I Saw Joy

We love it when team members share how they have seen My Gift for Jesus come to life! Check out how Mark has seen the impact with his own eyes…

When I hear “My Gift for Jesus”; the words Hope, Joy and Love are the first things that come to my mind. I was blessed with the opportunity to join a mission’s team from Fox River on a trip to Nicaragua earlier this year and was able to see the Hope, Joy and Love that is a result of our support to the community of La Esmeralda. The support helps to provide staffing and supplies at the Medical Clinic and this year it also funded the construction of a Children’s center and Restrooms at the Church.

The Medical Clinic is a blessing to the men, women and children throughout La Esmeralda and the neighboring communities. For them to have the ability to receive medical care is something that was not easily available to them prior to the existence of the Medical Clinic. One major function the clinic is providing is prenatal care. By having a nurse and doctor available to a pregnant women or her infant is priceless as this country tries to decrease its infant mortality rate. The thought of losing a child at birth is something we rarely think about or encounter here in the US, but in Nicaragua the rate is nearly 18 out of every 1000 births that this will occur. There is a level of Hope of Survival that I cannot even comprehend!

Another type of Hope that is being spread through the community is Salvation through receiving Jesus as their savior. The church in La Esmeralda is spreading the Gospel of Jesus and sharing with God’s love with the community. By adding the Children’s Center there is a new ability to reach the young children and have an early impact on their walk with Jesus. This Hope of Salvation is priceless.

This Hope of Survival and Salvation has brought Joy to this community. In my visit to La Esmeralda, I was taken back by the amount of Joy I saw and heard from all of those I encountered. Despite the fact that they live without the conveniences we have I saw Joy like I’ve rarely seen before. Even as we labored to dig holes, move earth, stack blocks or mix mortar there was laughter and smiles.

The Hope and Joy that I witnessed in La Esmeralda is so amazing and it is possible because of the Love that we have shared with them. Over the years we have sent numerous teams to help reach the community and improve the environment. All of this is possible because we say yes to God and give our support through financial gifts, our time and our prayers. All of us here at Fox River play a role in this Hope, Joy and Love I witnessed in Nicaragua. I ask that as we celebrate the birth of our Savior that you will pray and ask God what your role in providing Hope, Joy and Love to the people of Nicaragua is.

~ Mark Gitlewski

Thanks for sharing Mark! The Hope, Love and Joy that you have shared through your willingness to be a part and say yes to God’s promptings has touched many lives!

There is always time to get involved!

Sponsor story - JoAnn

The impact of ‘My Gift for Jesus’ doesn’t just happen in the places we are partnered, it also happens in us as we give, take a new step, and allow God to work in our lives. Check out the impact ‘My Gift for Jesus’ has made on one of our sponsors, JoAnn.

Four years ago, I was challenged by my daughter at Christmas time. Instead of wanting presents for herself, she asked for her gift to be a sponsorship of one of the “My Gift for Jesus” kids. I am embarrassed to admit that I pushed back against that a bit.  Didn’t I have to give my child (who was clearly wiser and more giving than her mom at her 17 year old age) some actual “thing” for Christmas? Today, I’m happy to say that my decision to make this “my next yes” was one of the best and most rewarding that I have made. I’d like to tell you why…

Our sponsorship allows me to consider things I would otherwise take for granted. We actually sponsor two children in Kenya, one at each of the schools there. Each month when I am able to contribute the $50, I am reminded about the multitude of blessings I take for granted all too often. My girls both received great educations in the public school system here in Waukesha and have both gone on to college. I think of the gift that education has been to them and how our sponsorship of Fredrick and Pahe gives them an opportunity they would not otherwise have.  They are fed – not only actual food but the truth about Jesus that has fed their souls and ensured their eternity in heaven.

