Celebrating Christmas Village Style

Christmas day was spent worshiping with our brethren at the Landmark Baptist Church of Namarambi near the base of Mt. Elgon.

    It gives Terry and me great joy to return to villages that we have become a small part of through our involvement in planting New Testament Churches.  

The bond that has been formed through Christ is one that runs deep and will last throughout eternity.

Pastor Daniel and these folks are growing in the faith as they continue to be faithful year after year. We know one day we will commend them to the Lord on whom they believe but for now we are enjoying the worship and fellowship along the way.

                            Pastor Daniel

Like all of the new Sanctuaries, LBC Namarambi is a work in progress but the building is further along than the others as it has a layer of cement over the mud and the congregation as purchased and installed glass in the windows.

After Sunday services we traveled to the home of Pastor Peter and his family.

After three years of service here in Kenya Terry and I have experienced much of their culture and we felt it was time for us to share a small part of our culture with them.  

We asked Pastor Peter and his family if we could bring  some of our culture to their village home to celebrate Christmas.

They were very gracious to allow us to bring a turkey and Christmas cookies Terry had cooked as well as set up a small Christmas tree and of course presents.

We were reminded that we Americans take so many things for granted as this was the first time in their lives to taste turkey (which they loved) and to have a Christmas tree.   

It is not something that is necessary counter culture but more so something that is not part of their basic necessities which dictate much of their lives.

                          Warming Turkey

                                     Turkey Time  

 

In any case, we enjoyed the smiles on their faces as everyone got their fill of turkey and then opened presents which are a rarity here.

I think we had more fun watching the kids chase bubbles and try on their new outfits as they celebrated Christmas in a new way.     Bubble Time

Bubbles

We miss our family in a great way and even more so during these holidays and while it is not quite the same it is nice to be a part of our extended family here in Kenya. 

Thank you to those who sent Christmas wishes and prayers as we serve our Lord and Savior on the foreign field.  

May God bless you and keep you.

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

The Mt. Elgon Express and Building the House of the Lord #5

It has been several months since we have been able to visit our Churches on Mt. Elgon due to the heavy rains we have experienced this year. Mt. Elgon has about a nine month rainy season that makes it near impossible for us to travel to the top where our Churches are located. Now that it is dry, we loaded up the Mt. Elgon Express (Land Rover) with 80 sheets of roofing tin and headed up the steep rocky Mountain road.

First stop, Landmark Baptist Church of Cheptabrubru where Pastor Alex and his men had completed the frame of the sanctuary and were waiting for the roofing material.

We had a great time of fellowship with this group of believers as they build the house of the Lord.

Our partnership with these churches include us giving them the foundational items to build with but it is entirely up to them to invest their blood, sweat and tears into these projects.

This is our fifth building project.

We enjoy coming along side of them to fulfill God’s will for their lives but it is important that they take ownership of these works. The Church continues to grow in numbers and is very much great commission minded as they have sent preachers into three neighboring villages to preach the gospel where 295 folks have professed Christ over the last six months.

Can somebody say Amen!  Helper

These new outreaches are in the villages of: Chepguruguru, Cheptandan & Chemta.

Our prayers are being answered and the investment of time we have made into theses Churches and leaders through teaching and training is bearing more fruit than we ever could have imagined.

It is often said that good disciples make disciples.

                  Pastor Pete & Wycliffe

Second stop, Landmark Baptist Church of Kispisgon. LBC Kipsigon was the first Church we planted on Mt. Elgon is located just on the other side of the Mountain from Cheptabrubru.

                             Little Friends

Pastor David and the members are now putting the finishing touches on the Sanctuary at Kispsigon.

It was a great day of fellowship with many of the people Terry and I have brought to Christ over the last several years.                               Mamma Sweetie

We always try to exhort and encourage them to continue in their faith but it always seems like they are the ones who end up encouraging us.

This trip also gave us the opportunity to deliver Christmas Food Baskets to the Pastors and their families.  

                             Mamma Rose Mary & Terry

Pray for us as we still have to deliver windows, doors & more tin to Cheptabrubru and pews to Kipsigon before the rains return in February.   

Not only are these trips physically demanding but they are also hard on the truck as we blew out a tire and broke another shock mount on the truck due to the excessive weight and rough roads.

Shock Repair

It is all part and parcel to working on mountains and deserts to preach the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. We covet your continued prayers and wish you a Happy and God blessed New Year.

