Give us each day our daily bread. May 2013 Newsletter

[Yes, again we give thanks for good internet service this day!!]

Give us each day our daily bread. -- Luke 11:3

Praying for daily bread has more meaning for us now.

Partly because Kenyans don’t really eat bread - they love their cornmeal “ugali” - which is more like stiff mashed potatoes, and some days we just crave a slice of good, whole-grain bread. But more especially because the daily things we use and need can no longer be taken for granted. We have a new expression lately: “Praise the Lord for 3 out of 4!” Our top 4 “breads” these days are electricity, gas, hot water, and internet. Lately (as many of you know, and we’re sorry) we have really been missing our email and internet connections.

Having a combination gas-AND-electrical stove/oven has been a good way around the sporadic shortages of those utilities. And now that we know the secret of running the water in the other sink (to let the air bubbles out of the line) before bathing, we can usually count on a nice hot wake-up shower in the mornings. So, life is good, and God is good, and we recognize the luxury of those 4 as we visit and work with so many Kenyans who have much less.

We have also learned to pray for other daily breads: enough rest, good health, prayer time, and fellowship with friends. And then there is wisdom, compassion, energy, patience, time together as a couple, endurance for the long run, humility enough to ask for help and forgiveness when needed - all have to be apportioned to us on a daily basis. The bread of God’s Word also needs to be savored every morning, so that during the rest of the day “we may know the word that encourages the weary” - especially when the weary is us.

As we share the glimpses of our daily tasks and joys with you, let us thank the Lord together for always receiving far more than our favorite 4, and let’s not forget to honor Him as Father by our asking -and then feasting, sharing, thanking, and asking again tomorrow... He has designed all of our lives this way so that as His beloved children, we must come into His presence again and again to know Him as Abba and receive loving gifts from His hand.

Dear Father, please, please, give us each day our daily breads. Amen.

Steve works with some of his students, who received training in Endoscopy at a hospital in Mombasa, Kenya

Alene stands with other faculty at the graduation program of 3 chaplain students

Snapshots from a great retreat in Malindi with our missionary family

Alene officiated baptism in the ocean for Jamie (with his dad helping) and then everyone gathered around him for prayers on the beach after we came out of the water

We enjoyed a sunset sail with fresh flower garlands and delicious seafood, like grilled shrimp and calamari - so nice!

Correctional Ministry Team had an encouraging 3-day retreat for rest, renewal, and some training sessions. Chaplains, volunteers, and office staff appreciated the time to pray and brainstorm about the future of the ministry, as well as learn new strategies for tracking activities and expenses. Sessions included some training for using computers to prepare their reports and organize case files and photos.

The team trains with computers on retreat  

Pastor Peter’s new wife, mother, sister and nephew visit and bring pumpkins

Emmanuel from Liberia said goodbye to Steve and Dr. White on the day he and his mother were leaving to return home after his successful care and making many new friends at Tenwek. Emmanuel seemed sad to go, but we understand that he ran into the arms of his uncle when they landed at the airport in Liberia. We have heard that he is continuing well at home.

May the Lord bless you and be your comfort, Emmanuel.

Steve’s endoscopy team begins training in electronic medical record systems as Tenwek Hospital prepares for the big change!

Kipsigis weddings start with a procession of women from the groom’s village singing songs of welcome and escorting the car carrying the bride. The bride’s family often hires a bus to bring their friends to the wedding and carry the wedding gifts of furniture on the top of the vehicle.

We enjoyed attending the wedding of a former chaplain student. Robert and his wife Wilter are preparing to be missionaries with Africa Gospel Church one day.

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For Emmanuel’s safe return to Liberia with his mom

• For Kenya’s peaceful elections in March and transition to new leadership in April - HALLELUJAH!

• For a generous grant provided by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to the research team at Tenwek Hospital

• For safe travels to Malindi on the coast for our retreat

Please pray with us:

• For guidance for Alene in coordinating restructuring of Correctional Ministry within Africa Gospel Church

• For a balanced and sustainable pace for our service

• For Tenwek Hospital’s challenging transition to an electronic medical record system

• For GI Endoscopists to cover for Steve at Tenwek during a few weeks in August and November

Contributions: Website: www.wgm.org/burgert

World Gospel Mission, 3783 East State Road 18, PO Box 948, Marion IN 46952 (account 02273-Burgert)

THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH US! -- Steve & Alene

TEAMWORK! February 2013 Newsletter

[Sorry, for the delay, but we are finally celebrating good internet service today!] 

Coming & Going Newsletter - February 2013

TEAMWORK! It’s the key to success in sports! We also know that Teamwork is key to our serving the Lord here in Kenya. We cannot do this alone!!! It is part of God’s design that we not serve in isolation, but that we combine our efforts with others who have their own unique gifts and talents. “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12: 5-6. This passage further describes some of the special gifts and responsibilities given to individuals. No role is too minor or insignificant. When Christians come together with their diverse talents they can multiply their efforts and do even more as one body in Christ. As Scripture says again in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.”

