2014 Year End Mission Report: Looking back as we keep moving ahead

On December 30, 2014December 30, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

Reaching Africa's Unreached Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus December 2014 — Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus December 2014

It’s amazing, the seeming paradoxes that exist in scripture. Jesus said that the one with his hand to the plow should not look back or he is not fit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:62). The Apostle Paul said that, forgetting what lies behind, he strained forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). On the other hand, the scriptures also exhort us to remember the past! Throughout Deuteronomy the Lord drilled it into His people not to forget, but remember His goodness and sovereign grace in delivering them and covenanting with them. Psalms and Proverbs often command us not to forget the Lord’s benefits and teachings. Peter reminds us that forgetting those things from which we have been cleansed makes it difficult for us to move ahead without pride and growth in grace (2 Peter 1:5-9). So, once again, context is everything. We can do both! We forget and leave behind those things which keep our gaze and energy upon the prize of Christ for every tongue, tribe, people and nation, and we look back and remember the kindness, faithfulness and mercy of the Lord in all that is accomplished so that we can strain forward to what lies ahead with hopefulness.

As Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) looks back over the past year of ministry, we are remembering the faithfulness, grace and goodness of our God and, in so doing, stirring up faith (as John Piper so eloquently writes in his book, The Purifying Power of Living By Faith In Future Grace) to trust in God for the “ever-flowing river of grace” through Christ for RAU’s future in 2015. Our hope is that this report will give you reason to continue to support RAU or to become a new supporting partner as we look forward to open doors of opportunity in the year 2015 and beyond.

Below, you will read about and see all that the grace of God has allowed RAU to accomplish for His glory in 2014. We have documented RAU activities in two separate reports, RAU Ministry events and RAU Mercy Ministry.

RAU Ministry Events

January 2014

*Ministry with John Howarton from Seguin in Yumbe

*Teaching/Encouragement in Obongi

These new believers are hungry for the Word of God

February 2014

Receiving and Offloading the Container

The tractor was on top of the shredder. They were also wedged so tightly we could not move either one until we jacked the tractor up and unloaded things in front of them.

The garage was became full and very unorganized quite quickly.

Over 1100 Global Study Bibles, over 3500 Biblical sound Christian books, over 40,000 gospel tracts are now ready to be placed into hands of pastors,evangelists, and church planters. Pray that the Lord would use these materials to strengthen His people and bring people into a saving relationship with God Almighty!

Resources supplied to Pastors and Church Leaders at Retreats. ESV Global Study Bible as well as many wonderful books received from The Gospel Coalition’s International Outreach

*Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat at RAU

*Yumbe Outreach – Evangelism, Teaching, Medical

Pilgrim's Church-Yumbe — Pilgrim’s Church-Yumbe

*ESV Global Study Bibles to Yumbe

March 2014

*Obongi Town church ministry/discipleship and baptisms

April 2014

*Adjumani Pastors’ Retreat

*Resurrection Day in Yumbe

June 2014

*Obongi/Maracha Pastors’ Retreat

*Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat

*Production of Aringa Tract, “Quest For Joy” (based upon John Piper’s English tract)

*Onduga Charles, translator of Aringa Tract

*Investment in first ever translated and publishedAringa New Testament

Charles Onduga was on the translation team and also part of the team which translated the Quest For Joy tract into Aringa.

*Dedication on June 24^th, 2014

*Retreat with Church of Uganda, Moyo Town

July 2014

Ministry in Yumbe and Moyo

*Sunday Ministry at Eleke COU

*Sunday Afternoon Open Air in Kerila

*Sunday Ministry in Rodo COU, Kei Sub County

*Purchase of land in Obongi Town for future brance of Hall of Tyrannus and meeting place for Obongi Town Church

*Sunday Ministry with Preston and Laurel Sink at Coro (Choro) Pentecostal Church

*Handing out Aringa tracts on Main Street, Yumbe

*Ministry at Moyo Prison (Gift of Soap and Gospel sharing) with Preston and Laurel Sink

