya Baptist Theological College, I realized that Believers who desire to share their Father's love and salvation can learn much from this bird. You can't just talk or preach! You must know that you are truly communicating - which means talking WITH others - listening to them, knowing what they are hearing and responding to them. We must make certain that others are truly understanding and hearing our Good News not only with their ears, but more importantly with their hearts!”.  The video is found at https://plus.google.com/photos/105343089902291545775/albums/5779412293053602977