Additionally, this relationship has turned into more than I expected it to be. At first, I truly only thought of my relationship with Fredrick and Pahe as something I was giving to them.  Boy was I wrong!  When I receive letters from them, they are bursting with joy, filled with gratitude and are often my teacher. Fredrick once wrote when I inquired about the weather, “It is neither cold nor hot. We are enjoying the climate since what God brought is a blessing.” I felt challenged beyond measure to consider whether I am able to have that same type of response to the circumstances of my life. Often times, not.  But with some change in perspective through those kids, I am getting better.

Writing letters to them has been wonderful and I had always believed that was going to be the extent of our relationship. Through some incredible circumstances, I am thrilled to say that I will be going to meet those two beautiful souls in 2019. Pahe has experienced some tragedy in her family and the thought of being able to hold that beautiful girl and love on her in person is more than I can fathom.

As this Christmas season nears, I cannot urge you enough to prayerfully consider allowing God to work through and in you by sponsoring one of the “My Gift for Jesus” children. This is just my story and how it has unfolded through my willingness to say yes to God. Your experience will be unique to you but unless you’re willing to step out in faith, you’ll never know how God may use you to change a child’s life – and your own!  

We are grateful for you JoAnn and so are a couple of very sweet Kenyans!

JoAnn has shared so beautifully just how great of an impact this has made on her life and challenged and encouraged us to say our “next yes” and allow God to work in and through you!

Is your ‘next yes’ joining us as we give a gift to Jesus this season? Is it joining the next team as they go to Kenya in 2019? Is it praying asking God to show you? As you can see there is always something in that yes for you!

Are you are ready to Join Us?

Because you give - Nicaragua

This is our favorite time of year hear at Fox River! So make sure you follow along this month…

Our last blog was all about ‘My Gift for Jesus’, how you can get involved and where exactly God has partnered Fox River internationally! Check it out if you missed it!

These places have become very near and dear to our hearts and we want to share that with you!

Today we will share about Nicaragua and the partnership we have in La Esmeralda…

We could (and often do) share story after story about the life change, but today I want to share about the importance of our partnership in Nicaragua.

For over 7 years now several communities in the mountains of Nicaragua have had access to health care that they would have otherwise gone without.

Let me set the scene as to why this is such a big thing… You see the community of La Esmeralda and several surrounding communities are over an hour away from a hospital/clinic and that is if you have a vehicle. Many of these people do not and it would take hours to walk to get the care they need and that is if they could even attempt the walk. Women would go without prenatal care, they would give birth in their homes without the help they would need, that baby would be born and if it survived it would have nowhere to be checked on, nowhere for someone to make sure babies lungs were clear, that the umbilical cord was cut and kept clean properly, and so on… Farmers would get an infection from getting injured or being sick and would have no access to medication or a facility to have the wound cleaned. Are you seeing the need?

This is where the Medical Clinic has impacted the community of La Esmeralda and surrounding communities.

There is a local place for people to go and get the basic healthcare that they need, that we take for granted. They can go and see a Dr and Nurse and get medication from the pharmacist. Mothers can can be seen from beginning to end of their pregnancy. They receive prenatal care as well as care during and after the birth. These babies are born in a clean environment with equipment to care for them right after birth (we are hoping and praying we can better this space soon). We just celebrated baby #25 last month! We see this as one of the most beneficial pieces of the medical clinic. Healthy babies help make a healthy future! The clinic is able to call for transport if needed for patients in more critical condition! We could go on and on about the benefit of having this clinic in this place!

The Clinic also gives a platform for a way to share the Gospel, a place that the love of Jesus is and always will be something shared as soon as someone steps on the clinic grounds! We want people to know about the hope and freedom that comes from knowing their Savior and that will be something they hear every time they are at the clinic!

Lives at this place are being saved physically and spiritually!

Through the partnership of the clinic Fox River fell in love with the people and community of La Esmeralda, which has opened many other ways we could partner with the local church there.

After growing relationships and seeing how God is moving in this community and church we wanted to be more involved. We partnered with the church as they built a Soccer League Ministry. This ministry reaches youth with an activity that they enjoy and they use it to equip them and grow them in a safe environment!  Each team member is encouraged to attend church services each week and are also a part of devotionals during each practice. This ministry is turning teens who may have been caught up in the wrong things in the wrong environment, into leaders in the church and the community.

