It has been several weeks since I have written a
blog/journal entry, however I still feel compelled to write them from time to
time. There is still much that needs to be recorded in our lives
that we want to be able to look back at in our golden years and I also believe
there is much that our brethren need to know about the lives of foreign
Missionaries, even while in America. So start with, I will just
share some of the stats to give you an idea of what deputation looks
like. Since we arrived back in the USA in February, I have
preached at four mission conferences, a 5 day revival, preached at Cross City
Correctional institute, Ft. Cooper BC, Anchor BC, Dean Springs MBC, Bethal MBC,
Chalybeate Springs MBC, 1st BC Rutland, Scrub Creek BC,
1st BC Kingstowne and Benchmark MBC. We have traveled
some 7,500 miles in six weeks to include: Florida, Georgia,
Arkansas and Virginia.
The thought crosses my mind that are those
who read these stats who may not fully be able to appreciate our travels on the
smooth roads of America, however all of this travel comes after a hard two year
term of working in the interior of East Africa which left us gasping for breath
and has really tested our stamina and in some cases even our calling.
You may be asking yourself if we are simply gluttons for punishment or
what? We are not gluttons for punishment but rather missionaries
in need of support. It has been said that “invention is the mother
of necessity”, well with regard to missionaries, “travel is the mother of
necessity”. We simply had to hit the road immediately in order to
raise funds to keep up with the explosive growth of our ministry over the last
few years. Trust me when I say that we do not enjoy living out of
suitcase, sleeping in hotel rooms, sleeping in someone else’s bed or a camper
and running ragged. There is a great sense of
“unsettledness” in our lives as there are many days that we wake up and really
do not know what city, state or country we are in. As we visit
God’s people to share God’s word and work we often say goodbye to people who are
able to return to their home, children, community, comforts of life and we speed
down the road to the next stop which is not our home. It really
reminds us that we are truly strangers and sojourners just passing through and
this is not our long home. We are exhausted, but have scheduled a
reduced pace over the next eight weeks in order to spend more time with our
children and grandchildren. Yesterday we had an awesome Easter
service as we celebrated our risen Savior with all of our children and
grandchildren in attendance.
Our Grandchildren
Family Easter March 31, 2013
Back to deputation, we fully realize
that our country is in an economic recession but we also believe God is able to
provide for His servants through these lean years. God has shown
himself faithful and it is just up to His people to show themselves faithful
like the churches of Macedonia did in meeting the needs of the saints in
Jerusalem some two thousand years ago. These were churches that
gave out “deep poverty” but only after they gave of themselves
were they willing to help the saints in Jerusalem.
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;
2Co 8:4 Praying us with
much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to
the saints.
We are also hold a very unique perspective of
being very fresh from living in a third world country where we see people
struggle to survive and exist on a daily basis and yet as we travel our great
nation we see great waste and excess everywhere we have traveled.
Even in recession, America is one of the richest and most blessed nations
of the world. Please pray that God will provide the needed
funds for us to return to Kenya so we may continue to move forward with
evangelism, training and church development. In closing, our
overall deputation goal and prayer is that God will help us increase our monthly
support by 10% and enable us to raise $25,000.00 to be able to build five more
sanctuaries when we return to Kenya. Thank you for allowing us to
share the Missionary experience with you and keep us in your prayers as we press
towards the mark of the high calling.
God Bless,
Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry
Fernandez
Kenya
