Yep, it’s time to go!

A few of Fox River Missions leadership are headed to Kenya!

We get to go and celebrate, hug, grieve, love, and just be with our students, partners, and missionaries in Kenya after year that put so much separation between us.

We have longed for this day. For it to be okay for us to travel again, for graduations to be scheduled, for the moments to embrace and connect with our people!

Jason, Denise and I, Abbey, will be headed out this morning (6/18). We will land in Mombasa on Saturday. Follow along this week through the blog and social media!

ALL things work for Good……

I have learned in my life that things are not constant nor do they always pan out in the way we have dreamt or hoped they would. 

I have been a believer in Christ for the past 20 years and I can attest that God has been faithful to me. I can say this because He has brought me blessings and he has never left me even when I have struggled. 

2020 was a year like any other where many of us had dreams and plans put into place and that sure changed when we found ourselves in a world wide pandemic. For us as a family we were hit with our own personal pandemic if I can say as much. In June of 2020 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the blood and the bones.  

First Chemo day in mombasa kenya

The news devastated us when it first came even though we knew of the Lords faithfulness. This was scary – this was unexpected. As a family and a community, we started to map out the way forward and thankfully in the midst of the pandemic I was able to get the 6 months of chemo that I needed.

Transplant prep before heavy chemo in India.

After that a Bone Marrow transplant was needed and because many people who financially gave I was able to get that with my wife Jenna by my side in December of 2020 in Hyderabad, India. 


Again, God’s faithfulness. We saw the money come in that we certainly didn’t have for a transplant. And we saw travel as an option when the world had shut down. We saw protection as I went through Chemo and had to be so careful of who was around me and might pass along a bug. 

Post transplant moments of low white blood cells and feeling weak. (Christmas and birthday week)

Today we brag on God by saying I am in full remission and cancer free. I have pain in my body that still needs to heal from the destruction the cancer had on my bones. But day by day that is getting better.

Family moment with our precious daughter Etana.

In the midst of this we also lost one of the greatest joys of our life, our daughter Etana in an accident in October. We were actually at the doctors office for my final round of Chemo treatment when it happened. In truth, this is something we are still trying to recover from. We still mourn her loss and we have no other choice than to trust a faithful God to build our hearts back together bit by bit. A month prior to the Lord calling her home her adoption had been finalized and I think the Lord knew how important that was to us. Lawfully, legally and with two very willing hearts we are a family forever. Now we wait for a day when we can be just that – together.  

This last year held a lot of pain for us as a family. We pray God would be praised and gain glory through our suffering. We also hope people would know the God we experienced this last year. A God of hope and of love, one of understanding and willingness to sit in great tragedy. For our God is not in the sole business of making us happy or just meeting our wants and needs but is in the business of perfecting us into the image of Christ each and everyday of our lives. After all is said and done for sure all things work together for good for them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

Present day in remission and getting better by the day.

We thank you Fox River standing with us and praying for us– we appreciate you. 

National Exams

Preparing for their Math Exam.

Just like for many many students in the states, our Kenyan brothers and sisters have had a school year that has looked very different. And like so many of us, they have taken different and done their very best with it! Their school term is wrapping up and Grade 4 and 8 will be sitting for their national exams on March 22nd.

The new school year begins in January, but before then we have almost 100 students finishing primary school and high school that will be taking national exams that will determine their next steps.

55 students finishing Grade 8 are sitting for their national exams next week. The results of these exams will determine if and where they will attend high school. They have prepared well despite their circumstances.

There are 32 of our students finishing high school. These students wi also be taking their exams. Students who do well will be invited to attend a university that is highly subsidized.

The students were able to have a beach day together to grow and relax a bit, what a joy for them!

There is a lot of stress for these students, especially for grade 8. Will you please pray with us for them, their families and their teachers?

We will keep you posted as we have results- thank you for praying with us!

Back to School for All Students in Kenya

Kenyan schools are back in session! With cleaning, handwashing, masks and distancing the children and staff are doing well. They are so happy to be together again. It is their hot, dry season and COVID-19 cases in the country are at a low level. The Kenyan government is going to try to make up for all the lost months of education by altering their school calendar through 2023. Please pray for each young life and those adults who care for them as they face the challenges of this new world. 

LETTERS
We will begin the exchange of letters with sponsors and students in February 2021. If all goes well, we will be able to deliver letters each month this year except April. 

Thank you for your life-changing sponsorship! You have been a life line for these families in 2020 and now we return to the mission to offer hope and a better future on this earth and in eternity through education and the message of Jesus!

