*Pictures and Vision for the R.A.U. Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus*
Reaching Africa’s Unreached geographical working area.
In January of 2011 the Lord providentially granted us the opportunity to purchase 12 acres and an additional adjoining 5 acres in October 2012 one mile south of the border of South Sudan and five miles north of Moyo North Uganda. South Sudan became the world’s newest country in the world in July 2011.
At our web site you can find the story of how the Lord connected the many “dots” to make this purchase possible. The Lord is to be praised! This land’s strategic location will enhance R.A.U.’s ability to bring in pastors, church leaders, church planters, and evangelists for retreats/conferences for Biblical encouragement with the expressed purpose that local congregations will be strengthened and become multiplying congregations. (See 2 Timothy 2:2 & Acts:19:9b-10). The R.A.U. compound will also serve as a base of operations to launch such conferences throughout North Uganda, South Sudan, Northeast Democratic Republic of Congo, and Lord willing further North so that the unreached and unengaged peoples in these regions will be reached with the glorious gospel.
Furthermore, as the Lord provides, the 17 acres gives opportunity to have a Medical/Dental Clinic, Orphan Care Center, Christian Primary and Secondary School for children, and a Vocational Training Center for adults with Micro-Finance opportunities. We are currently planting numerous fruit bearing trees (mainly Mango and Orange trees) on the 17 acres which would bring in a future income to help supplement our ministry efforts.
Our first goal is to complete the R.A.U. Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus. The Guesthouse is where Carol and I will make our home. Carol and I will reside in one of the rooms. The other rooms will be for ministry teams and at other times for groups of pastors/church leaders/evangelists, and church planters which will come for several weeks at a time for Biblical training and encouragement. With triple bunkers we will be able to sleep up to 25+. The large front room will be the teaching Hall, aka “The Hall of Tyrannus” (see Acts 19:8-10). Keep praying friends!
The pictures below show the on going progress being made on the R.A.U. Guesthouse. The most recent pictures of the work will be added at the bottom of the page. Clicking on the individual pictures will increase them to full screen mode.
May the Lord grant wisdom in its building and provide for its completion!
Looking for a good site for the Guesthouse
This is it!
Lots of tall grass to cut
African “thrashing”
Nurse Sam a “slashing”
This must go!
Using my sharp American made “panga” which was given to me by one of my Texas students…thank you Matt!
Finishing up the clearing
Teamwork
Ready to dig the footings
Dirt is a flying!
Footings dug
A well deserved soda. Because of costs sodas are typically drunk only on special occasions.
Bringing in the foundation stones
The base of the footings
Making a water holding tank
These ladies and others hauled water for our construction needs some distance. The “jerry cans” were carried on their heads with no hands and some of the ladies also had babies on their backs! Pray that we can get a well bored. It cost from $7-10,000 to drill and set up a well.
Thank you Lord for these hard working ladies!
Mixing cement, sand, and small stones together
Bottom of the footings poured
Discussing the location of water and sewer pipes with our master builder. This kind of work is seldom done in this area.
Many of our building supplies were purchased in Moyo 5 miles to the south. Other supplies were purchased in the capitol city of Kampala one days drive away.
We had to hire transport for all our materials.
Loading cement bags in Moyo.
Purchasing supplies in Kampala
To travel to Moyo and the R.A.U. land from Kampala one must cross the Nile River . The Nile flows near Moyo.
Pastor Abraham, a member of the R.A.U. leadership team. Abraham is a passionate follower of Jesus and a savvy negotiator!
R.N. Sam, a faithful R.A.U. co-worker. He helps keep everyone healthy and heads up our medical ministry!
Pastor Patrick and his two beautiful daughters. Patrick lives in Kampala and is a very valuable member of the R.A.U. leadership team. He coordinates our work in Kampala. His wisdom and anointed preaching/teaching is a great blessing to the Body of Christ!
My beautiful wife and most valued co-worker, Carol. Her commitment to King Jesus and His call humbles me. Carol’s medical experience and ladies’ ministry will be a great encouragement to many.
Footings filled with rock and mortar.
Making ready for the top of the slab.
