April 30, 2014

Enjoying the views of Azalea while on Stateside!

Today’s Yates/ IMB/ Kenya & SSAP update has two parts. The first is a prayer item some may find too horrible to read; the second is personal good news. I've debated which to share first as you may decide to stop reading the first agonizing story, but we have a new prayer request and as committed prayers, we and others need you to read both stories.

PRAYER NEED #1: “WHY HAVE WE HEARD NOTHING IN THE AMERICAN NEWS ABOUT THIS????” This comment was added to last Saturday’s (April 26th) Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples of a post sharing more on the heartbreaking news of the abduction of over 200 Nigeria schoolgirls on April 14th. I did not try to answer her question as it was also one of my questions.

This photo of "Little children in Nigeria," taken years ago at a Baptist
Theological Seminary, was chosen for use in the April 26th
Nudge to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples to catch your
attention before sharing a heartbreaking story in need of prayer... 

After a bit of research, I now know that although I had also missed this for several days, it was reported on the ABC news on April 16th. And to be honest, although it did take hours to compose this nudge, it had taken me days to decide how to best share this story as I could not begin to imagine the horror and fear felt by the families of these girls and I hoped that the story was not fully true.

A photo taken in 2012 that is a reminder of a story
I watched unfold while visiting in a slum -
another story which is difficult to put into words.

But the question from a Baptist woman is one that is often asked by missionaries as heartbreaking incidents occur in their countries, among their peoples, and it often does not become known through news channels. So why am I sharing this today? Because even though I know from experience that often a local country can limit the news shared internationally, I want to help you know how to learn the news of the country that has touched your heart, the peoples which God has led to your prayer list.

Reading the news in Kenya - the photo used
with this week's post at Missions Toolbox.

So what can you do to learn of news which will nudge you to prayer which may not be available on your usual sources of news? Search the internet at least once each week for the country, the people that God has led you to support in prayer. To get you started, today’s new post at MISSIONS TOOLBOX shares links to several sites sharing current news from Africa. To start you on your search, you can find late news about the Nigerian schoolgirls at “Nigerian Girls Abduction.”

PRAYER NEED #2: We have tickets and will be in Nairobi two weeks from today! Yes, we will miss our family and friends in the US, but we are so eager to get back to Africa and back to our work there! Yes, we are returning to a city and country that has problems, but we continue to be certain that we are in God’s will and doing what He has called us to do. A good summary of the current situation in Kenya and additional nudges to prayer for us and the country and peoples of Kenya can be found in “Bags of mixed fortune in new scorecard.”

Still on Bert's to-do list:  Get a good photo of my
favourite bird, a cardinal!

Please join us in praying that we will use our time wisely and be stress-free as we complete our to-do lists and fill-up our suitcases and YES, this could be defined as praying for miracles. Please also begin praying for safe and on-time flights, that our jet-lag will be limited and we can quickly readjust to life and the work God has called us to do in Kenya. BERT

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Yates/IMB/Kenya&SSAP – http://bertandjackyates.blogspot.com/

Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sub-Saharan-African-Peoples/100173880060607

Missions Toolbox – http://missionstoolbox.blogspot.com/

Nigerian Girls Abduction (BBC Africa) – http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27216931

“Bags of mixed fortune in new scorecard” – http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Terror-attacks-hurt-growth-but-700000-jobs-created/-/996/2298344/-/i1ykh2z/-/index.html

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Why we wanted to be on Stateside Assignment through
April...to celebrate our granddaughter's 5th birthday,
which included helping her Mommy, Jennifer, and her
Aunt Jessica decorate her cake...

...which included a bit of learning how to decorate
the bits cut off and fun mixing and tasting the colours!

The cowgirl cake turned out great and
the new adventure of riding a horse at
the party with her friends was lots of fun!

