The Joy of the Lord, Building Challenges & A Crown of Thorns

Circle of Prayer and 'Joy of the Lord'....

We spent the last few days in the Kerio Valley with our Pokot brethren at the Landmark Baptist Church of Cheposabei. 

                                          Fresh Camel Milk

No break downs, sickness or flat tires this week, PTL!

........but heavy daily down pours of rain made the mud a real challenge to drive and work in. The upside was that the desert heat was quailed by the overcast skies.

In the end we give God the praise for what is a tremendous blessing in a region that averages less than ten inches per year. Each time we visit the village of Cheposabei I realize I report on how God has transformed the lives of these precious folks which is evidenced by the joy that we have seen grow throughout this village over the last three years.

Where there was darkness, there is now light through Christ. 

This time was different in the fact that their joy was very contagious as we worked hand in hand and side by side to build the house of the Lord.

I honestly cannot remember the last time we laughed and had so much fun doing God’s work in a remote interior village.

This is also something that is very counter culture and is one of the very lessons that Nehemiah taught his people as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem; 

Neh. 8:10 "For the joy of the Lord is your strength. "

We definitely experienced great strength this week from the joy which is produced from an abiding faith and love in our Lord and Savior.

The new building process using steel instead of wood is providing great challenges as our men have never worked with steel before and the only blue print we use is from a picture that was given to me by another missionary who used this method several years ago. Given the fact that I am not a structural engineer or construction superintendent, we have had to make many design changes as we have gone along.

This is what I would refer to as a very fluid construction project.

Tinsel strength, load bearing and other building terms are somewhat foreign to me but as a country boy from Florida and a “Jack of all trades”,

I have a 'get~r~done' type of attitude and a willingness to learn from my mistakes and make changes as we go along.

Please pray for us as we attempt to build something that is God honoring and safe for God’s people to learn and worship under.                     Audience

Building

Hammer Time

Helpers

Women of  Excellence....

Runners

Drilling

Tension

Terry's Team

WORK CREW

It is easy when building a structure which is ministry related to get caught up in the process and practicalities of construction.  

But there was a single solemn event which took place in the Kerio Valley one day that caught our attention and brought us all back to our sole purpose in everything we do.

As we drilled, hammered, lifted and pushed forward, Terry was sitting quietly under a small shade with her very first namesake “Teresa” making a crown of thorns.  

“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head.”

 Matthew 27:29 

Only a child of God can possibly know what the crown of thorns means as our Savior wore it when He was mocked and beaten on his way to Calvary.

Charles Spurgeon once said that crown of thorns was symbolic as a triumphal crown. While that may be true, the crown speaks to my heart of the great sacrifice and humiliation my Lord and Savior endured for me as He paid my sin debt.

My Lord wore my crown of thorns for me!

“Who defeats my fiercest foes?

Who consoles my saddest woes?

Who revives my fainting heart,

Healing all its hidden smart?

Jesus crowned with thorns.”

You see, Terry reminded all of us of something so priceless and special that day without ever speaking a word.  

We serve an amazing God who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.   

Thank you for allowing us to share what God is doing in Kenya, East Africa.

We covet your continued prayers as we look forward to His soon coming.

In His Service,

Chuck & Terry Fernandez
Kenya

Phil. 4:13