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