I eagerly await the opportunity to read the our local newspaper each morning, but it often results in frustration and disappointment, UNTIL I remember that I can do something – I can pray and I can enlist other prayer supporters for my concerns for Kenya. The titles of the three articles in today’s Daily Nation (p.4) include many discouraging words: “Flooding fears”, “displaced”, “plea for more security”. The unifying subject: KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education).
The annual KCPE exam begins today with the practice tests, followed by exams tomorrow (Tuesday) through Thursday. Today’s Daily Nation lead editorial says, “Starting tomorrow, 727,000 candidates will sit the all-important Standard Eight examinations, knowing well their academic future depends on how well they perform ... the only opportunity for the pupils to be assessed on what they have been taught and prepared for over the past eight years ... to determine which of the 6,000 secondary schools would admit them for Form One in January ... knowing that less than half of them would find secondary school places.”
Our worship service yesterday included a special prayer time for the Standard Eight children taking the exams this week. The kids were in the Youth Worship Service, so their parents stood as our congregation claimed Isaiah 26:3-4 for the test-takers. Please do pray for “perfect peace” for the children taking this critical exam. Please join Kenyan Baptists/Christians in praying for good health and a lack of stresses for the students, especially those living in parts of Kenya were the drought has been followed by flooding rains, the children who are still displaced as a result of the post-election crisis of 2008, the students who live in the northern parts of Kenya where banditry and 
raids are rampant, and the students who will take the test hungry due to the recent drought. Pray also that innocent students will not be punished due to others in their schools cheating on the exam.
Ngina, on the right, is a Baptist kid. When asked how we can pray for her and her friends, she answered: “That God will give me heavenly wisdom.” As I think of Ngina and her Christian friends, I do not get discouraged or frustrated or think of negative words, instead I get excited as I imagine how she and her classmates will mature in coming years and find opportunities as educated young men and women to share their Father’s love and salvation within their country, continent and world! Bert Yates
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KCPE EXAMS, Daily Nation, Nov 9, 2009
“Flooding fears as exams start” (p.4) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/683654/-/uomjkv/-/index.html
“Displaced students may miss test” (p.4) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/683656/-/uomjkx/-/index.html
“Candidates’ families in plea for more security” (p.4) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/683658/-/uomjl0/-/index.html
EDITORIAL, “We wish candidates success in the exams” (p.12) – http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Editorial/-/440804/683694/-/ph79twz/-/index.html
Kenyan Kids in Need of Prayer
Feeding the Maasai
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reaping incredible benefits; a thank you note; news that includes happy/good bits; a kaleidoscope of emotions and colours from another culture captured in pictures; or simply a “great read” to include in your summer reading program – The following newsletters (begins with April update) from Bob and Nancy Calvert, IMB missionaries with the Maasai People, will provide all of these as you read of how they minister to Kenyans who are hungry due to the ongoing famine in Kenya.These are the beginning words of the new blog that I just* completed. A friend wrote last week to say that there had been a few more showers after we left for our Stateside
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Assignment in late April, but the rains in Kenya are over for another season and once again, the rains were insufficient in most of the country – which means the drought is continuing – which means prayer is a continuing need for the famine situation. Please take time this week to go to “Feeding the Maasai” at http://imbmaasai.blogspot.com/ . I ask also that you take time, not just once, but at least daily to pray that the Maasai and other people of Kenya will receive both physical and spiritual nourishment. Pray that “They will know that He is the Lord” (Ezekiel 6:14). Bert Yates--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Explanation of why people from Kenya often use the word JUST: Kiswahili has a “present” past tense – expressing that something has “just” occurred rather than occurring in past hours, days, etc. Therefore the logical way to say this is to add the word “just” when translating Kiswahili into English. Good or bad, this becomes a part of our spoken English even when we are only using English! So … please take time right now to check out: “Feeding the Maasai” so that you can say: “I have JUST read about how I’m a part of ministering the Maasai!”
"Poor Rains to Persist"
Persistence is usually a good quality, but not when it refers to drought. Today’s Daily Nation reports: “‘Poor rains to persist, say experts’* … More people will be famished and increase the hungry to more than 10m Kenyans … although April is the rainfall peak period for the March to May long rains season, Nairobi and most parts of the country will continue to receive deficient rainfall … The forecast spells doom for farmers, .jpg)
who have received poor rains in the last four consecutive farming seasons. Pastoralists, whose animals have been dying in their hundreds due to lack of water and pasture, will also be devastated.”
The “GLOOMY OUTLOOK” of this article continues as it reports that the drought will also lead to increased charges for fresh produce and electricity (“thermal power … is more expensive), water rationing to homes, as well as outbreaks of illnesses such as cholera due to the resulting poor sanitation.
In a strange twist of fate, but a common one in Africa, there are some parts of the country receiving rain, but not relief: “the western parts of the country … are receiving enhanced rainfall, which has resulted in flooding.”.jpg)
Continue praying for the people of Kenya, both those facing drought and those facing flooding. Pray for farmers receiving their fourth season of insufficient rains. Pray for pastoralists who are watching their animals and their livelihoods die. Pray for those advising “farmers on the best agricultural practices … as well as the appropriate crops suited for their respective areas.” Pray that “Contingency measures … be put in place to avoid any loss of lives and property” in the flood areas. Pray for good health and quality medical care for those who have no access to clean water due to drought or floods. Pray for those with no or little income as the costs of food rise due to the drought and failed crops in flooded areas. Continue praying for those planning relief efforts. Pray that government officials will truly look 
beyond their differences** and respond speedily to the needs of their people. Pray for wisdom and strength as they plan and deliver food – there are limited resources and choosing the most needy recipients and getting the food is often difficult. Pray that through all of this, God’s children will be strong ambassadors of His love and salvation as they relate to those who are physically and spiritually hungry and thirsty, Bert Yates
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(Pictures of the Samburu taken by the Daniels - www.samburuofkenya.org/blog )
* “Poor rains to persist, say experts” (Daily Nation, 4/17/09, p. 9) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/561032/-/u4a7nl/-/index.html
** “A ceasefire, for now” (Daily Nation, 4/17/09, pp.1,2) – http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/561038/-/u4a7nr/-/index.html
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