2020 SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Grade 4 (oldest class in the new school system), Grade 8 (oldest class in primary school) and Grade 12 (seniors in high school)

• Term 1: January - March 2020 before COVID-19 closures

• Term 2: October - December 2020 (only classes allowed to return to school in late 2020)

• Term 3: January - March 2021

• April 2021 they will take national assessments and wait to hear the results

• They will go to their next level of education with the rest of the classes at the end of July 2021 at which time all students will begin the 2021 school year

All Other Grade Levels from Preschool to High School

• Term 1: January - March 2020 before COVID- closures

• Term 2: January - March 2021

• March 20 - May 7 they will be on school break while grades 4, 8 and 12 take their national assessments

• Term 3: May 10 - July 16, 2021

2021 SCHOOL SCHEDULE

• All preschool - high school students are back on the same schedule

• Term 1: July 26, 2021 - October 1, 2021

• Term 2: October 11, 2021 - December 23, 2021

• Term 3: January 3, 2022 - March 4, 2022

• March & April 2022: national assessments for grades 5, 8 and 12 and marking

2022 SCHOOL SCHEDULE

• Term 1: April 25, 2022 - July 1, 2022

• Term 2: July 11, 2022 - September 16, 2022

• Term 3: September 26, 2022 - November 25, 2022

• December 2022: national assessments for grades 5, 8 and 12

• January 2023: marking national assessment

2023 SCHOOL YEAR: January 23 - December
2024 SCHOOL YEAR: back to normal beginning the first week in January and ending in November with national assessments

A Thank You From Pastor Denis

The year of 2020 was full of many uncertainties, disappointments, fear, and unexpected changes. In the midst of all that, God was at work in our lives and in the lives of the people we support through My Gift For Jesus in new and exciting ways.

In every season God is working, whether we can see it or not His hand is at work always. Pastor Denis shares about that in a letter he sent for each of you:

Hello Fox River Church!  We send you hugs and greetings from La Esmeralda-Nicaragua, from our church and the clinic staff. It is an honor to be able to send this message to you.

Today we want to say thank you so much for your love, work, and dedication to us through this year, 2020. Today we want to say thank so much for joining us in this glorious year, we are so thankful for the missionary hearts that you have as a church. You are truly our family, our sister church, that fights with us in the battles and stands beside us through the tests. Thank you so much for being with us in every moment, in the moments of joy and the moments of sadness. Thank you for completing the command of Matthew 28:19-20, you are an example to follow, a missionary church that is 100% involved in reaching all people even “to the ends of the earth”. Thank you for your mission work and obedience to this command from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, we can say that hundreds of people have heard the Gospel this year because of what you do. Many of whom have come to the feet of Jesus: children, teens, and adults are now part of our church. Incredible stories of people coming to God. Many communities are full of profound gratitude and this is all possible because of the work you do in global missions.

We do not have words to express how thankful we are. The changes we have seen after you obeyed the call of God to this country and more specifically this community are amazing. Again, there are no words to thank you enough. There has been an incredible impact of which spiritual impact has been the greatest, all because of your heart for missions.

We encourage you to continue this effort, we encourage you to give to My Gift For Jesus! There are eternal rewards and every time that you and I obey Gods call, the heart of Christ is glad because this is the way to reach the world…

Missions is the heart of God, thank you for being connected to Him.

We love you so much!

May God bless you richly,

Pastor Denis and Karen Fuentes

Let us praise God for His working in Nicaragua! As we look forward to this year, 2021, may we open our eyes to see what God is doing in our world and in the lives of those we may never see. Your gift and you prayers touch more lives than you will ever know.

If you didn’t have a chance yet to join the My Gift For Jesus movement for 2021 its not too late! Just click here to be part of what God is doing in Nicaragua and Kenya.

We are expectant and excited as we step into this new year and can’t wait to share what God does!

How does My Gift For Jesus Work?

What is My Gift for Jesus?

Our December challenge to give a gift to Jesus during this Christmas season by helping children who live in extreme poverty in Kenya and Nicaragua.

How Can I Get Involved?

Choose your level of engagement:

• GIVE: Start by making a life changing donation. Monthly sponsorship is just $25. You can give weekly, monthly or annually.

• PRAY: Stop by the missions booth after a weekend service and pick up a prayer card for Nicaragua or a Kenyan child. Hang them in a spot to remind you to pray for these ministries. Not able to make it to one of our campuses in December? No problem. Email us at missions@foxriverchristian.org and we’ll get them to you.

• CONNECT: Write letters to the Kenyan child on your prayer card or write an encouraging note to one of our partners in Nicaragua. Visit our Connect page to get started.