All the concrete had to be hand mixed
Finishing touches
The foundation is complete…thank you Jesus!!
The start of the RAU Guesthouse walls. All the bricks are locally hand made.
Work is often a family affair. Many women work with their babies on their backs all day long!
Walls up to window height
Front View of Guesthouse. Beginning to pour beams which will hold the roof.
One of our women workers
The Lord continues to pour out His blessings upon our work.
Front view of the R.A.U. Guesthouse
The West side of the Guesthouse
Nurse Sam and some of the workers.
Pillars for the Veranda being set.
Steel for concrete roof supports are set (Northeast corner of the house).
Veranda Pillars Set
Steel for support beams
That is a Papaya tree in the foreground
Break time under the shade of a nearby Mango Tree
Front view of the Guesthouse
Making Jesus known with our neighborhood children!
Beam Work
“Unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain”
Delivery of some more bricks. We have been buying all our bricks from our neighbors who hand make them, thus helping the local economy.
Some of our “young” help! 
Planting Eucalyptus trees around the perimeter of the R.A.U. land.
I arrived back in Uganda August 26th ’12 to help my brothers in the building of the R.A.U. Guesthouse. I am enjoying some time here with Patrick and Vickie’s two beautiful girls.
Enjoying my time with fellow R.A.U. leader Pastor Patrick Bukenya. Patrick’s home in Kampala is our base of operation while in the city. His love for the Lord and knowledge of the huge city of Kampala is a great blessing to R.A.U. and the work of the Lord!
Faithful Co-Worker Nurse Sam
Taking a beak during one of our busy days in Kampala looking for the best deals on materials. We keep tracts with us to share with those we meet.
Sam and my preference of travel while working in busy downtown Kampala is a Boda Boda- motorcycle taxi.
We have to make decisions which building materials can come from locale markets in North Uganda or need to come from Kampala which we then would have to transport. The haul is long, over ruff roads (much of them dirt), and has to be ferried over the Nile River near Moyo.
Our bus trip from Kampala to Moyo was extra long (13.5 hrs.). Because of the delay I had one of those experiences which will always remain in my heart and mind. Without the bus breaking down and the bad roads I would of never been able to have this experience-Crossing the Nile River in Uganda near South Sudan on a ferry in pitch darkness (no lights on the ferry at the time) with lightning flashing across the sky illuminating the river Nile and surroundings….absolutely beautiful ….Psalms 19:1-6 reverberating!
Always seeking to remember “Unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain”!
We are finishing up the brick work and making ready for the roof. Our bricks were made on our land with with local labor.
Because of the heat in the area the ceiling will be over 11 feet high and each room has large windows with vent bricks.
We want lots of air flowing into the rooms thus the vent bricks. We will get fine metal screening in Kampala to put over the vent bricks and windows to keep out those nasty malaria biting mosquitoes.
Fellow R.A.U. leader Abraham is taking a walk around the R.A.U. Guesthouse veranda. We have a ten foot veranda around the house (15 foot in the front) to shade the windows and allow the windows to stay open during the heavy rains in the rainy seasons.
Carol and I will make one of bedrooms our living quarters. The other rooms will be for ministry teams and at other times for groups of pastors which will come for several weeks at a time for Biblical training. With triple bunkers we will be able to sleep up to 25+. The large front room will be the teaching Hall, aka “The Hall of Tyrannus” (see Acts 19:8-10). Keep praying friends!
Sam in standing in the future north doorway. The breezeway runs through the entire center of the house so that the north-south winds can freely go through the whole house.
Nurse Sam likes his Texas Longhorn shirt….you non Longhorn fans be kind now .
Our work on the Guesthouse continues to be a family affair. Along with the builders we hire ladies who cook and haul water so we normally have a number of children at the work site. Soon a Water Harvest International representative will be here to help in picking out the spot for our new bore hole .
All the walls are complete! Next task, casting the top beams for the rafters.
We had to spend a day to find a suitable forest of Eucalyptus trees. These are long and straight and will be great for our rafters.
This one is too big!
According to Salongo, brother and expert roof builder, this one is just right.