April 23, 2014

Taking a break this week!  But, don’t stop praying for us as we work towards returning to Kenya in mid-May.  Join us in praying that we will continue to be alert to and prepared for every opportunity to share how God is at work at the Kenya Baptist Theological College and among Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  For new stories and prayer items, take a few minutes to CLICK the above tabs for Missions Toolbox, Sub-Saharan African Peoples and Kenya Baptist Theological College .

Sneak preview of  a story of how missionaries
caused a stampede - one of the many stories
and bits of information shared in the above tabs!

April 16, 2014

“Whoo…me?” was the theme for the GA Mother/ Daughter over-night at Camp Mundo Vista I had the joy of attending last week-end as Jack ‘worked’ across the road at an RA Father/ Son overnight at Camp CaRAway. It is always energizing to be around families with hearts for being on mission with our Father.  It was also a good reminder that, like our own experiences, the seeds for answering God’s calls, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” often begins in early missions’ programs. 

Chapel time last Friday evening at the Mother/Daugther GA overnight.

There is also another special reason Jack and I always enjoy visiting Camp Mundo Vista. In case you haven’t heard our story, I served as a counselor during the summer of 1969 when the camp was first opened.  North Carolina WMU held an open house before the campers arrived and the Camp CaRAway staff was invited.  As their lifeguard walked in and spotted the refreshment table, he told a friend, “I’m going to marry the girl serving the punch!” NO, he had not yet talked with the punch server or even knew her name.  YES, Jack was the lifeguard that summer at CaRAway and I was the punch server! I’ve often reminded him that it was wise to not announce his plans to me until months later!

One of the many views we are loving while
travelling recently - blooming Dogwood trees.

Another reminder I often make, but I want to assure you is from our hearts, is that we are very thankful for your prayer support.  We are especially thankful for your prayers for safety as we’ve traveled and continue traveling during our time in the States, which will include a very special Easter weekend with our kids at the coast.  We also want to thank you for praying for us as we speak.  God is opening doors for us to meet people and churches who want to know more of how they can join in His work at the Kenya Baptist Theological College and among Sub-Saharan African Peoples.

And for my African friends - a view of the pink dogwoods.
More shared at the end of the post.

Our new prayer item is for our plans for returning to Kenya, hopefully in early May.  Pray that all the needed plans and preparations will be completed swiftly so that we can return to the work that we are still confident God has called us to go and to do.  Pray also that we will be patient as we wait and continue being a good witness of all we’ve seen God do in His Harvest field.

April 11th Nudge to Action for SSAPeoples.  

I want to encourage you this week to take a few minutes to view recent Nudges to Action for Sub-Saharan African Peoples.  Nudges shared this past week include “A story of miracles,” a question for “those who… have received a faith as precious as ours” (2 Peter 1:1), and the “testimony of a man from West Africa who began his journey of following and obeying Jesus after hearing the story of Creation to Christ in his own language.” Remember that even if you are not a member of Facebook, you can easily view these Nudges, which will share ‘Easter Special stories of New Life’ this next week.  BERT

--- NEW additions to the MISSIONS TOOLBOX ---

Would you like to connect or help your church or mission’s group connect in a special way with Unreached Peoples in West Africa?  Would you like to hear the Bible read in their languages?  Would you like to listen and/or hear the JESUS Film, testimonies and more in their heart language?

Then you will want to visit Welcome Africans – a site that can strengthen your prayers for the Unreached Peoples of West Africa – a site you can experience which is “dedicated to the Glory of God” and designed to help West “experience God’s pardon, peace, and blessings” in their lives. (http://bienvenueafricains.com/en/) 

Would you like to be a part of sharing “the Good News with the nations in a profound way?” Then you will want to visit ethnéCITY, a site “designed to assist you by providing resources, networking, and training opportunities to be His Heart, His Hands and His voice to all people groups globally — and to the nations who are literally living next door.” (http://www.ethnecity.com/)

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And more views from the week for my African friends:

Close-up of a white dogwood bloom and...

....the brilliant colour of a red dogwood as it opens.

Spring flowers viewed near the mission house.

More spring flowers above and a view of cherry blossoms
viewed at the church we visited last Sunday below.