Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Close Call on Mt. Elgon & 152 Profess Christ

The second week of our mission trip found us climbing the steep, rocky and muddy slopes of Mt. Elgon.   While we had prepared for the cold temperatures at over 10,000 ft. above sea level we had not prepared for the rains which you can almost set your clock by this time of year.   Of all the years Terry and I have been working on Mt. Elgon we have never been stuck there, but all that changed with our group of four because I let our Pastors determine our schedule rather than giving them the schedule. It was a calculated risk since I did not have Terry with me and since we had planned on spending the night on the mountain but was one that ended up being way more stressful than necessary.   Here is the short version, we divided up into three teams for village evangelism and scheduled each group to meet back at the truck before two o'clock when the rains start so we could make our way back to the Church we were sleeping at and before the roads turn to mud. Once that happens you are not going anywhere regardless of what type of four wheel drive you have.   So as you can already imagine, the leader of the group Bro. Gary Weidenbach and I were in led us so far away that we could not get back to the truck in time before it started raining.   With the rain falling we desperately tried to get down the slopes to no avail.   After bouncing off the sides of numerous ditches we slide off the road and got stuck several times, and with nothing to hook the winch to we had to use man power to push the Rover back onto the road. 
 We finally made it to a plateau where one of our outreaches is located at Huruma.   After taking hot Chai (Tea with milk) to warm up and since we were somewhat stranded we figured we might as well do what God had called us to do and continued evangelism. God used that lapse in judgment to see many more villagers come to Jesus Christ which brought the Mt. Elgon total to 141 decisions.
God has a way of taking our blunders and using them for His honor and glory.
                                                             Evangelism


We were blessed to make it off Mt. Elgon without any injuries and minimal damage to the truck.   After a day of rest and repair we packed up again and took off for the Kerio Valley. So from the one extreme of high, cold wet elevation to the semi arid region of the Kerio Valley and light weight desert clothing.   Our first visit in the valley would take us to the village of Lopsusinkou to deliver the good news of the gospel.
 Pokot Solar Bible
The Pokots welcomed us with open arms to share the gospel and to preach God's word. Many made professions of faith and we left some of the solar powered audio Bibles to start groups to listen to the Word of God.
 Rom. 10:17 " So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Our second trip would take us deeper into the bush to visit a second generation Church plant at the Pokot village of Morreris. Before we brought the good news of the gospel this village was known as the village of murderers. Now there is joy in the hearts of so many and the name of Jesus can be heard through song and preaching throughout the village.   It has been amazing to watch God radically transform this village before our eyes over the last couple of years and is a reminder of what a personal relationship with Christ does to a sinner saved by grace. This visit also afforded us the opportunity to deliver the tent given by the children of Dean Springs MBC from their VBS offerings.
What a connection and what a blessing! Children giving to God's work in remote interior regions of East Africa to give these new converts relief from the hot sun.
Our final safari day brought us back for Sunday worship service at the first Pokot Church Terry and I help plant in the village of Chepsabei.   The Landmark Baptist Church at Chepsabei is alive and well.   The songs service is always powerful, the teaching Dr. Myers brought was moving and the Church honored him with a goat and a bow.
Evangelist James Jones with God's People
The preaching by Evangelist James Jones was accompanied by God's Spirit which left the alters full and God's people crying out to God. Oh that we long for those types of services in the Churches of America. 2Ch 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Thank You for tuning in and please pray for our return flights to the USA, we look forward to seeing you all on the other side. 

God Speed,

Bro. Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez
Kenya/Uganda#Florida Plant 

Monday, September 7, 2015

Faithful Men, 52 Baptized and Give us That Mountain

After five days on the ground I am starting to re-acclimate to the place that Terry and I have called home for many years.   The process starts the minute you depart from the British Airways flight from London (flight 3 of 4) to arrive in Nairobi. Terry and I have made the trip so many times that it has become second nature. Even though I am traveling with three other preachers there is a definite void in my heart without the greatest co-laborer in Christ I have ever known. She is faithfully maintaining her ministry working with the youth at the Florida Church Plant as well as maintaining in-home Bible Studies with the Ladies she is teaching and discipling.
Our first full day in country would start with the event which, in my mind, is some of the most important work we will do this week. By the grace of God we will reach people with the gospel which is obviously of great eternal significance. But training these Men of God is also of eternal significance and hopefully will be passed down from generation to generation. So our team of four preachers: Dr. Tim Myers, Gary Weidenbach, James Jones and I dove right in for two days of teaching.   From the feedback we received, I believe the teachings took them to places they have never been in Bible History/Geography, Eschatology, Bible Analysis, and Early Church History.
James Jones Teaching
It is our prayer to help them to develop into faithful men who will be able to teach others. There were a total of 48 Pastors, Evangelists and Preachers who attended the three day seminar. The work which Terry and I left in the National Pastors hands has now grown to from sixteen to twenty Churches! Can somebody say Amen and Amen? 
Pastors, Evangelists and Preachers at Seminar...
Study
More Study
Reading God's Word
Dr. Myers often says that what we are seeing before our eyes is the closest thing to the replication of New Testament Church planting we have seen in many years. I say we do all we do for the glory of God in the name of our Lord Jesus.   We would divide up our team to be able to be a blessing to more than one Church on this past Lord 's Day.   Pastor Tim and Evangelist James Jones visited the Landmark Baptist Church at Ndivisi while Bro. Gary Weidenbach and I visited the Landmark Baptist Church at Namarambi.   We would baptize fifty two new converts and saw two more professions of faith in Christ Jesus. 
Baptism
Family of God
Many of those new converts came from the three surrounding villages where Bible studies have been started over the last several years. It does our hearts good to see the work Terry and I have poured our lives into grow and go forth in faith with the good news of the gospel. Our first ministry safari also gave us the opportunity to check on the building progress at Namarambi. We also got to look at the new school plot at the Church at Ndivisi, which Bro. Gary and His wife Pam helped purchase.
Bro. Gary 
It is so encouraging to see God's people with passion, vision and a burden to reach the lost pushing forward to grow God's work here in Kenya.  Each passing week will grow in difficulty and as I conclude this journal entry. We are preparing and packing for our trip up Mt. Elgon tomorrow for two days of village evangelism.   Just climbing the mountain and then hiking above 10k feet above sea level is enough to bring you to your knees. We will see tomorrow who is up for the challenge of climbing peaks and valleys to preach the gospel.   Your prayers are needed and deeply appreciated.   Our prayers have been answered since the first trip I took up that mountain in 2009 when we prayed,              "God give us this mountain".
Thank you for allowing us the privilege of sharing what God is doing on this trip as we fulfill the great commission to the uttermost parts of the earth.

In His Service,

Bro.Chuck & Sis. Terry Fernandez