Recuperation, Canopy, Conviction and 'Packing Again'

***CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE
Journal: October 4, 2009,

After taking Bro. Jimmy Jones to the airport in Nairobi and returning back to Eldoret on Tuesday we have tried to catch our breath before we

leave for Turkana this Wednesday. Not sure how long we will be in the desert but this will be our first opportunity to stay longer than two weeks. So needless to say we spent time this week stocking up on things that we cannot buy in Turkana. The last trip we took a small  freezer so this trip we will take a cooler full of frozen chickens and some hamburger meat. We have plenty of other food from the stuff we shipped in our container last year and we are in good shape. Please pray for us as we travel again and that the Lord will use us while we are in Turkana.

This week I purchased a used carport type canopy from a Missionary named Terry Childers.  Bro.Terry is leaving the field after 23 years of service here in Kenya.
I originally purchased the canopy to keep the trucks out the sun and heat of the desert but the Lord convicted me one day because Pastor Shadrach and his Church at Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) have outgrown his small house.

Twenty people cram into his house and thirty sit outside trying to listen and participate every

Sunday. So to make a long story short, the Lord put on my heart to give the canopy to Pastor Shadrach so they will have something to meet under as a collective group. In short, the Church needed it more than I did.

Yesterday we traveled to Mawe Tatu to set up the carport canopy and I asked Pastor Peter to meet us there to take a look at it to see if he would want to use something like it for the two Churches on Mt. Elgon.

He said it would be a great blessing and stepping stone for the new Churches to allow them to grow in number before they can afford to build a permanent building. Now I realize the carport canopy’s are not indigenous but I can’t think of any better temporary solution for the four Church plants we have been working with that have all outgrown the houses they were started in. It looks like I will have several more made from the pattern of the first one for the other Churches since they seem to be very happy with them as a temporary solution.

As we put up the canopy yesterday the kids were dancing and singing because they thought they were getting a new house. We explained to them it was God’s house and they were still so happy to see the canopy go up. Please continue to pray for these young Church plants while we are in the desert. It is comforting to know that whether we are there or not they are still serving the Lord and winning the lost. Their faith is so great that it truly humbles you. Thanks for allowing us to share our work with you as we try to follow Jesus.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

Visitor, Back to the Desert, needed Repairs & Nairobi

September 28, 2009 Visitor, Back to the Desert, Needed Repairs & Nairobi...

(Be sure to click on pictures to see full view more clearly...then do the 'back' button....)

We continued our whirlwind travel of Kenya this week trying to allow our visitor, Bro. Jimmy Jones from Plant City, Florida plenty of opportunities to see how God is working here in Kenya as well as seeing as much of the country as possible in 10 days. Tuesday we traveled to the desert to complete some needed repairs to the house and land cruiser.

 On our way we saw two elephants in the south Turkana game park and had a great opportunity to take some close up photos.

We spent the afternoon making the needed repairs to the house and putting the radiator back in the green camel along with new hoses and belts. Wednesday we were invited by Bro. Eddie and Pastor Michael from Napetet to do village evangelism. It was a great day of sharing the gospel and there were four who made professions of faith.

Our team of Bro. Jimmy, Pastor Michael, myself and Terry only made two visits. The first one started with one man under a tree but by the time we were finished we had a crowd of a dozen listening to the

gospel.

A lady named Veronica received Christ by faith. The second visit we made was with a group of around 10 that was resting under a tree, by the time we finished there must have been 20-30 people
stopping to hear what was going on. What a blessing to simply be able to open a Bible in the middle of a village and have people willing to take time to hear God’s Word. Following evangelism we
were able to test  the repairs to the truck by taking a trip to the fishing village of Kalacol near Lake Turkana. We had great food and fellowship with Pastor Steven. It was Bro. Jimmy’s first opportunity
to eat camel and he loved it. Thursday we got up early to transport some people from Lodwar to their villages in the desert and pick up those that were sick and needing medical attention to bring to the
hospital. This also allowed Jimmy to visit two more Churches in the Turkana district. The people of Turkana are losing their animals due to the extreme drought and many have died from Cholera due to the lack of clean water.

Please pray that the Lord will send the desperately needed rain. What a contrast to go from the wet muddy fields of Western Kenya to the drought stricken land of the desert. One week we are slipping and sliding in the mud and the next week we are walking and driving in the desert dust and 100 degree heat. Not only within the same week but within 400kms from each other.

