Heavy Hearts and God's Grace

Yesterday started out as normal day. Still being weary from our week-end trip to Nairobi for truck parts we were a little slow moving but back to school to continue our language acquisition. The Lord has given us a great teacher named Wycliffe. He is on staff here at the Indiana University where they have an extensive Doctor training program in conjunction with the Moi Teaching Hospital located here as well in Eldoret. Wycliffe is systematically, patiently and methodically teaching us to speak Swahili. Just towards the end of our morning lesson the phone rang. It was Missionary James Taylor who said he was parked at the front gate of the Indiana University compound with a family who are members of his Church in Melindi (15hrs) away. He had traveled all night with the family to bring them to Western Kenya to bury their infant new born that died the day before. To compound his problems James told me that his daughter, Lydia, has fallen and shattered her elbow the same day this family lost their infant and needed immediate surgery. James dropped his family off in Nairobi in the middle of the night and made his way to Eldoret to see if Terry and I would finish transporting this family to Western Kenya about 3 hrs away. I told him we wanted to help him get through this crisis in any way we could. We cut our language class short and proceeded to the house. As James passed with his van I noticed the red ribbons all over indicating a funeral and in this case a hearse. It was a sobering reminder of the gravity of the situation. We transferred the family with their belongings and the body into our truck. As they loaded the little miniature casket into the back of the “green camel” (as the Turkanan’s affectionately call it) I thought to myself that they deserve better than this. However, this is Africa and you make do with what you have. We prayed with James and put him on his way back to Nairobi so he could be there in time for his daughters surgery. Please pray for a full and speedy recovery for his daughter. Last word was that the surgery went well. They decorated the Landcruiser with red ribbons and we proceeded to Western Kenya. We were a total of 9 packed and with their belongings and the baby. During the 3 hour drive my heart continually went out to the Father (Ricklyn) and Mother (Momma Esther). I watched in my rear view mirror and saw Rickly crying in the back over his Child’s coffin holding it tightly as we drove the rough roads. Momma Esther was in state of shock and appeared to be in post-delivery pain. As we got deep into the interior of Western Kenya we started the (off-road) portion of our journey. While I

get stressed driving the old Landcruiser on the roads it is one of the best off road trucks for Africa. We traveled past many villages on dirt roads until we reached a junction that lead down a trail. As we

proceeded down this rough trail that can best be described as washout where the rain runs I noticed that there were dozens of Momma’s running behind and beside the truck. It took me a few minutes to realize that these were Ricklyn’s and Esther’s family members who had been waiting to accompany the body to the home. By the time we made it to the home, boulders and gullies, there was a large crowd around the truck. The body was immediately taken by the grandmother to the house to prepare for the burial. After greetings and a meal we were prepared to start our trip back to Eldoret when Ricklyn asked if we would stay so I could preach the funeral. I told them I would be honored. After many songs, introductions and testimonies I

stood before a large crowd of people and a small open grave. As Easter Sunday approaches I have been studying all week on the resurrection. It is in the resurrection that we find our hope and power. Jesus conquered death hell and the grave through the power of the resurrection. That is what I preached and will continue to preach for it is the foundation of our faith. The Lord gave me two more passages to share with them about men in the Bible who had lost their children.

King David and Job lost children. Both exhibited great faith in the Lord during the time that Job described as every parents “worst fear”, losing his children. The gospel was presented during the message it started to rain and we hastily made our way back to the truck to start our trip back home. While the day was somewhat stressful to say the least the Lord through His grace gave us great peace as we traveled home. Great peace in the fact the God is able to comfort a mourning family. Great peace that He is faithful and true to his Word. Great peace that those parents will see their child in heaven one glad day. We also had great peace and relief as we looked into the eyes of Ricklyn and Momma Esther when they made it home to have the support and outpouring of love from their family.

While the day is a reminder of the importance of our work here it is also a reminder of how much we miss our family. Please pray for this young couple as they will be mourning for months to come.

Thank you for taking time to share in our ministry.

Bro. Chuck & Sis Terry Fernandez

Kenya, Africa