Coming to know their Savior through an activity they love? Who wouldn’t want to be involved?

These are just a couple of the things God has allowed Fox River to partner with this community in and we can’t wait to see where else he takes this partnership!

You can be involved! You can join us in making Jesus known through meeting the needs of children, women, men, communities… We are praying with expectation for the big things God is working for this community in the year to come! We hope you will join us!

Thank you for reading, praying, giving… You make these things possible! We are grateful for you!

My Gift for Jesus

December is the time for celebrating Christmas - the birth of God’s Son, Jesus.
During the month of December, Fox River focuses on International Missions and our works in Kenya and Nicaragua.

IN NICARAGUA, we partner with the church in La Esmeralda to provide:

• A medical clinic in a mountainous region where no health care is available. The clinic is staffed with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist and administrator who see over 10,000 patient visits per year during which their souls are cared for along with their physical needs.

• A sports ministry that gives fun and spiritual direction to hundreds of children and teens.

IN KENYA, we sponsor:

• 900 students from preschool through high school by providing

  • a quality, Christian education

  • 2 meals a day on school days

  • basic health care and health education

• Clean water for the communities

• Adult literacy classes

• A rescue center that provides a loving environment for abandoned children

• A pastors institute to train pastors for ministry

How do we do all of this? We do it TOGETHER!

For just $25 a month, you can join us in making a huge difference in thousands of lives in Kenya and Nicaragua.

We offer different levels of involvement to suit your interest.

• Give to a great cause that is truly making a difference.

• Pick up a prayer card at the My Gift for Jesus displays at any campus during December.

• Get connected to a Kenyan child through our online database. You can learn more about the schools and your child. You can see your child’s grades and write to your child.

• Go on a mission trip to see first hand what God is doing. In Kenya, you can meet your sponsored child and their family.

How can I find out more about Fox River Missions?

Learn more at www.foxrivermissions.org

2019 Kenya Mission Trip

Information meetings:
Waterford: Sunday, December 2 after the service
Muskego: Sunday, December 16 at 10:30am
Waukesha: Sunday, December 16 at 10:00am
For more information or to sign up for the trip, click here.

How do I get involved in MY GIFT FOR JESUS?

Fill out a pledge card at one of the weekend services or by clicking this link: JOIN IN

Support donations to Fox River can be given:

• Weekly, monthly or annually

• One time donations to help with projects are appreciated

• Cash or check in the weekly offering - please be sure your donation is marked for My Gift for Jesus

• Online giving is easy and convenient. Make sure to click on “Other Account” and select “My Gift for Jesus.” You can even set up a recurring gift!

TOGETHER
WE CAN MAKE A GREATER IMPACT IN THESE NEEDY AREAS OF THE WORLD.

WILL YOU JOIN US?

Final Lap

When you think about it - the test that our 8th grade students are about to take is one that they have studied for 11 years!

Our students are getting ready to take the The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E). This is the last test they will take as primary school children.

This is an exam that you might have heard of if you have followed us before. In short, it is a critical test that will determine IF and WHICH high school our students will get into. The pressure as you can imagine is great.

The teachers help to balance the students out by making sure that their environment balances the stress of the importance of the exam as well as the students needs to unwind.

Sometimes the teachers are found playing soccer with the kids in the later afternoons. Sometimes it’s just sitting during breaks and giving the students something else to think about rather then the exam coming. Either way our teachers are amazing! Please be praying for them and our students. We would also like to give you a few other ways that you can be praying for them.

Please pray that that our students: 

- Will have confidence in the preparations they’ve made for this exam.  

- Will have wisdom afterwards for the schools that they will pick.  

- For our staff teachers to finish the academic year well.   

Thank you for caring for your sponsored student and remembering them in prayer. We are so confident that they will do well and that God will be given honor in the outcome.  

 Blessing to you New Life and Crossroads!  