We all have been singing,”What a mighty God we serve”! Sam and Salongo went back to the forest the next day to oversee the cutting,trimming, hiring of transport and loading of our new timbers. Just as Abraham and I were driving home from an open air preaching event I received a call from Sam that he had been arrested in Koboko. We started praying immediately! Sam and Salongo had harvested 68 long Eucalyptus trees for our roof rafters and hired a semi truck from Arua to transport them to the RAU grounds. Sam was riding with the hired driver when they were stopped. Before Sam called me apparently the driver on his own accord gave a large bribe so that the police (these guys are armed with AK’s) would let them through. Bribe requirements are very common in North Uganda.While Sam was calling me he was overhead and taken to the chief who wanted to know who he was talking to. Sam said, “The Director”. Immediately the chief took the bribe money and fearfully stuck it in Sam’s hand saying and pushing”Go,go,go we do not take bribes!” Returning bribe money is UNHEARD of here. What a mighty God we serve!
Off loading our Eucalyptus rafters next to the Guesthouse.
Rafters ready for the roof…thank you Lord for this provision!
South Sudan is near.
I have had opportunity to share Christ with the two border soldiers next to me and leave them with a gospel tracts. This station is less than a mile from the Reaching Africa’s Unreached land. We had some laughs together too. They will be stationed there for awhile so Lord willing we can develop our new friendship.
Sundays are for worship and teaching the Word. Sunday evening are set aside for open air preaching in city and village markets. Here we are at the Moyo market. The Lord used the great music from Abraham’s church and my “white” skin to draw a crowd upwards to a 1000. I preached the simple yet powerful gospel…praying that the Lord would use the preaching of His Word to bring many to faith in Christ Jesus!
Several days of the week we leave at about 4 to go to villages which have no church. This picture is second evening in one such village. Both Abraham and I preached and at dust we began the “Jesus ” film under a huge mahogany tree. 500+ watch the film. A village that had no church has one now…the Lord has brought many into the fold!
Tying the steel for the top beam.
The upper part of the rafters will rest on this top beam once it is poured.
Casting of the upper beam.
One of R.A.U.’s goals is to place Study Bibles into the hands as many evangelists,pastors,church leaders, and church planters as possible.
Sunday night evangelistic preaching in an outdoor market.
World Harvest International front team for boring wells were here. The first step was to pull a rope from our north fence line to our south fence line (300 meters/984 feet) with a cord that followed the rope.
Every 5 meters a numbered stake was driven in and attached to a censer. A salt water solution was poured at the base each stake.
Here the computer is reading electrical charges using a generator to locate the best pools of water and their depth. Please note that this is being done in the African bush .
After pulling the survey line from our north fence to our south fence along the west side of the Guesthouse it was found that best pool of water on that line was right at the corner of of the Guesthouse. I am continually amazed at God’s favor! The water is at 60 meters (197 feet) and looks to be be good on the computer …yeah no more bottled water and no more hiring ladies to haul water for us in jerry cans on their heads. Thank you for your prayers!
Here I am with the welder who built our first window. The top has a screened vent and the bottom windows lift upward. This style is unknown here. Their windows do not have screens and most swing out with the burglar bars on the inside. After many drawings and talks we got it made. There still a few kinks to work out but we are there. Now to get several bids from the locals as well as one contact in Kampala. The Guesthouse has good number of windows.
Our trucked arrived with our water tanks, electrical supplies, and roof materials from Kampala. The truck had three blow outs and got stuck twice and had to be offloaded and reloaded both times. The roads from Gulu to Moyo are very,very bad. The Lord has granted grace and our supplies are now safely here at the site. Thank you for your prayers…please continue!
Lord willing, these metal roofing sheets will be on the roof SOON.
Praise report: A land deal has been struck! The Lord has opened the way to purchased the small acreage located between our land and road. We have been in negotiations for almost a year. They agreed to our price and we will have a signing tomorrow with the land owners, village elders, and political officials….this is way land deals take place in the bush. (See report on the purchase of our 12 acres in 2011 here: http://reachingafricasunreached.org/land-purchase-for-r-a-u-complete/ ) Thank you to all who have been praying for the Lord to move upon hearts who are in the palm of His sovereign hand!