We celebrate and thank the Lord for YOU and each TEAM that enables us to serve Him here - whether helping from the US, or on the ground with us in Kenya.

Working with Kenyans and our Colorado church team in 2011

 Tenwek Endoscopy Team

Steve is blessed to have a wonderful team to help care for patients and assist in research activities. In 2012 (with the help of many visiting endoscopist  physicians from USA), we performed 2,002 endoscopy procedures and placed stents (wire-mesh tubes) to help 320 patients with esophageal cancer to be able to swallow.

We continue research protocols to determine the cause of the high incidence of esophageal cancer in this area of Kenya. On January 16th, we celebrated the conclusion of the STEP Study investigation of 300 individuals from surrounding villages, who actually had no problems in swallowing. With careful evaluations and biopsies we found that 9 STEP subjects (3%) had very concerning pre-cancer changes and 34 subjects (11%) had subtle pre-cancer changes in the esophagus.

Our research team members from the NIH and Mayo Clinic in USA, as well as those from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, are also highly appreciated.  We are continuing a similar study for individuals, who have a close relative with esophageal cancer. Individuals from the STEP Study with worrisome, pre-cancerous changes of the esophagus are being enrolled in a protocol to remove or destroy those abnormal tissue areas. We pray that these efforts will reduce the risk of esophageal cancer here in Kenya.

The proud Tenwek Endoscopy Team receiving their white coats

Together 

Evangelizing 

And 

Ministering

  - It is also a special blessing to report that during the last year, 212 endoscopy patients and family members received Bibles in their local language or Swahili, as they committed their lives to Christ

Peterson presents a Bible in the Kalenjin language to a grateful patient

Requesting Special Prayers for the Kenyan Elections

There was significant turmoil and loss of life after the last national elections in Kenya in December 2007. The next national election will be held on March 4th. Please join us in fervent prayer that the campaigning, voting, and counting will be conducted with integrity, with a peaceful and respectful acceptance of the election results.

Do you miss our voices?

Copy and paste this weblink to hear Alene share about Correctional Ministry in Kenya:

http://missionscentral.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/alene-burgert.mp3

and paste this weblink to hear Steve share about trying to “work himself out of a job”:

http://missionscentral.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/work-yourself-out-of-a-job/

A Samaritan’s Purse Team made it possible for 6-year-old Alice to come to Tenwek Hospital from Liberia with her mother, Patricia, in December. We were part of the local team providing housing and hospitality. We give thanks to the Lord that Dr. White’s surgery removed the scarred area of her esophagus, and after a good recovery she was able to return to Liberia 6 weeks later. Please continue prayers for 10-year-old Emmanuel (also from Liberia), who had surgery for more severe esophagus scarring and is still at Tenwek for several follow-up procedures.

Goodbye to Alice and mom Patricia

Correctional Ministry Team Alene is privileged to encourage a committed team of national Kenyan chaplains and support staff, who minister to those in prison and organize after-care for ex-prisoners.

The Team distributes sweets, soaps, and the Word of God at a recent visit to Kakamega Men’s Prison.

Students show us good teamwork!

Tenwek Chaplaincy College Team shares classes, ministry, fellowship (sometimes at our apartment), and visits to each of the students’ village homes. Alene says she will never teach these faithful pastors as much as they teach her every day!

Visiting the home of Chaplain Student Dominik (sitting on right)

Almost last, but not least...World Gospel Mission Team

We are so thankful for our WGM team with many servinghere in Kenya and others back in USA. They make our service possible by assisting with the myriad of logistics required, and helping us maintain health of body, mind, and spirit.

WGM Kenya Team at our 2012 Christmas gathering (in short sleeves!)

 Couldn’t resist this one - Steve and his local bike repair TEAM

 And YOU -- A key part of our TEAM!

Through your prayers, messages of encouragement, and financial support, you make our service joyful. THANK YOU! Your financial contributions are needed for all aspects of our ministries. You can send donations to the mailing address below or via the website: www. wgm.org/burgert

We also pray for you, as you serve the Lord with your own teams - at home, in the community, or around the world.