 So this week we have traveled ¾ of the country preaching, teaching, baptizing, evangelizing and touring.

Our last two stops were in the Nakuru national Game Park and finally Nairobi to put Bro. Jimmy on a flight back to the USA.

 God has given us a safe and awesome week with a

true friend who was willing to traveling around the world to share valuable time together while serving the Lord. In closing I want to wish my wife a Happy Anniversary of 28 years. I also wanted to include a small paragraph of thoughts I ask Bro. Jimmy to share about his experience this week.

These are Bro. Jimmy’s words:

“I am truly amazed to see God mightily at work here in Kenya. I praise the Lord for Bro. Chuck and

 Sis. Terry’s willingness to help the people of this country not only with their spiritual needs, but the physical ones as well. They are building strong relationships with the people and showing them the Love of Jesus Christ. Everywhere we went, people were so glad to be greeted by someone who knew their own language. I saw churches full of people who love to sing God’s praises and reaching people for Him. I saw pastors who would walk miles just to make sure families knew the church cared about them. Thank God for missionaries like Bro. Chuck

and Sis. Terry. This trip has impacted my life and ministry greatly”.

Thanks for sharing our journey of faith.     

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa            

Map of our Kenya Homes...click on Map to enlarge for viewing

Visitor, Sekhindu Evangelism, Sunday Services, Baptism and Funeral

Terry and I have been on the road since Wednesday. We traveled to Nairobi to pick up a very special friend and fellow servant of the Lord, Bro. Jimmy Jones. Bro. Jimmy is our first visitor from America and this is his first time here in Kenya. We spent a couple of days in Nairobi picking up supplies as well as our guest who made it on time and with his entire luggage. It was also a good opportunity for us to get some more needed items from the USA as our children sent some things through Bro. Jimmy. Thank you loved ones. We are thrilled.

That is two suitcases full of goodies from the USA in two weeks!

Before we left Nairobi we took the opportunity to visit the Giraffe Center

and get some up close and personal time with the animals.

Friday we returned to Eldoret to prepare for a long weekend of ministry with our honored guest and the needed supplies. To watch Jimmy transition from the comfort and cleanliness of the USA to a third world county like Kenya is very special. Given the magnitude of the change and the effect of jet-lag he has done excellent. Saturday we traveled to Mawe Tatu to pick up Pastor Shadrach, Pastor Peter and Momma Mary (pregnant w/child) to go to the neighboring village of Sekhindu for evangelism. There were a total of 16 who carried the gospel into the village and this was Jimmy’s first opportunity to be on his own to share God’s word here in Kenya. It is one thing to tour a country and see the sights but when you go into the homes of people that live in the villages to greet, to sit and to share God’s word you experience the real country and the people in a way that is only possible by engaging them in their home environment. Sekhindu continues to be a place that is open and receptive to the gospel. There were 21 who made professions of faith in Christ and many others who made commitments to attend the weekly Bible studying taking place there now. We felt the blessing of God’s Spirit throughout the day in the various visits which were made in the name of the Lord Jesus. Sunday we attended Church at Landmark Baptist of Ndivisi where Bro. Jimmy had the opportunity to teach Sunday school and share his testimony of how God has provided for him in a great way to make it possible to travel Kenya to visit and preach God’s Word.

Before Jimmy preached a great sermon on “How to ask God for what we need”, we had a very powerful moment during the introduction and testimony time.

Along with Bro. Jimmy we had also brought the young fabricator named Kennedy from Eldoret with us who also came with us on Saturday for evangelism to do translating.

It was Kennedy’s testimony that God used to touch all of our hearts as he shared his burden for his lost Mom and Dad who are alcoholics and sell liquor as a family business.

I am not sure there were many dry eyes as he poured out his heart asking the Church to pray for him to reach his family with the gospel. Here is a young Christian who has just recently experienced God through salvation and who wants to share the Lord Jesus with his parents and siblings in a village called Bondo.

After praying for him, Pastor Peter made a promise and commitment to travel to Bondo to share the gospel and we are currently in the process of setting a date for this journey.

John Chapter 1 records the story of Andrew who met Christ and ran to tell his Brother Simon about Him. Bro. Kennedy’s desire is one that has been repeated by millions throughout the ages who have come to Christ and been changed through salvation, never to be the same.