You can get involved through sponsorship here. Your pledge helps us to plan for the work we will be able to do in the year ahead.

 How Do I Give?

• Give online through Fox River’s website. Be sure to use the space marked for My Gift for Jesus.

• Place cash or check in the offering during a weekend service. Be sure it is marked for My Gift for Jesus.

• Mail a check to Fox River (S46 W24130 Lawnsdale Road, Waukesha, WI 53189) or drop off at the church office. Be sure it is marked for My Gift for Jesus.

 What Does Fox River Do in Kenya and Nicaragua?

Kenya: we partner with local churches to offer a great Christian education that will give these young people the opportunity to know God and break the cycle of poverty in their family and community.

• Fully sponsor 2 schools with about 800 students from preschool through middle school and 80 staff members. This includes all school supplies, 2 meals on school days, and basic health care.

• About 120 students sponsored in our partner high school.

• Clean water for the community surrounding the school.

• Farm project to supplement the feeding program.

• Adult literacy classes.

• A rescue center that provides a loving home for children who have been abandoned.

Nicaragua: we partner with the local church in La Esmeralda to provide healthcare in a remote location where no healthcare in available.

• A clinic staffed with a doctor that sees hundreds of patients each month.

• The clinic specializes in prenatal care and this year we were able to furnish it with a birthing suite.

• Beyond the physical care, the pastor and staff share the gospel and minister to the needs of the soul.

We also support a sports ministry that gives an outlet for hundreds of children and teens to engage in wholesome activities and hear about Jesus.

To all those who give and pray we would like to say THANK YOU, ASANTE, GRACIAS! We would not be able to make this impact on the world without you. Our partners in both Kenya and Nicaragua want you to know they are so grateful for your love and generosity towards them.

Etana Marie

Today you read a heavy blog.

With very heavy hearts we share with you that we have lost a member of our Fox River family. Early morning on Wednesday, October 21st we received a phone call from Pastor Gideon in Kenya to share that the daughter of our Missionaries, O’Neal and Jenna Nyanje, had passed away after an accident. As Jenna and O’Neal went for chemotherapy, Etana wandered away from the babysitter to a nearby pool where she fell in and passed away. Words nobody ever expects to hear.

I (Abbey) want to share a bit of Etana’s life with you so that we can remember her well and honor her life.

Just over a year ago, we shared the exciting news with you that our dear missionaries, O’Neal and Jenna, were welcoming the newest addition to their family, Etana Marie.

This sweet baby was welcomed after years of prayers and waiting to see how God would bring a child into their lives. As close friends of the Nyanjes, we prayed and waited anxiously with them to see God’s plan come to fruition. Etana, you were prayed for! Etana, you were waited for!

They got the call! They were told about this baby girl who was in need of a family. Then came your picture… STOP IT! There was no going back after they saw your face. Your mom and dad knew you were made to be theirs. On September 27, 2019, they picked Etana up and brought her home. Etana was 7 months old when they became a family of 3, a story that only a good, good Father could write. A story of redemption, faith, hope, healing, and saving grace. Etana, you were sought after!

This little girl captured the hearts of all who laid eyes on her and she knew it! Her laugh was so contagious and could make you smile on even the worst day. Her feisty personality made for days full of laughter and a whole lot of energy! Etana, you are SO loved!

Watching as O’Neal and Jenna became the parents they had waited to be was breathtaking. They jumped in with both feet ready to take on this new adventure. I’m not sure if they were completely ready for how deeply Etana would change their hearts. But girl did you! You took their lives by storm and they immersed themselves in every minute of it! Etana, you are cherished!

On September 25, 2020, Etana’s adoption became official!!! All the court dates completed, papers signed, and meetings logged. O’Neal, Jenna, and Etana were legally made a family. This just solidified that she was the child that God had in store for them. Etana, you were perfectly placed!

Etana Marie, I wrote these words for you on your first birthday and I think they are even truer today than they were then. “You sweet girl were prayed for, you were waited for, you were sought after. You are SO loved, you are cherished, you are perfectly placed!” This rings even more true today because today you are in the arms of your Creator.

Selfishly we wish Etana was still on this earth with us, but we believe she is in the arms of our good, good Father.

Will you pray God’s peace and comfort over O’Neal and Jenna with us? The loss of a child is a journey through grief that consumes and overwhelms. Pray with us for peace that passes all understanding, and for grace as they navigate this journey together.

WE ARE BACK

It’s been a whole 7 months since March when we first had to close our school due to the COVID Pandemic.