Mark Schwartz’s Story

One of our favorite things is sharing stories from team members. Today we have Mark’s story… Mark has been on a couple of our teams (Kenya and Nicaragua) and has willingly offered to share his story and experience.

“From an early age I have been involved with missions. When I was young, my parents investigated becoming a missionary family to Papua New Guinea, but at the last minute the Lord closed the door. After finishing high school, I took my first mission trip to a remote area of Southern Mexico. The team I was a part of was doing church planting with the indigenous people, many of whom did not speak Spanish but rather local native languages.

After returning from Mexico, I explored becoming a full time missionary, but the Lord led me into engineering school and then a career in healthcare, first at a large corporation and then later in starting a business. During my career I was able to participate in missions by prayer and financial support but was unable to participate directly through mission trips.

A little over two years ago, the Lord helped me to sell my company and this allowed me to go to Kenya last year with the team from Fox River. I was a bit apprehensive in going to Kenya, because it had been a long time since I had worked with children and my own children were now grown up. However, I thoroughly enjoying working with the students and teachers in Kenya and I made a number of wonderful new friends. God willing, I hope to return to Kenya next year to renew friendships and once again work with the teachers and their students.

Back in April I was able to go to Nicaragua with the team from Fox River. This was a construction trip and the work we did was physically hard, but the experience was also enjoyable and rewarding. The part I liked best was forming close relationships through working together. For example, I worked with El Jefe (in English “the boss”) and at the beginning of the week it was all about the work, but by the end of the week we were sharing details about our families and parted with a warm embrace. I hope to go back to Nicaragua in the future to see what God has done in the lives of the people I grew to love.

It is always fascinating to see how God works – had I not been in Nicaragua with my background in healthcare, we might never have known the clinic had an ultrasound system that failed. Since returning home, I have located a replacement and look forward to the day that it can be used in the clinic!

In thinking about the future, I realize I’m not as young as I used to be and may not always be able to go on future mission trips. I believe the Lord gave me this thought – would I be willing to donate the income I earn during the same period as the mission trip if was physically unable to go? I’m writing this blog because I believe the Lord may wish you to consider and pray about making a similar commitment.”

~Mark Schwartz

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Thanks for sharing Mark! We love how God uses missions to show us new things.

Have your ever asked yourself how you can be involved in missions? We are always available to answer any questions you may have! Ask us on… FaceBook (Fox River Missions), Instagram (@foxrivermissions) or email us (missions@foxriverchristian.org)

Class is in Session

Class 8 student at Crossroads Academy 

Class 8 students at New Life 

It’s been a long term break and we are glad for God’s goodness and answer to prayer. All the students were able to report back to school with much enthusiasm and excitement to start this last term of the school year. 

Fun and excitement to be back at school. 

Friends united after a long break

This being our last and shortest term of the year, there is a lot of things packed into this term that determine a lot about the progress of a student into the next class.

The look of hope and expectation.

Learning with joy.

Pray for the class 8 students in both of our schools as they put the final touches onto the journey of their primary education. They will be sitting for the national examinations which will determine whether they can proceed to high school.  Our prayer is for each one to be called into a good high school.

Brains at work 

Learning in progress 

Join us in praying for a productive and fruitful 9 weeks of this term and clarity of mind for the candidate classes.

Intake day ....

The early birds eagerly waiting for interviews.

It's one of the most anticipated day's in the Vipingo community and the school, but it is equally very hard. 

Final deliberation for task ahead

As we get to the 3rd term of the school year we also start to look for the next kindergarten class for our school. This week Crossroads Academy opened up the doors for interviews.

The train of hope for the future

Our school in Vipingo aims to find families that otherwise would not be able to afford quality schooling and offering them a full scholarship through YOUR donations.

Parents getting welcomed

The look of wonder of how this works

We have 3 communities, Vipingo, Rea and Bureni, which circle our campus. This time we had 87 families come to seek a spot in the 2019 kindergarten class.

Ready or not here we are

We look at many different aspect of where a family is coming from to determine who most greatly needs a spot at the school. Most importantly, we pray for wisdom and discernment. We pray that we would be the hands and feet of Jesus and His wonderful plan for the school age children and their families in our community.

