My Friends,

When the going gets tough...the tough get going.  I know this is the standard phrase, but in my situation...the tough look to God (because in my weakness I find His strength).  The beginning of 2012, actually the entire month of January, has been amazingly hard for me personally (mentally and physically), with the ministry needs and with life in general.  For almost two years we have been working in Kenya and Tammy has not told you the whole story about what we do.  She usually focuses on the kids who God has brought to us and now live at C4KK (and that is what she should do since that is the main area God has had us focused on).  The other thing we do is work with many families and children who are considered extremely impoverished (literally dying because of lack of medical attention, starvation, simple things that can be treated like malaria and typhoid, and some not so simple like AIDS).  Starting this year I told Tammy I had to share some of my heartbreak with you on some of the things we work on.  I do this not to guilt you into anything, but to allow you to "be aware" of the suffering found outside of the US so you can assist if God moves you to do so.  How can you assist if you are not aware? It may also be therapy for me since I believe God has broken my heart by those things that break His and while He can bear it, it becomes extremely difficult for me to do so and I find myself physically and mentally exhausted.  I believe if I share my burden with you, whether or not you can partner with me to assist others, it will be comforting to know my friends are sharing these tragic stories, which is actually Tammy's and my reality, and which take place in Kenya (and throughout most of the African continent) on a daily basis.

My make-up is such that I want to assist everyone I come in contact with.  We assisted many in the US who were no wheres near the situations we find here.  With that, it only makes me want to assist the "least of these" even more.  God takes the burden and He gives providence, and will continue to give, so what He wants done is accomplished, but my human weakness is that I want to help everyone...how can I sit by and let someone die if I can do something about it...use me Lord until you call me home.  I can no longer live my selfish life when I am aware, when You have called me, through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, to be with those who are perishing...give me Your strength to simply be with them and not despair because my hope, their hope, must remain in You...they must see the love of Your Son through our actions. 

Starting the year with 50+ kids...what a financial event it is.  We actually began 2012 in mid-December 2011.  What I mean is we knew we had to get many of our kids back in school and that in addition to the fifteen we already worked with in Secondary (9th through 12th), we had nine more who would be entering this year (which brings with it a cost of approximately $400 to $500 per child depending on the school).  So, we began paying the fees in mid-December so we could work through January 2012 on getting the necessary funds to put the other 9 in school (which ended up being 10 because of God bringing a child to us literally this past week - only a grandmother who has uterine cancer to care for her).  This was on top of the fees which would be required at Nice View for the 14 students in primary school who need our continued support (around $1,600).  And, of course, we still have the other primary students at C4KK...grand total....drum roll...53 children God has given us to take care of (with two more coming as I write). Now, this was all happening when our funds being sent from the US were being absconded in South Africa.  We had funds which were sent in October and November which came the end of December and literally last Friday.  This was not too disturbing to me since I knew they were coming (people in the US had traced them and found out they were being "used" in South Africa for a while...what?) and I truly believed God's timing would allow them to come through just at the right time...and they did.  We have been able to pay for all the fees for the first term and shopping for those continuing and starting secondary school, except around $200...we will see how God will provide this week.  We must take an opportunity to thank all of you who take Jesus' words seriously and have assisted these kids He has called us to serve.  We are working out our salvation with fear and trembling together.

So what is the terrible pain and suffering that is happening, isn't it just funds?  It seems like many non-profits working in impoverished countries there is always a financial need...that is true, there is.  But my pain and suffering has to do with many things but mainly to do with my walk with Jesus.  In late December I tore my lower back while working at the children's home tossing 30kg (about 60 lb) rocks which we were using to build.  Since that time I have only been able to be on my feet about 4 hours a day and can't sit for more than 20 minutes or so.  You may ask, "Why don't you go to the doctor"...I did.  I inquired into whether they had a chiropractic doctor to simply move my lower back into position (Dr. Chris Koch I so wish I could visit you for 1 minute).  The answer was "A what?".  Out here in the village even the hospitals and doctors have never heard of a Chiropractor.  Since they hadn't, they offered to give me a malaria shot...o.k.?  I told them no thanks.  I finally found that in Nairobi there MAY be a chiropractor...the people I talked to were not sure, but said this is my best bet...we will see how that goes in a couple of weeks (trust me that will be another experience).  So, through what we have been doing I have had to work with the extreme back pain and very limited movements.  In addition I have now picked up an amoeba which will be with me for the rest of my life.  It is a stomach related illness which makes me sick each time I eat...yes, each meal.  It actually came from...watch out this is ugly...eating food with feces in it...common in Africa.  It is more annoying than anything at this stage, a little queasiness after each meal, but I don't know what the future holds for this one.  Hold it, did I get off track...no, hang on.  What I wanted to tell you is after all that I have been so frustrated not being able to be at C4KK every day.  It takes me weeks to work out things I would have worked out in a couple of days.  I have not been able to keep in touch with friends who I look toward for assistance.   I am missing my daily interaction with the locals and our kids and this was such a busy month with the kids going back to school.  BUT, the Lord is once again reminding me that my pain and suffering is nothing compared to His, my pain is nothing compared to those dying of AIDS, my pain is nothing compared to the pain of the children whose dad's are dead or have simply abandoned the families and whose mom's are dying before their eyes.  I have a wife to take care of me and assist me.  I have a bed which I can go to each night.  Even though my stomach is queasy each day I have food.  My position in this life is blessed to be able to serve those who I have been called to serve through my pain and suffering...thank you Lord for these lessons and please continue to "renew my mind" each day toward that of Christ Jesus...this has nothing to do with funds.

I know this was a long email...I could even write more but I know by now your eyes have to be glazing over...so to finish...Tammy will continue to bring you what is happening with the children's home you have assisted in building and which is in need of finishing.  I am going to attempt to give you more insight into the "other" things we do.  I need you to know that I see those who you and I have been called to assist daily...the "least of these"...those who Jesus speaks of when He condemns the goats and calls the sheep home.  I do not want my Lord to tell me..."You never told them. That is one of the reasons I put you there so those who are not there would know and listen to My Spirit and have an opportunity to work out there salvation through my children in need."  My calling and yours is the same, to love God with our whole hearts, souls, mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves by living out the Gospel in word and in deed...bringing the Kingdom of God to earth...we are just doing it on opposite sides of the world.  I am so happy we are together in His service.

Just to remind you the websites are www.SavedByGodsGrace.org or www.C4KK.org (the children's home site here in Kenya).  Tammy's blog is on the Saved By God's Grace website which shows some of the daily life of the kids.  We are both on Facebook also.  If you have not "befriended us" and would like to please do.  Facebook is where I will be posting more of the "other" things we do (which can/will be disturbing) which I believe will show you a glimpse of where/who our Lord has called us to serve...it is not pretty, it is a calling with a lot of pain, but the joy of serving the One and coming closer to Him outweighs it all.

"Well done good and faithful Son".  These are the words I long to hear, in person, and I pray you do also.  May God's sufficient grace be evident and felt in your life as you live out the Good News which Jesus came to bring.  Mungu akubariki (God bless you).

Chuck

Missionary to Kenya