Your Missionaries to Kenya, East Africa,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Phil. 4:13

Five City’s, Three Continents, Eight Time Zones & Youth Offering

From a ministry standpoint this week was somewhat of a short week due to the extensive travel it took for us to return from the United States to Kenya.

 Thank God for modern transportation but it is mind boggling to think that we have traveled from Tampa to Miami, Miami to London, London to Nairobi and Nairobi to Eldoret within three days.

 If I am ever tempted to complain of all the traveling I am reminded that God blessed with an opportunity to return to Florida for our Son’s wedding and also that the missionaries of old could take weeks and months to sail across vast oceans to carry the gospel.

We had to spend an extra day in Nairobi as none of our bags made it on the flight from London.

It is a good thing that Terry is always prepared for these types of contingencies as she packs extra clothes in our carry on for such a time as this.

 (Note for Mac Team coming in January)

 Now we are in the process of acclimating ourselves to the time change and environment.  

We are very much at home in Kenya but it takes about a week to get back on Kenyan time and adjust back to living at a high altitude.   

They say it takes one day per time zone and we have crossed eight.

We traveled to the Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu/Nzoia to worship with Pastor Shadrach and his congregation this Lord’s day.  

 

The Church and the Pastor are all healthy and doing very well in the Lord, however the building itself received some damage from recent flooding that took place while we were in the States.

They had just completed the new sanctuary before we left and had not be able to seal the mud walls before the extensive rains came.  

They are currently in the process of repairing the damage and preparing to seal it with a layer of clay and eventually cement.

Since this was our first Church plant it is a great joy to see how this young Pastor and congregation continue to mature in their faith.

One of the ways this was evident was through a special offering that was taken to send the youth to a youth conference next week at one our sister Churches.

I really appreciate the effort our Pastoral team puts in training the youth as well as the men and women. They are the future church....

                                   Assistant Pastor Japheth

What does this missionaries heart good is that they are functioning as a body of believers who are self supporting and self sustaining.

This is exactly the pattern provided in the New Testament.

Given the fact that we have come along side of them with teaching, training, Bibles and even the building process, it would have been so easy and convenient for them to ask the missionary for help with transporting their youth to this conference but nothing was asked of me.

The youth sang songs as the special offering was taken in addition to their regular tithes and the people gave a great offering that was sufficient to enable the youth to attend the conference next week after Christmas.

It is yet another example that everyone is able to give to God’s work regardless of one’s social economic status like the church at Macedonia. 

2Co 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2Co 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves.

In Closing, Terry and I want to wish you all a Merry Christ filled Christmas and thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us on a weekly basis.

God Bless,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Phil. 4:13

Giving Thanks, the Ten Commandments and Vinnie’s Wedding

Not sure I have ever written a journal entry at 39,000 ft. but with five more hours to go on this flight from London to Nairobi, I thought I might better take advantage of this free time. We are returning from just under four weeks in Florida to spend Thanksgiving with our family as well as help do our part with the preparations for our youngest son’s wedding. The multiple lengthy flights to travel back and forth are nothing short of daunting, however we gladly pay the price for time with our family and try to make up for lost time that will never be regained. Living away from family and country for extended lengths of time brings new perspective and meaning to what the Bible calls redeeming the time. Those moments in our homeland with family and fellow Christians have become so much sweeter. It is with this kind of gratitude in our hearts that made Thanksgiving so special this year as we deep fried a turkey and baked a ham at my Uncle Aaron’s house in Daytona in which all of our children and grandchildren were able to attend. Last year Terry and I celebrated and gave thanks with canned turkey her sister had sent to Kenya. Thanking God for everything has not changed but spending that time in person with those you love dearest was an extra blessing. We were also able to visit a few of our supporting Florida Churches including Ft. Cooper Baptist Church where I had the opportunity to preach at our 55^th homecoming. God has been so good to us all and we give him the thanks and praise for his grace on our lives. Our brief trip home also took us to the Dixie County court house located in Cross City, Florida to be a part of a peaceful “Save the Ten Commandments” rally.

Dixie County is coming under attack from the ACLU to remove the carved in stone Ten Commandments from the front of the court house steps. By the way, I think the ACLU should stand for the Anti-Christ-Liberals-Union. In short we spent a couple of hours with over 1000 of God’s people who have become sick and tired of cowering down to this Anti-Christian movement that has taken our country by storm over the last four decades.  