This is the road which is now directly in front of our land on which, as the Lord provides, future medical and educational facilities will be located. Please pray for our work here on the Uganda/South Sudan border and consider helping us walk out the vision the Lord has given us
There is much brush to clear!
Loading lumber in Moyo town for the roof.
Today we had men start on our septic system. I am having it built the way we have our systems in American. It is completely “foreign” here. After digging the hole we will brick the sides and stucco them and pour a concrete top with a man hole. The drain line will all be hand dug and we will have to break rock to make our gravel. We will also put at the bottom of the trench pieces of our left over fired brick pieces mixed with Nile River sand
Here the “young bucks” are dragging our Eucalyptus rafters to the side of the house.
Starting to put up rafters
Much of the time I am with Abraham and Sam gathering materials and organizing our work. This day was a little different. I got a bit sore from helping get our Eucalyptus rafters up…these timbers are about 36 feet long and heavy!
Taking shape!
Our God is good and He is good all the time!
Roof work continues
More rafters up
Every wall is made of our home made bricks so the electrical pipes and plugs have to be cut into the wall. Later all the walls will be plastered.
The electrical rough in is nearly complete.
Our inside water tank is in place!
This 5000 liter tank will gravity feed our rooms. Our hope is that the water will be warmed in the attic for our baths.
Work continues on the septic tank.
This the view from the Northeast corner of Guesthouse just as a storm was approaching from South Sudan.
Putting the last of our Eucalyptus rafters up.
Power tools have not been available for our work.
Timbers for roofing going up
Plumbing delivery
Coke break in Moyo
Septic tank is ready to be plastered.
Making ready for our septic tank top
- We used our left over brick pieces for our septic line.
Septic tank lid
Bathroom plumbing
Wood for the ceiling
A basic building supply: coffee
Ceiling work. It will soon be ready for plaster.
With our “master” roofer Salongo. The Lord has greatly gifted this Christian brother and we are thankful the Lord has sent him our way!
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- This old log needed to be removed. No chain saws here! It will be hauled off and made into charcoal.
Moyo has only one bank so we often have to wait long periods of time to get our money out. There is always an opportunity to share Christ with others who are waiting, even the security guards.
Here we are signing papers for a section of land which will square up R.A.U.’s property and give room for future ministry facilities. R.A.U. now has 17 acres to use for God’s glory!
Sam standing on our new east boundary line.
This is R.A.U.’s new Southeast corner. The Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus is in the background.
The first iron sheets are up!
The Mighty Salongo
A gathering from the neighborhood to worship, pray and hear about the vision of R.A.U.
Pastor Abraham’s wife, Margaret, leading us in a praise song!
Sharing R.A.U.’s vision with the neighbors. We had a guest missionary with us who is serving in South Sudan. She too is a Texan!
Southeast view
A three fold cord is not easily broken!
Pastor Abraham and Margret’s family. …a very beautiful family!
Roof near completion
Our R.A.U. Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus (See:Acts 19:9-10) roof is nearly complete!
We have a wide veranda around the house. This allows the many large windows to stay open even with heavy rains and provides shade. There are many ventilation bricks on the outside wall and the hallway runs through the entire house to catch the strong north to south and south to north winds. The ceilings are a little over eleven feet tall. The large roof vent should take a lot of heat out of the attic. I am HOPING that by placing our 5000 liter water tank in the attic we will not have to heat our water for baths….electricity will always be an issue. We need funds to complete the Guesthouse so that Carol and I can move in to it for ministry. If you would like to help just shoot me an email and I will tell you how JacobLeeRAU@gmail.com
East Side of Guesthouse
Northwest View
West View
The R.A.U. Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus roof is finished! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Another praise report: Through the sacrificial generosity of Jesus loving people funds have come in to complete the Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus or get it close to completion. Please continue to pray that we will walk God’s wisdom throughout the rest of the building work. Thank you for your prayers and gifts!