*Ministry in Obongi Town Church with Godfrey

*Handing out Ma’di and Aringa Tracts in Obongi

*Sharing Gospel in Odendi’s village with Preston and Laurel Sink

*Sunday Ministry in Pakayu, Pakayu COU

*Handing out tracts after the service at a nearby market area in Pakayu

*Open air preaching in town near Yumbe

*Teaching Ministry in Obongi

AUGUST 2014

*Ministry at Aya Baptist Church August 3rd

*Pastor’s Retreat Moyo Baptist Churches (Nicholas)

*Pastor’s Retreat Moyo Baptist Churches (John Michael)

September 2014

*Youth retreat with evangelism – First Presbyterian Church of Kampala, Uganda (7 youth) Ministry: Aya, Obongi, Yumbe, Moyo Prison

Clothes from the youth were given out at Aya Baptist

*Trip to Obongi

Each of the youth shared and led in some songs

*Ministry at Kokobo COU

October 2014

Furlough, USA

November 2014

*Provided for ministry needs in Aya

*Radio Gospel Outreach (Dominic)

*Ministry needs in Maracha (Joseph)

*Day ministry visits with American Team (Ron, Mark, Doug) to Aya, Yumbe, Obongi.

*One case of ESV Global Study Bibles and numerous tracts were left each of the pastors for leaders in their churches.

December 2014

*Pastors’ Retreat (Moyo Area, Pentecostal Pastors and other denominations) with Ron, Doug and Mark from USA

*Gift of theological books to ****and ****** for ministry in Obongi

*Numerous ESV Global Study Bibles given to pastors who visit RAU throughout the year.

*Ministry in Palorinya: Teaching at the Baptist Conference with Paul George and Sam Dec. 16-17

*Distribution of 32 ESV Global Study Bibles to Pastors

*1 Kindle for a Pastor at Palorinya

*Exploratory Outreach beyond Aya (Gbare) for establishing church in unreached area – Gbari (with Paul George, Sam, Jacob and Tobious) December 19^th, 2014

*Gift of ESV Global Study Bibles and Gospel tracts in Gbare

*Itulu Baptist church – 12 ESV Study Bibles

*Work on translation of “Quest for Joy” Gospel tract into Lugbara and Kakwa with Joseph of Maracha/Carol Lee (time and gift of money for expenses incurred in translating.)

*Gospel tracts to Joseph of Maracha

*Bibles for key police officers in Moyo

*Resource bag of books/ESV Study Bible and Kindle to *********

*Financial support to pastor ******* for church plant in Gbari as well as resources to develop pastoral skills

*Paul George and Sam to Obongi for Sunday gathering. Paul preached sermon

*All 17 acres of RAU land were cleared; 2 seasons of crops have been planted and harvested and around 300 mango trees were planted with the hope of providing for RAU ministry’s ongoing needs

*On-going building projects to increase the scope of ministry as well as to protect what has been invested in the ministry

RAU Mercy Ministry 2014

Help has been given to repair three neighboring wells which serve our neighbors with water.
$7,500 was donated in August to drill a well in Aya at Aya Baptist Church. There is no clean water there and in 9 surrounding villages. Water Harvest International (WHI) will be drilling the well. When they give the word the money will be sent to them. RAU and WHI have had a preliminary meeting with the village’s elders, local political leaders, the chief of the area, and church leaders on the drilling and upkeep of the well. Previously people just collected water from holes and streams which become rare in the dry season.
Almost on a daily basis, pain medicines, malaria meds, antibiotics, nutritional aids, de-worming meds etc.
When a pastor or his family has a medical need we try to help.
When good opportunities arise to improve/upgrade someone’s education we try to help some.
Most of the funds for these needs were given specially for them. However, some funds have needed to come out of the general fund, too.
Giving out of reading glasses to pastors and other elderly who have difficulty reading and do not have funds for glasses.