After Sunday teaching and preaching we proceeded to the river for a baptismal service.

The walk there was an adventure due the fact it had stormed Saturday night and the path was absolutely swamped and muddy. Bro. Jimmy was the first casualty to slide into a mud hole but that was OK because he was the one performing the baptism. It was also his first time to perform a baptism in a rushing river from the cold icy water coming from Mt. Elgon. He did fine. After a great day of worship Pastor Peter asked if we could stop by the house of His In-laws to pay respect to his wife’s Grandmother who had just died. Little did I know that we would be hiking possibly 5 Km’s in swampy fields by foot to reach the remote location of the house where his in laws were preparing for the funeral. Poor Terry is such a trooper. She had worn sandals and was walking through ankle deep mud the entire trek. When we arrived it was a scene out of national geographic for sure with dirty muddy people everywhere including us as well after our long trek to the village. We prayed for the family in the house where Grandma still lay in the bed where she died while there were men outside building the coffin

by hand and cutting fire wood for the big gathering. After paying respect to the Grandma and family

we returned back to the truck and I gladly washed Terry’s feet for her. Oh well, all in the day and life of a missionary here in Kenya. Monday we are taking a day of recovery, rest and preparation to travel to Lodwar to do some work on the house there, visit some of the Churches in our work there and let Bro. Jimmy see the desert of Kenya. We appreciate every email and word of encouragement as well as your prayers. May God keep you and bless you until we meet again.

Chuck and Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

Jimmy Jones, Chuck & Terry at Giraffe Center, Nairobi

Christmas In Kenya....and Burying

We had Christmas in Kenya this week when we received a tote full of necessities from our home Church, Ft. Cooper Baptist Church. Bro. Eddie Williams was the UPS man.
Not only did we receive a new camera that we will guard with our lives but we also received many other items as well as Birthday cards. A care package from the United States is definitely the highlight of any day on the foreign field. Not only because you receive needed items but there is a connection with your friends and family that really ministers to you. Thank U, Thank U, and Thank U for all who gave and or shipped items to us.

Today was a long and sad day with the birth, death and burial of Pastor Shadrach’s baby. I was hoping that I would never have to perform another Child’s funeral but given the high infant mortality rate here in Kenya that is somewhat unrealistic. Pastor Shadrach from Mawe Tatu and his wife Mary were having their fourth child when a serious problem arose during the delivery process. While they were able to save Mary’s life the baby died during delivery. Given the aforementioned circumstances we started our day at the public Mortuary here in Eldoret with Pastor and Momma trying to claim the body of their baby. While they were finishing their paper work Pastor Peter, Terry and I went to town to buy a little coffin. There was none available so we had one made within an hour.

We loaded the coffin in the back of the truck along with Sharach, Mary and several relatives. The coffin sat on my safari box in the back of the truck like the lid from the box was made to fit a baby’s coffin. That is the second coffin to sit on that box and I am not sure I can ever get my tools or parts out of that box again without seeing those little coffins sitting on it. Needless to say it was a quiet trip from Eldoret to the Western providence with a truck decorated with red cloth on four corners. Terry had the heart and forethought not only to buy a coffin but to buy Momma Mary flowers and a handkerchief which she clutches to the whole way home. We also gave them a cross that one of our Church members had made for us before we left. Bro. Rodger can make us another one as this one was desperately needed today. After an hour we arrived at Pastors Shadrach’s house with many friends, family and neighbors waiting for the funeral. The funeral and burial was very short. The theme was comfort and claim.

Comfort one another with these words and claim the promises made by Jesus as well as the Word of God.
I am thankful we have a resurrected Savior who has gone to prepare a place for us and I am also thankful that children are the heritage of the Lord. Please pray for Pastor Shadrach and his wife Mary in the days to come. Instead of bringing home a healthy new baby they brought home a little coffin and buried it next to their house. This was the first of many funerals of Landmark Baptist Church of Mawe Tatu. In all of this trial they have held steadfastly to their faith in Christ. That is real faith.