This is our water survey for the well which is going to be drilled soon by Water Harvest International. God saw to it that the best pool of water on our 17 acres just “happened” to be about 10 yards/ 3 Meters from the northwest corner of the Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus. “Luck” is not part of our vocabulary !
Water Harvest International hard at work boring our well. This is answer to many prayers offered up by many of God’s people and sacrificial gifts! Thank you Jesus! Thank you our brothers and sisters in Christ!
Hand pump being installed
Our new R.A.U. well, it is 60 meters (197 feet) deep. Thank you Jesus! Our next step will be to build a tower for our 10,000 liter tank which will gravity feed all our systems. We also hope to install a solar pump.
All our windows,interior and exterior doors, and garage doors were made in Kampala and trucked to the Guesthouse
Garage Doors Set
Walk with me through Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse/ Hall of Tyrannus
This big window will bring a lot of air into the Hall of Tyrannus….very needful during the hot season!
Front view
Plaster work
Enjoying the well
Neighbors enjoying the RAU well
Please continue in your prayers for us as we seek to spread the fame of King Jesus. If you would like information on how to help us in this endeavor please send me a email at: JacobLeeRAU@gmail.com
Southeast view
Outside plaster work
Completing the plaster work
Painting has begone!
Front View
Front
East veranda
Inside Corridor
Hall of Tyrannus
Ceiling in the Hall of Tyrannus
Here we are with our two new water tanks. The large 10,000 liter one will be on a tall stand near the well and the 5,000 liter one will be in the attic above the breezeway in the Guesthouse. The large tank will gravity feed the one in the house and ,Lord willing, also future facilities, e.g. medical clinic,school, etc.
Footing for outside water tower
Water tower construction
Setting the water tank
Thank you Jesus!
Stone work around the base of the veranda.
Road Sign
Guesthouse kitchen counter top
Tile work in the Hall of Tyrannus
The Hallway runs all the way directly through the center of the Guesthouse affectedly catching breezes either from the north or the south.
Jacob and Carol’s living quarters
As we progress more pictures will be posted. Please pray and believe with us for the funds to complete the R.A.U. Guesthouse-Hall of Tyrannus. When completed Carol and I can make our permanent move to this God ordain spot for R.A.U.!!
Praise God for the work so far done.we serve a mighty God
Amen sister! Blessings to you and your beautiful family!
Coming along. How exciting!
Wow. The walls are going up quickly. Won’t be long now.
good to see the progress
It looks quite exciting and coming along nicely. The people there will receive a blessing when you and Carol arrive. We will be sad and glad for you at the same time. Trying to work that out within me. The only way is to keep my eyes on Jesus.
Leaving family, and friends like you, will be difficult but Carol and I are trusting in God’s grace which will be with us and our family/friends. We only have one life here and ultimately the only thing that counts is living faithfully for our KING…then what we do will echo throughout eternity for God’s glory!
What a mighty God we serve!! See how he is building the house.To him be the glory.
Amen!!
Wow!….. I will continue to pray for you and your wife….God bless you both
Thank you Marcia! Please plan on bringing a team from your school when we get moved
.
Jacob! What an amazing work God is doing with and through you! This has been a long time in the making and you have been faithful. My husband and I plan to visit!
Thank you for words of encouragement Dawn, they mean a lot. Lord knows we would of liked to have already moved but our King’s timing is not always ours. He has been connecting the dots one by one for us and I am so grateful. It would be an honor to have you and husband come…I know you have hearts for the Lord and His people in this region! Our door will always be open to you. Please keep praying that we remain faithful to the call our Lord has given us…blessings!!
Praise GOD for the progress on the house .I cannot wait to make a trip.we are praying for you.
Thanks Vickie. You will be most welcome to come very often
!
Hello Jake! Thank you for sharing the progress with us and for all of the wonderful pictures! We praise God for his continued grace & blessing on all of you and on the work there. We also thank him for all of the wonderful workers, old & young, who are helping you, and we are asking Him daily to pour out abundantly blessings on them and their families for their faithfulness to God’s work there! Our prayers are always with you all! Keep us posted! In Christ’s Love, Bobby & Barbara
Thank you for your encouraging words and prayers! Your long term friendship means so much. I am going to try post pictures more often on this page. Please keep praying! Thank you!