February

*Kerwa ministry at clinic (assessment, diagnosis and provision of medicines)

Carol and Sam spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ's love through loving care and dispensing medices RAU had purchased with donations from faithful givers — Carol and Sam spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ’s love through loving care and dispensing medicines RAU had purchased with donations from faithful givers

March 2014

*Prenatal care for Pastor’s wife…300,000

*First cleft lip/palate surgery

Before

After

April 2014

*Refugee Camp Ministry – Collection of Food 1.85 Million UGX

Justin is our man inside the camps — ****** helped to coordinate effort of food supply to refugees in Adjumani

*Assistance to a friend of the ministry – medical needs of his wife

May 2014

*Cleft palate/lip surgeries

******** – Congenital cataract surgery

With Anzo and Mindra in Kampala — With *****and ****** in Kampala

*Distribution of food to South Sudanese Refugees

June 2014

*Little ******** – treatment (surgery) for Hydrocephalus

July 2014

*Distribution of De-worming medicine at Rodo COU

*Distribution of De-worming medicine to congregation’s women and children – Choro Pentecostal

*Ministry and distribution of soap at Moyo Prison

September 2014

*Continued follow-up care for Anzo (Congenital Cataracts)

*Follow-up care for child with cleft palate, from Yumbe.

*Educational needs for a Pastor’s children

*Medical care for a RAU worker

*Widow in Yumbe, given some shillings to help with her needs

*Help for RAU worker’s wife/pregnancy and childbirth

*Food and lodging for refugees (28) caught in middle of tribal conflict (Ma’di/Kuku)

*Shillings given to RDC to help with transporting back to Moyo those who fled during the tribal conflict.

*Ministry (distribution of clothing) by Presbyterian Youth at Aya, Obongi and Moyo Prison

Distributing clothes brought from Kampala by the youth group

October 2014

*Surgical repair of bilateral club foot at CoRSU Hospital, Entebbe for ********; he still requires further surgery to make his healing complete.

Before

After

*Medical care for ******’ child with head injury

*Travel money for child with hydrocephalus (return to Mbale/CARE Hospital)

*Assistance to Muslim Imam and family to replace items stolen during tribal conflict.

*Met with medical personnel to try and coordinate help for children who require corrective surgery.

*RAU meeting with village leaders of Aya to discuss and explain bore hole for which money was given through RAU

At Aya Baptist Church

November 2014

*Continuing supply for medical needs of ******* (bilateral club foot)

*Medical needs provided for (******* – pastor)

*Medical Care for young Muslim man (head injury)

*Travel expenses for child with hydrocephalus

*Travel expenses and Bibles for Solar pump engineers

*Help for daily needs for Muslim man in Moyo

*Gift for birth of child (********)

*Anti-viral eye drops (from USA) for wife of Pastor ********

December 2014

*Retreat for Moyo Pastors with Ron, Doug, and Mark (provision of food, medications, and eye glasses

*Gift of Drip Irrigation kit to each attendee (25) by Doug Neel and M.A.R.S.

*Provision of reading glasses to pastors attending retreat, as well as others who came by.

*Provision of funds for bicycle for ****** Pastor, ******, for ministry needs

*Provision of bed sheets, towels, kitchen needs and toothbrushes for Pastor ******* for ministry needs

*Provision of ox plow and team for Ijuju Bpatist Church

De-worming medicine for 150 children and 50 adults in Palorinya

Reading glasses for pastors and elderly in Palorinya

Money for grocery needs for elderly woman (mother of ********)

*Gbare outreach: 300 children de-worming

*Gbare outreach: 50 tubes of antifungal medicines

*Reading glasses for Gbare outreach

*Pastor’s wife with scoliosis, large bottle of Ibuprofen for pain

*Camera for ********: for police detective work and documentation

*2 irrigation kits for pastors doing church plant in Gbari

*Sunglasses for young girl with congenital cataracts

*Assistance for contact in Yumbe, *******, to receive medical care for longstanding infection on scalp

*Frequent distribution of medictions (Coartem, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, anti-fungal cream, eye drops) to people in surrounding areas

*Distribution of de-worming medication at Obongi Town Church

*Provision of sheets and kitchen items to Pastor ***** of Obongi Town Church (OTC)

*Return to Kampala for Anzo to have eyes evaluated for redness and irritation

We hope that all of you that have taken a personal interest by supporting RAU through funding and prayer will be encouraged by what has been accomplished by the grace of our God. We also hope that it will stir you to continue to pray and support and even “come over and help us” in 2015. For those of you who have been considering adding your support, we hope that this will give you confidence that your investment will be used in a way that glorifies God.