We ask you to pray for us as well when we travel to Nairobi on Wednesday to pick up our first visitor from America. The next two weeks we are going to log in many KM’s on the roads here and will need all the prayers that we can get. We love each and every one of you. God Bless.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez

Kenya, East Africa

2009 Transition, Three Stones & The Welch Revival

We are in somewhat of a transition and holding pattern while we are waiting for a visitor to come next week from the USA and we will be working in Turkana for a while. So this week we have been around Eldoret doing maintenance to the truck to prepare for our upcoming extended travels to Nairobi, Eldoret, Turkana and then back again. Tires, belts, lights and fluid changes have been serviced this week with still more needed next week. Your truck here is one of your most valuable friends and I do not spare any expense in making sure it is going to get us to our destinations.
Yesterday we visited Mawe Tatu (3) Stones as it is our closet Church to Eldoret. God continues to bless Pastor Shadrach and that congregation in a great way.

They have outgrown the house they started worshiping in and they will meet under tarps until they are able to mature to a point where they can think about building a Church. Until then they are united and content to have what they have, the blessings of God. Many visitors attended church with us yesterday. There were new converts from the neighboring village called Sekhindu who walked 10kms to attend Church at Mawe Tatu. The young lady named Sarah traveled one hour to meet us on the Uganda road going to go to Mawe Tatu. Also the young fabricator named Kennedy from Eldoret wanted to attend Church there.

That is a pretty good testimony for Pastor Shadrach and his Church that these young folks who could attend Church anywhere would rather attend a little bush Church in Western were they have grown to love the people, preaching and blessings of God. It is a good thing that Kennedy came as he speaks and reads English very well and there was nobody else to translate for us yesterday. So God is already using Kennedy to do his work. While I am attempting to teach in Swahili it is still necessary to have a translator on hand. We had a great day of worship with these wonderful people.

With no school this week and some extra time I spent a lot time studying the Welsh revival of 1904. Needless to say God has used this study to really touch my heart. I found myself with tears in my eyes while reading about the people who loved God and wanted God more than anything else in this world. I have recorded in my journal some of the facts and words from the Welsh revival as to remember what God did.

Words from the Welsh revival:
The Welsh revival was described as God visiting His Garden-
"A visitation of God’s power," they said ,
"we have His presence but we need His power." The people would testify:
“I love Jesus Christ with all my heart”!
In services they would sing 'Crown Him Lord of All' 17 X’s, they could not stop singing it. 3 young men prayed on a mountain top everyday for a month for God to move on Whales....
Evan Roberts, the leader of the Welsh revival prayed before the revival for God to “Bend me, bend me, all all all!”
He was called a lunatic by many and accused of lowering the tone of the denomination for preaching in the streets and trying to reach the lost with the gospel.
Wed November 2, 1904 Evan Roberts closed his letters with: "Onward fire divine!"

Revival meetings were prepared by Prayer- People walked 12 miles in rainstorms to pray.
Entire congregations would spend 2 hours singing praises to Jesus, by the time they were done people were weeping and praising.
Sunday Mornings: People were urged to pray: “Send the Spirit now for Jesus Sake,
“Send the Spirit now more powerfully for Jesus Sake.”
Services continued long into the night with a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit of God.
Churches were overflowing: they opened at 6 am and people stayed late into the night, one pastor said he tried to close the service 3 times but people stayed and experience the move of God and did not want to leave: God was everywhere.
All Churches were open every day till late night: Preaching was impassioned, people testified, people prayed, people weep, people ask for mercy.
Solos could be heard throughout the day and vast numbers of people would be singing inside and outside of the church with great passion.
Miners got saved and would be singing praises in the Streets to Jesus and would have tears running down their black faces. People confessing Christ all over Whales, people rejoicing, every church was affected by the revival in Whales, praise and thanksgiving and people enjoying God saying: “Glory, Glory, Glory”.
The Welsh word “bendageti” was heard all day which meant: Praises, Praises.
Miners Gave up drinking, gave up smoking brought their bottles and smokes to the altar.
Pubs were forced to close, they offered free drinks, nobody came, Futball games were canceled because everyone was in Church. They said 'we are seeing mercy drops falling but we pray for the showers. '
The power of God came down and in 2 months 70,000 were saved in Whales, worldwide 200,000 were saved. They had to retrain the pit ponies in the mines to listen to a language that was not swearing.
God breathed on Whales and He was gloried.
We need and pray for such a revival!

Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to share what God is doing in our lives.
Please continue to pray that Jesus will be glorified in all that we do and that we will continue to put our trust in Him and Him alone.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

Terry with women and children of Mawe Tau (3) Stones

50th Wedding Anniv., Graduation Day, Baby Carlos, New Village(Sikhendu), 16 Profess Christ

This week has brought so much activity I am not sure where to start. Well maybe I do. My hope is that you give me the liberty to wish my Mom and Dad a Happy 50th Anniversary. Words cannot begin to express

how proud I am of my parents for both enjoying the many years in Holy Matrimony as well as enduring the trials that occur during 5 decades of life. They are a great example to our generation of what God’s plan is for a husband and a wife to love each other till “death do us part”.

As I write this they are on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean with many of our family members celebrating this joyous occasion. We wish them a Happy 50th Anniversary and we wish we were there but we know that we are where the Lord wants us.

This week we completed our scheduled 6 months of language school.
It has been a blessing to learn the language as well as the culture.

While we still have a long ways to go with regard to hearing and fluency we have achieved what is known as conversational Swahili. It has been well worth the investment of time and money as we have connected with the people and the culture in a way that is only possible when you learn their language. Our teacher, Wycliffe, has done a great job of teaching us Swahili

as well helping us understand his culture. Over the last six months we have grown to know each other and to love each other through him teaching us Swahili and us teaching him the Bible. His wife, Eunice, had a baby boy on Wednesday that they named “Carlos”, which is my given name. That is one of the highest honors you can give a person here. Needless to say, we have impacted each others life’s in a great way.

With one of our main priorities being Bible education we continue to invest in printing and distributing Bible Study material. Along these lines this week I received an invitation to visit with Bro.Randy Stirwal who is a Bible Baptist Missionary here in Eldoret,. He and his wife Phyllis have been serving in Kenya for over 30 years.

Not only is he a wealth of information from His vast experience here

but he also opened his entire library to us for use in teaching and training. His library is so comprehensive that is takes up an entire room and the best part about the offer is that it is all on computer which he let me download onto my flash drive.... Anything I want and in Swahili and English.... Now I am not sure if you understand the magnitude of this offer but to have someone of like faith and doctrine open us his life’s work to be shared and copied puts us years ahead of where we would be trying to rewrite and translate what has already been done. Having it in English helps us review and verify everything that is in the lessons and having it in Swahili makes it available to those in the interior and remote regions where we are working.

I cannot tell you how big of a blessing this is. Already I have downloaded: Basic Bible Studies in discipleship, doctrine and How to interpret the Bible. Not only is there an extreme shortage of Bibles here in Kenya but there is also an extreme shortage of Bible study material. It is fair to say that now it is only a matter of
reviewing the material and getting it into the hands of the people who are so desperate for it.

Yesterday was the start of new evangelism campaign in a village called Sikhendu. It is located approx. 60 km from Eldoret and approx. 10 km

from Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) which is the first Church plant we have been blessed to be a part of. This new campaign is a result of the Pastor and members of Mawe Tatu, which is still a new Church plant in itself wanting to reach a neighboring village with the gospel. If you are counting, this is the 5th Church plant the Lord has allowed us to be a part of in 8 months. We dare not take credit for what God is doing but it is so awesome to observe what He is doing through His people. It is one of those times where the Lord is moving in the hearts of His people in a mighty way. People are getting burdened, people are getting saved and people are getting right with God in a way that tends to reflect a wildfire spreading throughout the land.

It is one of those times that you just try to hold on to God while He is moving and working in the life’s of so many at one time. The people that God has united us with during our time here in Eldoret are totally: On fire, committed and so in Love with Christ that they want to share it with others.

As I am constantly assessing our role in these works, I can only say , it is a blessing to come along-side of these sold-out and surrendered Christians and to be able to provide transportation to these remote areas, bibles, educational materials, teaching and to participate in what we call
Acts 20:20 Evangelism.
"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house."
There were 16 who professed Christ as personal Lord and Savior yesterday while visiting in Sikhendu. Before I close I want to personalize one of those visits for you. One of the houses we visited was the home of a man named Daniel. It is very rare to find the men home on visitation

as they are usually away farming or on business. Daniel was an exception to that rule yesterday as he was at home and welcomed us to visit and share God’s Word. After thoroughly sharing the love of Christ through the plan of salvation there was a moment when we asked Daniel, his wife and Sister in-law if they could recall a time and place in their lives when they had trusted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior?