Family ready to get their girl a future.

Patiently waiting to serve

Shhh interview in progress

Through this long interviewing process we hope to pick 34 little ones for our next kindergarten class. By the end of the Month they will be coming in for uniform fittings and initial meetings as they join the Crossroads family. Pray with us as we work out all these logistics that would change a whole community and for God to be glorified through it all as always.

Love at first Sight

We want you to meet a very special friend of ours, Hanzi.

Hanzi Minzi

We first meet Hanzi on a medical missions trip in 2011 held on the school grounds of Crossroads Academy, Vipingo. He was walking past the school and entered to see what all the commotion was about.

Making faces as picture is being taken 

It was an instant relationship with Hanzi and the teachers and medical team professionals at CA. He gives great big hugs and is always trying to make us laugh with funny faces.

Hanzi has Down Syndorme and had not previously been brought to school but he was instantly fascinated with the classrooms and teachers at the school.

The next day he returned and they found him actually sitting inside of the classrooms by himself.  He refused to leave!

Finally got him to smile 

Hanzi was placed in one of the Kindergarden classrooms for the next few years where we could make sure he was a part of the feeding program but also that he could participate and start to learn slowly by slowly!

Hanzi was greatly cared for by the teachers and grew not only in how to care for himself more properly – but also learning bits and pieces from the classroom with his friends.

Jenna and Hanzi at his new school 

Hanzi received an awesome opportunity through a school only 30 min away that teaches vocational skills to those with special needs and we were quite sad to be away from him but knew that this was likely to be an opportunity that we as a school couldn’t provide for him and one he shouldn’t pass up. 

Pastor John Okong’o

Our Chaplin, Pastor John, checks in on him many times during the term to make sure he is doing alright and more so that Hanzi knows we are thinking about him.

Sharing lunch during The music festivals at His school. 

It is our hope that Hanzi is a part of Crossroads as long as possible. Look at this smile!

My time with him at his new school was a great moment!

Being Faithful

Being faithful has many different forms,  Let me tell you about a few I have seen recently...

17 people were faithful and obeyed the call to go on a missions trip to Nicaragua.  And they were faithful all the way to the point we had to cancel.  There is always the question about who will God build our teams with and He never leaves us disappointed as He provides the perfect people team after team.  This team was no exception.  

After we had to cancel our trip for June because of the unrest in Nicaragua our hearts were disappointed, broken, and hurting for our friends.  We wanted so badly to go, but even more we wanted our friends to be safe.  We wanted to help but didn't know what to do.  

We started praying for God to show us what we could do, how we could help from right where we were.  He started stirring up in a few past team members that we needed to come together to pray.  So, those few were faithful to those promptings.  At the end of July we called all past teams and our church family to a night of prayer and worship,   a night to share what was happening in Nicaragua, to pray in specific ways, to worship the God who holds it all.  This night was full of the Spirit and hearts ready to cry out!  It was a good night filled with love for a place that we hold close to our hearts.  God brings so much beauty when we are faithful!

We have also watched as our partner ministry churches in Nicaragua stay firm as they were in the midst of darkness all around them.  These churches and people within them have been so faithful.  We have seen them grow, do outreach events, and continue to love the hurting.  Sharing Jesus has never been overshadowed in those places.  

Those are stories are of how we have seen people be faithful to the things God was stirring in them.  We can also see how God is faithful throughout each of those as well.  He promises to never leave or forsake us!  He remains the same even as our plans, lives and world changes!  Sometimes (more times then I would like to admit) it takes great heartache to remind me just how big our God is!  He is always faithful, even when I am not!  Yes and Amen?

As we have prayed and awaited updates from Nicaragua we have had days that came with bad news (unrest still strong) and then we have days when we hear that there has been some change for the better!  This is week we got a good report!  This doesn't mean that things are good or even normal yet, but hope comes when peace is replacing violence!  Keep praying because we have a big God who hears us and is at work!!!