Blog: http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our name or email address)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples!

Jacob W. Lee

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click the PayPal link. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductible as Reaching Africa’s Unreached has 501 c3 tax exempt status as a charitable organization. If you wish to write a check you may write it out to R.A.U. and mail it to Lifegate Missions, 395 Lifegate Ln., Seguin Texas 78155

Special Prayers For Carol Please!

On December 28, 2014December 28, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized10 Comments

Carol sharing the gospel in a rural Yumbe District market

Please be in prayer for Carol. We had quite the scare late Saturday. While I was reading in our bedroom, (which is our home within our home here at the Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse) I heard a loud noise in the attached bathroom. To my horror I saw that Carol had fallen and she was flat on back with her head propped in a weird angle along the wall. My first thought was that I had lost my beloved. I went to her immediately not knowing her condition…she was in a daze and not able to communicate well. After some time, which felt like an eternity, she could talk and we assessed that nothing was broken. We stayed together awhile longer on the floor. My heart was beating very rapidly. I must say God’s grace was with us in an amazing way! Carol is an extraordinary woman! She remained calm and with her medical knowledge was able to give me instructions on do’s and don’ts.

Working together, I got her to bed. She could hardly walk. While in bed Sam helped assess a very large hematoma on her head. Fortunately, our small solar powered fridge had a little ice in it which we immediately put on the swollen part of her head. We monitored her pupils. In bed she was not able to move herself without me helping her. She almost passed out during the night during a trip to the bathroom. Her neck, back, hip, and elbow were hurting very badly. Since Carol is “bleeder” we knew we could not give certain medicines and knew that bad outcomes for such a head trauma can be serious. Both of us were remembering Natasha Richardson, actor Liam Neeson’s wife. After conferring with a doctor friend she took some acetaminophen. Throughout the night I monitored as best possible. Here in the northwestern bush of Uganda there is no immediate care for such injuries. We do have some options in getting a helicopter here which is difficult to do but still is a choice if need be.

I don’t think I ever felt so helpless! This spurred on some very serious praying! Others here, as well as family, have been praying! Your added prayers are called for.

This morning she is somewhat better. The edema on her head has lessened and there is no headache pain. Her muscles, especially in her neck and shoulders area, are still very, very sore with severe spasms. She ate something when she woke up and felt it was now OK to take a muscle relaxer. With the help of that medicine she is resting well now. I am waking her every 15-30 minutes to monitor her. The Lord is good and He is good all the time. Please fervently pray for my precious wife Carol!

We were due to go to Obongi today (Sunday) for services. Paul George from Dayspring Chapel Austin Texas was going to share, I preach, and then we, along with Nurse Sam, were to give out de-worming medicines to neighborhood children. We also were planning to have another prayer meeting on the land RAU has purchased there, asking God’s mercy and persuasion to be upon those in the community opposing our gospel work in Obongi town. I thought it important for me to stay here at RAU with Carol. Paul and Sam left this morning via private hire for Obongi. Paul has stepped up and, I know, will preach a Christ exalting message, children will still be de-wormed, and intercessions will go forth. Paul and Sam are such timely blessings! Paul leaves us Monday and in mid January the Lord has graciously opened the door for Sam for medical upgrading. Please pray for these dear men.

Nurse Sam (in the Texas shirt) and Paul with the Gbari/Arapi outreach team

The challenges we face do not surprise us as we know they are part of proclaiming the glorious gospel where there are so few who worship the King of kings and Lord of lords! We are upheld by God’s grace and your prayers.