The pause and conviction in that house was overwhelming as they each said a word that has come to break my heart:

“BADO” which means “not yet” in Swahili.

After asking Pastor Peter to pray with them, we rejoiced with them and explained that our efforts there would ultimately result in a new Church planted in their village. As we walked back to our rally site Daniel walked with us an explained that he has been wanting to know the Lord and was so excited about the prospect of a Church being planted in his village and that he wanted to be first to offer the Land for it to be built on.

We explained that it will be some time after the start of a weekly Bible study to build a church but he let us know that he and his family will be followers of Christ and faithful members. As we parted ways he said that after living in that same house for over 40 years he had never had a preacher visit his home and he said that God has not only given him salvation but the start of new life. We are truly humbled and blessed when we think of those converted and born again.

Since we traveled yesterday we stayed local and attended Bro. Randy’s Church at Kapsoya Baptist here in Eldoret. We brought along the young man named Kennedy and his nephew who is the young fabricator I recently lead to Christ, baptized and is doing a Bible study. While our commitment to preaching the gospel is first and foremost we also want to make every effort to disciple and mentor those that are saved.

Sorry I have been a bit long winded, but just had so much on my heart

I want to remember and share. I also apologize for the poor quality of the pictures but my Pastor has said that our Sunday school class at Ft. Cooper Baptist Church has bought us another camera and it will be here soon.

Thanks for all who take time to allow us to share this priceless experience with you.

Chuck and Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

School and Saying Good-bye

We have completed another week of school and it is hard to believe we have almost finished six months of language schooling with only one more week left. PTL!!
With Terry feeling under the weather we stayed local in Eldoret this week.
We made more progress on printing and distributing a Bible study program to some of the folks we are working with and actually had material translated into Swahili by our language teacher Wycliffe.
Since next week will be our last week with Wycliffe, we are looking to use him to help translate some more Bible study material for students and Pastors who are wanting to continue their education. Again ,none of the materials are intended to take the place of seminary training but instead intended to help those that have a desire to learn and cannot attend a seminary. This week we also said goodbye to a couple of young folks that the Lord has brought our way. The first one was a young lady named Sarah who is a housekeeper at the mansion that we live next door to in their guesthouse. Sarah has become friends with Terry over the last six months. During that time Terry lead her to Christ, we baptized her at Mawe Tatu (3 Stones) and Terry has been mentoring her as well.

She has decided to return to her village to help her parents with their family farm. Sarah always has a smile on her face and she was so happy to be saved and start her new walk as a Christian. She will be missed here in Eldoret but we know we will see her again one day if not here in heaven.

The other person we said goodbye this week to was young man named Geoffrey. He is the brother- in -law to our landlord Noah Ngeny who is the Olympic Gold Medalist and current world record holder in the 1500m. Geoffrey showed up at our compound while waiting to leave for the USA.
He introduced himself as a born again believer who was going to the USA on a four year track scholarship to the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff.
He said he knew nothing about the USA and did not know anyone but his track coach.
After discussing his spiritual condition I told him I knew of a Pastor in Pine Bluff that would welcome him to his Church. The Pastor is Roger Stewart of Olive Branch Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansans who we met on our deputation tour.
To make a long story short I put the two in touch with each other.
Bro. Roger was so glad that Geoffrey was coming to America for the first time and was willing to meet him, bring him to Church and become his friend.
Geoffrey could not believe he already had a Church home and Pastor waiting for him.
He was so grateful to have someone in America that would look out for his Spiritual welfare.
I asked Pastor Roger, What are the chances of me meeting a young Kenyan National that would be traveling to Pine Bluff, Arkansas looking for a good Church?
I have to agree with Bro. Roger that it is surely a “God Thing”.
Late last night I received an email from Bro. Roger who said that they were so pleased to have Geoffrey attend church with them and feed him his first Big Mac and Pizza.
Please pray for Geoffrey as he adjusts to the Land of Opportunity and for Bro. Roger as he teaches and disciples Geoffrey. I am looking forward to hearing of the great things that God is going to do through this relationship which was started thousands of miles away. Thank you for the many prayers and for allowing us to be a part of your life.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa
PS: Terry sends a sincere thank you for all that made her birthday special with cards, emails and calls

Bible Study Materials and 36 Baptized on Mt. Elgon

Over the last eight months we have put much effort into getting the Word of God into the hands of the Pastors and people we have been working with. These efforts have included printing Swahili gospel tracts, buying and distributing English and Swahili Bibles, giving out solar audio Bibles for those that cannot read and this week we started printing Bible Study material for those in leadership positions so they can be better equipped and educated to teach their people. We have met only a select few that have been able to attend a seminary so that leaves the vast majority of Pastors, Preachers and Leaders without any formal Bible training and education. This week we put together a comprehensive Bible study comprised of old material that we shipped and have used over the years.