Lolu Moses:
To God be the glory and honor.Am impressed for the hard work you brethren are doing.God bless you.
As I watch You come and go from the States, and return to R.A.U’s site to see God’s progress, I can now see why HE has chosen such a humble servant to bring so many who were Lost to HIS Throne! “God Bless You Jabob & Carol Lee!”
Thank you Denny! Your words are so very encouraging….our Lord and King is so good! Sorry I missed seeing you before I left. Please continue to pray as there is much work to do and building in the bush presents many challenges. The ministry opportunities are abundant! I pray that you and family will be able to come visit us in this beautiful part of God’s creation. I arrive back home on the 26th of October. We need to get together! Blessings!
God is doing a great work in you.Blessing.
Hey Brother Jake, I have always teased you about how well you supervise, but you really look like you’re working hard in a few of these pictures!!! What a blessing to see the guesthouse making such progress! May the Lord continue to guide, strengthen, and reveal His love through all of you. Oh, and I’m sure your expert supervision is welcome, too:)
Lester
Thanks Lester. Honestly, I do do whole lot more supervision than actual physical work
. Laborers are plenteous,need work, and rather inexpensive so my time seems to be better spent “pointing” 
.
Love your updates. When they come in I stop what I’m doing to read the progress and praise the Lord for His goodness. The guest house looks beautiful and I think about the many ways God will show Himself in that place…already sensing the filling of the Holy Spirit’s power. Bless you and keep you.
Thank you Marlene! Your prayers and words of encouragement are such a blessing! The Lord has been showing Himself strong for us every step of the way. We so much want everything done here to be for the spreading of the fame of King Jesus. Please greet and give my love to all the “Iowa” family!
Jake, Looks great! I am in Kampala picking up the Ugandan nurse that will be working with us in S. Sudan. I head back on Wednesday night, I’ll go see it in person. I was talking to Duane Jones, president CornerStone International (CI), my sending agency about you, R.A.U., Lifegate and it seems he knows Bob Odom well. He was actually a board member at CI for years. Such God connections can’t be ignored. Reminds me of Mark 10:29-31. I count R.A.U. as part of my 100 fold!!! See Yall!
It was so wonderful meeting you Amanda! There certainly is nothing by “chance” in God’s economy
! Yes, Pastor Odom served many years on the CI board. Furthermore, I have been good friends with Ron and JoAnna Zeiner since the early 80′s. I also count Ross Hindman a good friend…and now you too! Both Carol and I look forward to many times of good fellowship/comradely with you !
We have a God whom we can trust seeing all these, I know he is faithful God indeed!
Hello Brother Abraham
I am very impressed for your continued commitment into God’s work, may He continue to bless you and strengthen you and your love ones. Agatha and I are continuously praying for all of you. Be blessed.
Wow this is awesome progressive pictures, Brother Jacob Lee your desire for The Lord and continued commitment is amazing me each moment. My wife Agatha and I are in continues prayers. May The Lord continue to show His Love for those who love Him like yourself.
Thank you and Agatha for your prayers and words of encouragement. The LORD is to be praised! What HE begins HE completes (Philippians 1:6)! Please continue in your prayers. Lord willing you will be able to visit us in Aforgi!
What a BLESSING to have you and Carol in Cheraw, SC last week (3/16/13) for our missions conference
As you know, God has given me a heart for missions in Africa during my 3 months in Kenya in 2010. Anne and I want to have an active part in your work and ministry…we believe that God will continue to move our hearts toward the part He wants us to have with you and Carol. Please pray for us as we continue to pray for y’all.
We had such a wonderful time with with you and your church Hopie! Your kindness and love were real expressions of your love for our Lord Jesus Christ! We do have a kindred spirit and I know we will be lifelong partners in working to see Jesus exalted in Africa. Carol and I look forward to the days ahead when you and Anne as well as your extended family can minister in some short term mission trips with us…our door will always be open to you! Our prayers are with you and thank you so very much for yours!!