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For wonderful team members in Kenya and USA

• For a good resumption and extension of our mission service in Kenya

• For continued safety during frequent travels in Kenya

• For faithful prayer and financial supporters

• For approval of two new endoscopy research protocols

• For Alice’s recovery and return to Liberia with mom

Please pray with us:

• For peaceful elections in Kenya in March

• For guidance as Alene coordinates re-structuring of Correctional Ministry within Africa Gospel Church

• For a balanced and sustainable pace for our service

• For Emmanuel’s healing and return to Liberia

• For GI Endoscopists to cover for a few weeks in August and November

We appreciate your contributions via the internet: www.wgm.org/burgert

and contributions by mail:

World Gospel Mission, 3783 East State Road 18, PO Box 948, Marion IN 46952 (account 02273-Burgert)

Thanks so much for being part of our TEAM! -- Steve and Alene

Alene shares about correctional ministry in Kenya

Alene had the opportunity to share about her involvement in prison ministry in Kenya and here is the link to that podcast, so you can hear her lovely voice there. 
We continue to appreciate prayers for the correctional ministry activities here in Kenya. 
Thanks, Alene & Steve
Alene Burgert discusses correctional ministry in Kenya
http://missionscentral.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/alene-burgert.mp3

Working myself out of a job!

Please note the following link to a recording of some comments that I made about my goal as a medical missionary to be "working myself out of a job."A link to Alene's comments will be posted very soon.
Steve
http://missionscentral.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/work-yourself-out-of-a-job/
Steve Burgert: "Working yourself out of a job"

Back HOME in Kenya!

November 7, 2012

"The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:8

Yes, we truly do feel that we are back home in Kenya now after the past 8 months of Home Ministry Assignment in USA and give thanks for the Lord watching over our coming and going. 

Our "other home" church in Loveland, Colorado blessed us with a re-commissioning for our mission service on Sunday, October 21st.

Our flight out of Denver on October 24th was delayed for 3 hours to allow snow removal from the wings and de-icing…so maybe it was time for us to head back to a warmer climate!

We are so grateful for everyone pulling together with us (HARAMBEE!) to allow us to return on schedule -- through financial support, prayer support, housing, meals, packing, moving our belongings to storage, transportation, and so much more. We have been blessed with "Harambee!" in Kenya as well as in the USA.

Here are just a few glimpses of some of you assisting us. We regret that we cannot share photos of everyone, who so graciously assisted us:

Art & Jan were our gracious hosts for many months in Loveland, CO

   Dave & Jeannie generously loaned us their car for 8 months

 

Terry, Barb and Helen helped with packing

Art & Roger helped move items to storage

Pastor Wesley, Patrick and Peter greeted us and our luggage in Nairobi

We rejoice that every piece of luggage arrived on schedule and with no items damaged or lost!

After our arrival in Kenya, we did take a couple of personal days to once again appreciate God's beautiful creation in the Maasai Mara, which is only 2 hours from Tenwek Hospital.

  

We are unpacking our stored and shipped belongings and feeling more and more at home as we listen to the bird songs and the waterfalls near our apartment. We again celebrate the annual "purple snow" from the jacaranda trees, as we did in our arrival at Tenwek Hospital 3 years ago in October 2009.

Jacaranda blossoms - "Purple snow"

We are not so slowly getting back into our ministry and service activities -- 

Alene has already had 4 informal meetings about the correctional ministry activities here in Kenya.

Steve will be meeting at Tenwek Hospital with esophageal cancer researchers from USA and resuming his medical work next week.

The chaplain students appreciated the books donated to their library

We give thanks for guardian angels protecting us on Wednesday, November 7th. Our car suddenly stopped as we neared the top of the curvy, narrow road ("the escarpment") up from the Rift Valley to Nairobi. By the grace of God, there was just enough momentum (or angel power!) to get the car barely off the road between the edge of the road and the steep drop-off down to the Rift Valley below. The battery had shifted, rubbed against the fan belt and had begun to leak. The Nairobi car repair team came and installed a new battery and we were back on our way with only a 2-hour, scenic delay. We praise God! Thanks for always keeping us in your prayers.

Our narrow escape near the Rift Valley's "3rd World View Point"

Please join us in giving thanks to the Lord:

+ For our safe journeys throughout USA, across the ocean, and within Kenya.

+ For healing of Steve's back, which had been very stiff, just as we were beginning to pack up in USA.

+ For continued good health for both of us.

+ For so many loving brothers and sisters in Christ, who have helped us leave USA well and be warmly welcomed back to Kenya.

Please join as we lift up prayers:

+ For smooth re-entries into our ministry and service involvements and that we may clearly know the Lord's desired roles for us.

+ For guidance as we purchase apartment furnishings, now that we are considered "career missionaries."

+ For provision for the needs of the local Kenyan people in this region, who have lost essentially all of their corn (maize) crop due to a virus called "Maize Lethal Necrosis." (Maize provides the staple grain for their diet.)

We give thanks for your partnership with us. Please feel free to post or forward this email to others. Others are welcome to check out updates and prior newsletters on this blog:

http://psalm121v8.blogspot.com

May the Lord bless you and your involvement in your own personal "mission field," wherever that may be. 

In Christ,

Steve & Alene Burgert

Donations online: http://www.wgm.org/burgert

Donations also can be made out to: "World Gospel Mission - Burgert Ministry"  and mailed to:

World Gospel Mission

PO Box 948

Marion, IN 46952-0948