To people that have nothing for study materials it was more precious than silver and gold.

Many said that they have been praying for years that God would provide them with the needed materials so that they may teach others. In the USA we certainly take it for granted that you can go to any Church on any Sunday and be handed a Sunday school lesson and/or a Bible devotion book. These materials or rare here in Kenya. So it was a blessing to see people so hungry and happy to receive teachings from God’s Word. A big part of our mission work here is to help the Pastors and leaders reach their potential through education so that they may reach others. These materials are not intended to take the place of a seminary but simply intended to help those who are unable to attend.
2 Tim. 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. "

Yesterday we met with the Landmark Baptist Church of Mt. Eglon. I was asked to teach on scriptural Baptism as there were 36 new converts who were ready for Baptism. While we have been assisting in the evangelism efforts there for several months this was our first opportunity to worship with the Mosaai’s of Mt. Elgon. We meet under a make shift building covered with tarps, tin and corn stalks.

There must have been around 100 in attendance and we had a great service of worship and preaching. We have been blessed to work with three different tribes thus far: The Luua, The Turkana and now the Mosaai’s of Mt. Elgon. All three have a very distinct and different ways of worshipping through singing and praising but these folks really sang very well.

After services we probably walked several Kilometers down a steep trail to the stream of very cold water coming from the top of the mountain. Among the many new converts baptized was a man named Simeon who is the husband of Terry’s translator Mary. She had been praying for over five years for her husband to trust Christ and become a Christian and now he has been saved and scripturally baptized. They both were so happy about becoming a Christian couple with a Christian home. After a long hard trek back up the Mountain accompanied by drums and singing we had to leave before it rained. This will be our last trip up Mt. Elgon for some time as it starting to rain daily and is impossible to drive to the top when it is the least bit wet. It is amazing to see what God is doing there now

with two simultaneous Church plants taking place on each side of the Mountain. We have been privileged to be a small part of the work there while attending language school. We thank God and give Him all the praise for what He is doing. Each week our language studies are paying off as we are able to speak, hear and communicate a little more. Thanks for allowing us to share our ministry with you and to be able to share the blessings of God’s work.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa Children of Landmark Baptist, Mt. Elgon

Slippery Slopes on Other Side of the Mountain, Police Garrison & Accident

This week we traveled back from Lodwar without any problems and resumed the home stretch of language school. While we are getting more comfortable in conversation and able to hear much more it is going to take considerably more time than 6 months to be at a level of fluency that we need to achieve. Nevertheless we are learning everyday and are very happy with where we are. Yesterday we returned to Mt. Elgon to contribute to the Church planting efforts there. The trip up the mountain was no problem but when got to the top it was very wet from a late evening rain the night before. It was so muddy that we were slipping and sliding off the road in 4 wheel drive. The area we visited was on the other side of the mountain from where we have done all the previous evangelism. Word has spread throughout the region that we have been visiting and there was a group of 30 believers who have been meeting without a Pastor or Church.

They had gotten word back to Pastor Peter that they wanted us to visit. Just getting to the site where those folks have been meeting was a chore as the steep slopes where like ice from the mud. On the way there I saw a donkey loaded with beans sitting on the trail unable to walk because of the mud.

I knew we were in for a tough day of trekking. We arrived at a site covered with two tarps where the group had been meeting. Their leader, a man named Alex was one that had lost his home and many members of his family during the clashes. Alex said that he had been praying that God would help him reach his people in his village for Christ. He has no denominational association and asked Pastor Peter to lead him and teach him Baptist doctrine. So what has started as a Church plant on Mt. Elgon could potentially turn into two Churches, one on each side of the mountain God willing. I know I have said it before but I don’t know that I have ever seen people who are so hungry and desperate for God.

