Graduation in Georgia, the Sunshine State & First Impressions

Much has happened over the last two weeks and I have come to realize that those who are part of our ministry are as much a part of our life so I feel compelled to continue to keep a journal from time to time while we are states side as well. Our flights from Kenya to Atlanta went well with all of our luggage arriving intact. We were greeted by all three children as well as their spouses and/or significant others. Additionally, our grandchildren were waiting at the last check point. As we came up the escaltor our four year old grandson Chucky burst past the security check point when he saw us to jump into our arms. No national alert was issued but we have never been happier to see someone pass security. While our children are grown adults now it meant so much for us for them to take time out of their lives and drive to Atlanta to meet us. Our son-in-law Kevin put all of us up at one of the most posh hotels in downtown Atlanta.

We can’t thank him enough for making our first night back in country so special. Our first week has been spent in Georgia and we were able to attend our daughter’s graduation in Thomasville, Georgia. We are very proud of her accomplishment graduating as a surgical nurse while being a wife, a mother as well as helping her husband runs a very successful business.
After spending a week in Georgia we traveled back to our home state of Florida for some needed R & R. While we know our bodies are adjusting to the change in time zones there is definitely some reverse culture shock involved after living abroad for one year. I wanted to record the following
impressions of our first week back in country for the sake of remembrance and to share what it is like to transition back to our great country for a short break.
#1. The first noticeable differences are the roads. We have grown so accustomed to roads that are in total disrepair or no roads at all that we can’t believe how incredibly smooth, organized and well marked our roads are here in America.

 #2. After being on an African diet it is like being a child in a candy store with the choices we have in restaurants and at food stores. There are so many choices that it is hard to choose and you just want to try one of everything. It is also weird not to have to worry about bleaching vegetables or the meats that you eat. #3. There is a real adjustment after being around Africans the entire year and with limited contact with other white folks from time to time. We love the people that God has united us in Kenya to Work with. We Pray with them, We worship with them, We Cry with them , we laugh with them and we have become so much like them in many ways and now we find ourselves almost feeling like an outsider among our own people. It is something that is very hard to explain.

#4. I realize that our country is in the worst recession since the great depression but even though we are going through difficult times we are still a most blessed nation. Today my son Chucky dropped me off at Wal-Mart to pick up a couple of things and proceeded to Lowes. I told him I would walk to Lowes instead of him having to drive back to pick me up as we have grown accustomed to walking in Kenya.
As I walked the quarter mile to Lowes I was taken aback by the number of vehicles on the road. It is rare to see people in our country walking unless it is for pleasure or exercise while in Kenya 90% of the population do not own cars and have to walk everywhere. These are just a few of our first impressions after being gone for a year but in any case we are glad to be back for a break. This weekend we will start visiting and preaching in local Churches again to continue raising funds for the ministry. As always we ask you to pray that God will bless our meetings and that we will be a blessing to the people we worship with. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your life as well.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa
Currently In Brooksville, Florida