The rally which included hymns prayers of thanksgiving and repentance as well as key note speakers who have fought against the ACLU and won. It was not only God honoring but was also one of the most patriotic events I have attended in many years. The (Pit-bull) lawyer for the Liberty Council who will be defending Dixie County is the Son of a Romanian Baptist Pastor who had been brought to Christ by Baptist Missionaries and has experienced firsthand the religious persecution and tyranny of a totalitarian communist government. 

His bottom line message was with God all things are possible and when we stand up we can win but when we do nothing we lose.

This young man has won 90% of his cases in some of the highest courts in the land because he knows he is defending our God given rights which happen to be recorded in the first amendment of the constitution. It was awesome to see God’s people assemble themselves and let their voice be heard.

The finale of our trip home was our son’s wedding.   

During my college days I remember being taught that the death of a close relative and moving are two of the most stressful events in a person’s life. After this week and our third and last child to be married I would like to add weddings to the top of that list. We thank God that Vinny has met a fine Christian girl in his new wife Arlene and we believe God was honored in all of ceremony which I was asked to officiate. While I was a little rusty from the huge change of venue, I can say that we all made it through the ceremony without anyone falling or passing out.

It was a beautiful service and Terry and I are now able to return to the work God has called us to with a little more peace in our hearts knowing Vinny has united in Holy matrimony with the help met God has brought him.   

In Closing, the longer we are in Kenya the less we feel at home in the United States. Believe me; it is not from a lack of love for family or country because every time we return to the field we do so with broken hearts and many tears. However, once you assimilate into a foreign culture there is a large part of you that has grown accustomed to that culture and things that were once familiar to you starts to become foreign and what was once foreign becomes familiar. Thank you for your prayers and support.

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez

Kenya

Phil. 4:13

PS: None of our bags arrived with us, so pray that we are able to retrieve them today in Nairobi with the next flight arrives from London.

Overcoming Obstacles & Circuit Riding Preachers ...Lake Victoria Area

Boat Makers in Lake Victoria Area

Finished Product of the above boat.....

Our travels this week returned us to Lake Victoria to meet with the believers of Wichlum and Got. Drying Minnows

 

It seemed like there were obstacles at every corner and it was a trip that almost never happened.
Obstacle #1... after the truck was fueled and loaded with the new tent and benches for the believers at Wichlum to worship under late Friday evening, it stopped running.
We had a friend tow the Land Rover to the shop where I have mechanics I trust because they attend our weekly Eldoret Bible Study.  
                          My 'trusty'  Eldoret Mechanics

Fortunately it was only a loose wire to the fuel solenoid.
With the rugged territory we cover each week it is a wonder that anything on the truck stays together.
Obstacle #2... About 50 km’s into the trip we arrived at the scene of a terrible accident where two semi trucks collided head on blocking the Uganda Highway.
                                   Roadblock

This is something we face almost every week we travel to the Mt. Elgon region due to the steep and slick roads, combine these conditions with overloaded trucks and you have a recipe for accidents.
After sitting for about an hour, I decided to cut a muddy path on the side of the road to go around the accident.
Thank God for four wheel drive and some good off road experience. We were the only vehicle to safely pass.
Obstacle #3... the trip to Lake Victoria is around 250 km’s.  (approx. 120 miles)
About 50 km’s from the Lake, without warning the idler pulley locked up with a screaming belt.
To make a long story short, after the engine cooled down I was able to pack the bearing with new grease and limp along the entire weekend as well as the 250 km trip back to Eldoret. It made a long trip longer but once again it a story of God’s grace and traveling mercies.  
The two villages at Lake Victoria have grown into a strong fellowship of believers as they are both led by Pastor Jackson, the fisherman we brought to Christ in Wichlum.
We also delivered Bible Institute Studies and a new bike as he has been walking 10 km’s from Got to Wichlum three times per week. He is effectively Pastoring two groups of believers.     Circuit Riding, Pastor Jackson's new bike....

I call him our “circuit riding preacher”.