Last week when we were in Turkana they baptized 22 where we started the original efforts on the mountain. I think it could be summarized best by a man who said: “After what people saw last year with the clashes how can people say we do not need God”? So after meeting with Alex and his people we divided up into 6 teams and started hiking, slipping and sliding. There were 19 people who made decisions to receive Christ as Savior and many that were encouraged in the Lord. I constantly have to thank God for a wife that is willing to go into intense hiking areas and be covered with mud to share God’s Word. Her heart and dedication to God never s ceases to amaze me. Before leaving I needed to find a police officer named Fred who is stationed at the Police Garrison on top of the mountain as I had promised Him a KJV English Bible when I meet him several weeks back. Upon visiting at the garrison we received a request from the base commander to come back and share God’s word. What a blessing to have the police welcoming God’s Word. So after another amazing day we started home. As we approached a small town a man on a bike came off a side road without stopping and ran into the side of the truck. I did all I could do to avoid him by braking and swerving but I could not leave the road because of pedestrians. Bro. Eddie Williams gave me some good advice before returning to the USA for this situation. He said no matter what the condition of the person; take them person strait to the Police Station. So that is what we did. Fortunately the hospital was located next to the police station so the man could get aid but he was hurting for sure. Nobody was injured in the vehicle and the only damage was a broken mirror and a scratch on the door. The police did their investigation and said I was not at fault and could not have avoided him hitting the truck but you still hate to see people hurt. We ask you to pray that the man will have a full and speedy recovery for people do not get good medical care here at all.

As I prayed this morning, I made a commitment to the Lord that I would not let Satan discourage or distract us from doing His will in our life. Today we attended Church locally here in Eldoret so we could get some rest from mountain climbing and the moving the previous week. Thank you for your prayers and for traveling this journey with us.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa

Mission Accomplished, Stolen Camera and Happy Birthday!

We have accomplished our objectives by traveling to Turkana this week. The house is secure: we have installed over 400 ft. of barb wire, chain link fence covered with mabati (palms leaves) and security lighting. We also installed the steel door and window we brought from Eldoret and have guards 24/7.

In addition to all the security measures we moved our household items into the house so when we finish our last month of language school we have everything in Turkana to begin our ministry work here. During all of the moving, construction and cleaning the replacement camera has come up missing. I told Terry, digital cameras must be the hottest ticket on the black market here in Africa. Fortunately, we bought a very inexpensive replacement for the first one that was stolen but still it is very discouraging. So the pictures that are attached were taken from my phone camera again and not good quality but better than nothing. Needless to say we are exhausted from the physical work and heat but we are glad we took this opportunity to make preparations for our move.
Today we celebrated my birthday by visiting a village called Nakechichok.
By the way, Thank you for all the warm birthday wishes!
We had great services and enjoyed teaching, preaching and worshiping with God’s people.

As with virtually every trip to remote areas we usually return with the sick from the village to bring them to Lodwar for medical treatment. Today we hauled coal for some of the Church members to sell in town and also brought back a baby who has been severely sick for almost two weeks now. Before we made it to town we stopped at an old Momma’s house named Mama Samson. We delivered meds to her in February as she was suffering from TB. She wanted to greet the missionaries who brought her the medicine that helped cure her. She has made a full recovery thanks to the great physician, the Lord. She asked for special prayers as they have lost their entire herd of goats due to the drought they are experiencing here in Turkana. It has not rained here since March and they only get around 10 inches per year. Prayer is important no matter what the subject is or where you are in the world but when it involves the life and death of people with very basic survival needs it tends to get your fullest attention. The people are really suffering here and are in desperate need of rain and relief. Before we left, the old Mama offered us some camel meat in appreciation for us stopping by to greet her and for bringing her medicine. Keep in mind that these are people who are starving wanting to give very healthy Americans food.
What a humbling experience.
You may be wondering if I accepted the gift?
It would be extremely disrespectful and offensive to decline something that is intended to be a blessing so we traveled back to Lodwar with a bag of camel meat.
God will bless the giving spirit of those that are in need.
The Bible says give and it shall be given unto you.

We will be traveling back this week with a different vehicle as I need to be bring the radiator from the Land Cruiser to Eldoret to be repaired. The Discovery Land Rover is much newer than the Toyota but has been sitting for a year.

So we covet your continued prayers for protection and provision. Special thanks to the Eddie Williams INN of Lodwar and thank you for taking time to remember us in prayer as we continue what is truly an journey of faith.

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya, East Africa