We stayed home faithfully and followed the ministry of health guidelines to curb the spreads of The diseases by social distancing.

Food supply

Maize Flour beans and maize rations

Thankfully we were able to work with our faithful partners to continue a variation of our past feeding program, distributing Whole Foods! We also tried as we could to continue our learning program while giving materials to assist them staying up to speed with learning during the time out.

small packaging

Food ration and school supplies packages

Now that we have done a partial open (class 4 and 8) there are plenty of new things we have have to set up to enable us stay healthy.
many things that were sure you’re also seeing in the state’s.
wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping space is something we’re all trying to uphold as we slowly open.

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Breakfast is served

Whole meal porridge is good meal to start the day.

As we said, Only our class 4 and 8 students are back and have checked in. We wait for directives as to when the rest of the classes will be back from the ministry of education. This is both New life Bomani and Crossroads Vipingo Academy’s . As for the High school, they reported later in the the day because they are boarding.

We are making a special prayer request this time round. We ask for good healthy and for understanding on how to run this new school program with Covid guidelines. We pray to understand how to manage the student and keeping them safe from any infections. Most of all for success in their academics now that they have missed a big amount to school.

Prayer for the Nyanje's

This is an update we can say we never wanted to write nor one that we would have ever imagined having to.  Yet, we share this so that you can join us in praying for and encouraging O’Neal and Jenna Nyanje, our Missionaries in Kenya.

Over a year ago O'Neal started having back pains that were unexplained and that have continued to get worse.  April and May brought severe amounts of uncontrollable pain.  Not only were they in quarantine, but O'Neal was stuck on the couch and couldn’t do normal things around the house.  At the beginning of June, O'Neal's pain became too great, they decided it was time to seek out a doctor who would be willing to see him. It was time to get some help with the pain and some answers.  O'Neal spent a few days in the hospital having tests run and his pain managed.  These were hard days.  They couldn't be together. Jenna could only visit for short periods because curfew is still set in their cities. 

After several tests, conversations, and second opinions, they have been given a diagnosis.  Never did they imagine that back pain could be something that world turn their world upside down.  O'Neal's biopsy has come back positive for a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. 

O’Neal will start 8 weekly chemotherapy sessions on Tuesday, June 23. Pray with us as we know everyone responds differently to chemo.

O’Neal and Jenna truly believe that God is at work and will walk in faith knowing that He holds their future.  In the times that it gets harder to do, they know that they have an army behind them.  Thank you for praying for O'Neal and his family.  

As you can imagine, expenses for O’Neal’s care will add up quickly. The Nyanje Help Fund has been set up for donations to help them prepare and to have peace of mind.

There is a Caring Bridge page that you can follow to get updates along the way.

Nyanje’s - Your Fox River family is praying! We love you!

We’re gonna see a victory
We’re gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you, Lord!

Counting It All Joy - Even in Loss

We have introduced to you in the past a particular Crossroads Academy Student who we are very proud of. Salim is now in the graduating class 8.

Salim

Salim is a special student of ours who came to the school in 2016 and has overcome many obstacles. He has put a LOT of work and devotion into his schooling. We are so proud of his accomplishments at the school - taking one of the top 3 positions in subjects like math and science.

Salim’s grandma

Salim lives with his grandmother who has been sick for some time. This last Sunday, May 24th, Salim's grandmother went home to be with the Lord. It is easy to talk about his accomplishments in the classroom but perhaps what has touched our hearts the most is his relationship and care-giving he has given to his grandmother. He is one outstanding young man who was responsible for more in the home than someone is at his age.

Salim with the grandma and his sponsor, Catherine

So we grieve along side him as he has lost someone so dear to him. Our safety precautions due to Covid have changed the way funerals are done here in Kenya. Now some of the standards include having the burial 24 hours after the passing of a loved one which doesn't always afford extended family members to get there in time, which is an important part of our tradition.

This hurts our whole community, but there is no other way. In light of this necessity - please pray for Salim.

Nixon Sanga

Pray also for our student Nixon Sanga and his family who lost his little sister Nuru. She was in kindergarten class at New Life Academy in Bomani. She fell ill and succumbed to illness after being taken to hospital.

Linah Nuru

Thankfully there was a good representation of our staff team that was there for the funerals in consideration with government directives on social distancing. Our teachers have stepped in before, during and in the days to come to help Salim and Nixon and their families to cope and navigate these hard times. We could not be more proud of the representation of Christ that they have been. Thank you so much for your prayers and for joining us as we trust God with the heartache of losing loved ones in our communities.

Let us stay safe and trust in God for better days to come to the honor and glory of His name.