During our last Pastor’s/Preachers seminar I introduced this concept to the men of God we are teaching and mentoring.
As a young Pastor I remember studying the life and ministry of B.R. Lakin who during the 1920’s served as circuit-riding preacher, riding a mule from church to church through the mountains and foothills of rural West Virginia and Kentucky.
In sparsely populated areas of the United States it was common for clergy to serve more than one congregation at a time and it worked especially well in the service of rural villages and unorganized settlements.
Because of the distance between churches, these preachers would also ride on horseback. They were popularly called circuit riders or saddlebag preachers.
These frontier clergy traveled with few possessions, carrying only what could fit in their saddlebags.
They traveled through wilderness and villages, they preached every day at any place available (people’s cabins, courthouses, fields, meeting houses, later even basements and street corners).   
Thank God for these men who were willing to sacrifice to give others the Word of God.
In addition to delivering what I classify as ministry tools to help facilitate continued growth, we were able to visit many of our recent converts to exhort them to continue in their faith.            Pastor Peter & Missionary Chuck

 

In particular, there are three old Mamas’ that have such a great faith and a longing for God that they really encouraged us. They are the first ones to arrive for the teachings and the last one’s to leave.    Continuing Faith....

This kind of dedication provides stability and consistency for this young Church that other will see and follow.
We were also happy to see the young back slidden preacher named James attend the meetings, that is an answer to prayers as he makes his way back to God.
                        James and Missionary Chuck

In closing, we want to give special thanks to Pastor Tim Johnson and the members of Dean Springs Missionary Baptist Church in Alma, Arkansas for purchasing the new tent & pews for the believers of Wichlum to meet under. 

For those of you who tune into our weekly journal, don’t be alarmed if you do not receive one for several weeks as Terry and I are returning to Florida this week to attend the wedding of our last born son (Vinny). We also continue to experience problems getting email’s out so we apologize for this issue, however, I am still posting weekly on our journal blog: missionarieschuckterryfernandez.blogspot.com.
May God continue to keep you and bless you.
Thank you for your prayers and support.

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

                                      Cleaning Nets at Lake Victoria

Phil. 4:13

Tent Making and Ordination

Much of this week’s activities included making a new tent and pews for the work in Lake Victoria. Purchasing steel, cutting, fabrication, painting and assembly was all part of our regular ministry duties. We will be traveling next week to the fishing village of Wichlum again to deliver the tent and to do some teaching and training of the man God has called to preach there. The highlight of this week’s work was the ordination service of Pastor Peter Barasa. It was a good thing we completed the tent for Wichlum as it was needed along with two other tents to hold all the people who came to Ndivisi Landmark Baptist Church to be a part of the ordination service for this special Pastor and preacher. From the first day we met Pastor Peter and teamed up with him to reach the lost on Mt. Elgon we knew there was something very special about him. Every once in a while God will allow us to be a part of a special person’s life and they impact your life effortlessly while just being who God made them to be. This is the case with Pastor Peter, his heart for the Lord, his love for the lost and God’s people is something that is rare to find in this day and age anywhere in the world. After almost three years of working side by side to preach the gospel on Mt. Elgon, the Kerio Valley and now Lake Victoria, we have grown to love and respect him in a great way. It was an honor to ordain him as a preacher of the gospel and to be his brother in Christ.

This was the largest event we have experience during our ministry thus far and was one of the most joyous events. Terry and I were so happy to see the outpouring of love expressed to honor this sharp young man who has surrendered his life to preaching God’s Word. Pastor Peter’s family, friends, neighbors and Church members all testified of a life honoring God. 

                  Pastor Peter & Family

For my part, I taught on the qualifications of a Pastor and the qualities of a “good shepherd” as well as serving a member of the presbytery.

After the teachings and the preaching of the charge, the presbytery had an opportunity to publicly ask Pastor Peter questions concerning his doctrine and biblical knowledge which he answered with great command of the scriptures. He has not only been a great leader within our team but is also a great student of the Word. The ordination process was yet another opportunity to teach the younger men of God the method and biblical tradition that has been practiced by the New Testament church for over two thousand years. Praise the Lord we have a biblical pattern to follow! After he was thoroughly examined along with his wife and children, the presbytery prayed for him with the laying on of the hands.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Pastor Peter now is not only a phenomenal man of God but also carries one the highest honors and stamp of approval as a God ordained preacher of the gospel. A Kenyan tradition we have grown to love was at the conclusion of the ceremony when all those in attendance give Pastor Peter and his family a love offering. What makes it is special is that the offerings include: live chickens, bananas, corn, beans, tea cups, lanterns, a live sheep (fitting for a shepherd) and of course money. This shower and outpouring of love really touches our hearts every time we experience it.

As special as this was I believe the most precious moment may have been just before the dismissal prayer and lunch when the newly ordained Pastor, his wife Sporta (who Terry has gotten close to) and their five children sang a special.

Wow! What a great way to end a great day!

                        Women's Choir

Crowd

Thank you for traveling this journey of faith with us as we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. 

In His Service,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13