The Lord has opened and is continuing to open many doors of opportunity for the advancement of the gospel in this area of the world. In the next day or two I will put out a report and put it on the web site, reviewing what took place by God’s grace in 2014. In brief, since we have been here full time (July 2013), we have had 10 four day pastor retreats at RAU, given out many Study Bibles and resources to church leaders, had many evangelism outreaches in Moyo and Yumbe Districts, medically assisted children and adults, are a part of bringing clean water to a communities, cleared 17 acres of bush land and planted crops/fruit trees to bring in income for the ministry. There has also been continual building work on facilities throughout the year. We have had the honor to be part of starting two churches both in places where there is no evangelical church, Obongi Town and Gbari/Arapi. Last Sunday was the first service for the Gbari/Arapi church plant which had 44 in attendance. Of the 44, 37 were new believers from previous days of evangelism and medical outreaches in those two villages and surrounding area!

We praise God for all these open doors. God used your prayers and support in 2014 as a means to accomplish great things for His glory. Please continue to stand with us in 2015. Our most immediate goal is to get a second container here full of ESV Global Study Bibles and other resources. See this link for more information on that need:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/

May the Lord richly bless you! Thank you!

Jacob and (Carol) Lee

Blog: http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our name or email address)

Jacob W. Lee

Pressing In

On December 21, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Mercy Ministries

By Carol Lee

Tractor 4 — Jacob, in between ministry opportunities, making good use of the tractor to shred the planting areas during dry season.

“It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings

There is no better champion of this statement than Jacob Lee! And there’s no goal that will not go unmet…or, at least, unattempted…when the idea of it gets set in his head and his heart! I am grateful for his leadership and vision because it keeps Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) ever moving forward…ever pressing in to the Kingdom of God. There is too much at stake, too much to be done for idleness. (I need to take a lesson from him!) When a Pastors’ Retreat is done, there is some new or ongoing project that needs completion on the compound. If you are impressed with anything at RAU (whether it be the campus or any outreach) it’s because Jacob has “laid his hand to the plow” and has not looked back!

Once our last retreat was done, Ssalongo and the building crew came in to start on the veranda’s perimeter safety wall. I was dreading a “closed in feeling” and the loss of clean, open vistas, but I am happy to say that it looks more artful than I could have imagined and it does not really block the view…just gives it a new “dimension” (as I have said elsewhere…I am “making lemonade out of lemons“).

102_6277 — Truck which brought supplies from Kampala to RAU for the building of the perimeter security wall.

102_6316 — Welding the decorative security bars.

102_6315 — Ssalongo, the contractor/builder extraordinaire.

102_6313 — The brick wall is now being covered with local slate.

10616166_10152499217558053_711372818782978229_n — Making great progress on the perimeter security wall. Looking good!

10420176_10203331167415782_7082061141375872335_n (1) — A view from the inside looking out.

We were happy to welcome to RAU a new friend – close on the heels of the last retreat – Paul George from Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, Texas. He has a love for people and a desire to meet their physical as well as spiritual needs. Thanks to his generosity, many children…and adults…in the area have already received worm medicine, anti-fungal creams, and antibiotics. With every day trip Jacob, Paul and Sam have taken to the rural areas (Palorinya, Gbwari, Arapi and Metu), many medications, which are an extension of Paul’s generous and compassionate heart, have been freely distributed. Paul arrived here a week ago on Monday.

The day after Paul arrived, Jacob, giving him NO rest, took Paul (and Sam) to Palorinya for a two-day (Tuesday-Wednesday) Pastor’s Conference put on by the Baptist churches. The team headed out early each morning and came back to RAU in the evenings. About 32 men attended and received ESV Global Study Bibles. Jacob thoroughly enjoyed these men’s “Berean” hearts – eager to learn and know, but careful to study and question. He was immensely encouraged by this “band of brothers.” Jacob was the primary teacher, but Paul gave some short teachings as well. During the teaching sessions, Sam took the young ones and taught them new songs. He and Paul also gave out worm medicines to young and old.

