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