Patience, Tool Boxes and "A Ray of Hope"

Time for a little honesty – One of the reasons that I accepted the job of prayer advocate for the Central Corridor Cluster (Kenya) was my lack of patience. It gave me the opportunity to respond to the comment that I have heard too many prayer supporters voice during my stateside assignments (furloughs): “I want to pray for you, but I don’t always know how to pray.” I hope I never showed anyone just how much this comment irritated me! My lack of patience always led me to think: “They have a newspaper and TV/radio news. They have the Bible. Why don’t they know how to pray for us?”

I am sharing all of this to help you understand why I send prayer updates to you. Kenya and Kenyan Baptists need your prayers and I want you praying specifically and purposefully because our heavenly Father hears our prayers and He responds – as I will prove in a moment. I also send prayer items to educate you. I know there are many prayer items that cannot be shared with you due to time and because of security restrictions in many places of the world. My goal is to open your eyes, ears and hearts so that when you hear future bits of news and information about Kenya and other places, your prayer tool box will be ready – You will know how to pray when needed without detailed directions and where to find more information to guide your prayers. I have recently added a new tool to my box that I think you could also develop. As I read through the Bible, I’m keeping a list verses that I can later claim to strengthen and guide my prayers.

Now for the example of how God is answering your prayers. As I was typing I heard yelling from the flower vendors beside our house. Earlier this week a report from the national meteorological department stated that Kenya should expect no rain for at least two months. Like others in Kenya, I’ve learned that you should know what this office says AND be prepared for the opposite. This is what happened this morning! It was raining – not the sprinkling variety, but a downpour that led to the shouts of joy from the flower vendors! And the rains are not only in Nairobi. “RAY OF HOPE: Relief as rain soaks and region” in today’s Daily Nation (1/16/09, p.38) shares that “Light rains caused excitement among residents of Nyeri and parts of Laikipia districts which have been experiencing prolonged drought. The showers … were greeted with cheers in … areas … facing severe famine … particularly the pastoralists, were very hopeful.” As the article says, “weather experts say it is not time to celebrate,” but those with a bit of refreshed pastures for their animals and the schools with a tad more water in their catchment systems are thankful for even a little. These people would say that your past prayers for the drought situation in Kenya are being answered! And I say: “Thank you for praying for Kenya and for others places and people in our world. Your prayers are making a difference!” Bert Yates