102_6343 — The worship team at the Palorinya Baptist Conference

102_6349 — Sam teaching the young ones songs

102_6327 — Peter (left) and Nicholas (right) with Jacob. Key leaders and wonderful brothers.

Thursday was a “down day” but, since you can’t keep a good man down, Jacob was busy overseeing some projects on the campus. Almost every day, pastors or other visitors also drop by. Jacob is always ready to stop what he is doing to spend time with them and to encourage them in some way, whether by words, books, reading glasses, medicines or other provisions.

On Friday, the team headed to Gbwari and Arapi for an outreach. This is what Jacob had to say in a Face Book post he made: “We just arrived back from a fruitful day of ministry in a remote church-less area of Gbware and Arapi on Nyeri Mountain. Reaching Africa’s Unreached partnered with Aya Baptist Church. We broke up into several teams and went Tukalu to Tukalu for home evangelism. Sam, Paul and two Aya brothers gave out 300 doses of worm medicine and 50 were treated for fungal infections at the Gbwari primary school. [Ninety percent] of those treated were children. In our evangelism, 28 made confessions of faith as well as a a health worker we gave a ride to on the way back to RAU. There were about a dozen new followers of Christ from earlier evangelism in the week by Aya brethren. We are now hoping to build a small grass roofed church where these new believers can begin meeting and will work with a young man who feels called to shepherd this new flock. The Lord is building His church and the gates of hell cannot prevail! Please pray this new body of believers and for us all in their discipleship!” And again on the following day, “I have been hobbling along the whole day like an old man. My legs are stiff from our climbing and walking during our door to door evangelism in Arapi yesterday. My 59 year old legs held up well with all the young bucks . It was a very rewarding day in so many ways. It was my first time to experience a whole family (8 people) put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation!” It is exciting to see Jacob walking through doorways of opportunities for which he has been preparing most of his adult life!

102_6377 — The team from RAU and the team from Aya Baptist Church

102_6408 — Up and down hills during tukalu to tukalu evangelism

102_6403 — Pastor Tobious from Aya meeting with a family of 8 who just believed on the Name of the Lord.

102_6383 — Dry season on the Nyeri Mountains

102_6393 — Reaching into very unreached areas with some good news!

102_6410 — On the way down from Nyeri Mountain, the evangelists sat on top to make room for some other passengers needing medicines

102_6394 — One of the women who believed on the Name of the Lord

102_6412 — Receiving medicines from Sam and Paul

102_6319 — Overlooking the Nile River Basin

While the team was hiking all over Nyeri Mountain, I was back at RAU, “holding down the fort” and doing my small part (typing) in the translation work of John Piper’s tract, “Quest For Joy” into Lugbara and Kakwa. Our friend and contact in Maracha, Pastor Joseph, has been overseeing that work of translation, ensuring that it is faithfully converted from English in to these two languages. Joseph has a willing, servant-heart and has eagerly done everything he can to encourage and build up the pastors in his area of the West Nile. The Lord has graciously provided faithful contacts in each of the areas into which we are pressing, of which Joseph is one!

10421505_10203323467063278_2938914357733402751_n — A sample of the Lugbara version of John Piper’s “Quest for Joy”

10882275_10203323466383261_395924660824622607_n — Three versions of “Quest for Joy” (left to right): Ma’di, English (with some terminology simplified – with permission) and Aringa. The original tract by John Piper is in front.

1475957_10203323664468213_6568950400148161392_n — Joseph of Maracha

Saturday was another work day here at the compound. Here’s another excerpt from Jacob’s post on Facebook: “Now that we are not in a growing season we are back at taming the remaining African bush on at Reaching Africa’s Unreached. There are several large termite mounds with unzi (bad, in Ma’di) trees and thorns within them. We are also near completion of creating a wide fire wall around the perimeter of the 17 acres. Wild fires can be very damaging and dangerous in the dry season.This first time is involving more labor as we level the ground and remove anything which might damage the tractor and equipment. I am very guarded in the use of tractor and implements because fixing anything is very difficult, costly and parts are hard to come by.”

102_6432 — Clearing away trees and stumps to make it easier on the tractor

102_6302 — Fire wall around perimeter of the property

One of our greatest joys has been to see the beautiful results of corrective surgeries on children towards which our beloved supporters have donated. On Saturday, little Richard, with bilateral club foot, came by to show us the progress that has been made on his feet. When we first met him, he would not smile. This time around, he was trying to hold his smiles in. He still has a few more minor surgeries which have to be done after the holidays, but the progress is miraculous. We are so grateful to our donors and the donors who give to CoRSU Hospital so that they can provide excellent skill and care to people like Richard.

10712929_10152500106723053_4716797752823150001_n — Richard with Jacob: BEFORE

10868270_10152500106938053_5259488472556815299_n (1) — Richard with Jacob: AFTER

10428093_10152500117558053_1319263555093715529_n — Richard’s feet are not the only transformation which has taken place. Somewhere along the way he found his smile, too!!!

Today (Sunday), Jacob, Paul and Sam visited and worshiped with believers in a Pentecostal church in Metu. Pastor Robert was very gracious and the brothers and sisters very warm in receiving them. The team was able to give out ESV Study Bibles to leaders in the church, many tracts for their use in reaching out to their communities and, once again, medicines to the children and some adults.

102_6445 — Pentecostal (PAG) church in Metu

In the six weeks since we have been back here, we have had the blessing of being able to put an ESV Study Bible in to the hands of key community leaders (police and government officials) and many pastors and church leaders. Their joy in receiving this resource is immeasurable, but can be likened to receiving a cold, refreshing glass of water on a blistering hot day. Most of these people do not have bookshelves loaded with books. Such a resource here is a rarity which makes it all the more valuable. Please consider giving a special gift towards purchasing the 5,000 ESV Global Bibles which we hope to place in our container. Hebrews 4:12 says,

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.”

Thank you for taking such an interest in what we are doing and also taking part in what we are doing!

Carol and (Jacob) Lee

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

For those who have asked, small packages and letters may safely be sent to:

Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa

Our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon (Click on the “Wish List” link and type in our name or email address)

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY which WILL COME to ALL THE PEOPLE!

On December 13, 2014December 13, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Discipleship, News and Status Updates

10177310_10203223304879286_8345719515695326829_n

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.BUT the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY which WILL COME to ALL THE PEOPLE. For to you is born this day in the town of David a SAVIOR, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!” (Luke 2:9-11 AV, emphasis mine).

This is my 59th Christmas and will be my 4th to celebrate outside the USA. Christmas has many fond memories for me. As a child I had a wonderful time of celebrating with family. After marriage and children, new joys were added; and, then, there were the joys of celebrating with grandchildren. These memories and times are all precious and I am forever grateful for them.

As joyful as these times have been for me they pale in comparison to the “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY“ that has come in the person of Jesus Christ. There are so many bound in the chains of fear, as were the shepherds. My favorite word in the Bible and, perhaps, the most important one in the Bible is “BUT”. In the above passage from Luke, “but” is the bridge between fear and joy. Good news of great joy has come to all peoples because Jesus has come to dwell among us and give His life a ransom for all peoples! Oh what rapturous joy that fills my heart! Such news would be unbelievable if we did not have God’s sure Word to tell us so! Who would have dreamed such good news is possible!

Such good news must be published to the “ALL THE PEOPLE! I am reminded afresh, as Christmas approaches, there are many in this world who have never once heard this “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY“ ! We live in the midst of many such people here in the West Nile. On this coming Friday Sam, Carol, Paul George (from Austin Texas) and I will travel, along with members of Aya Baptist Church, to two such villages (Bari is the name of one) on Metu Mountain. Pastor Tobious and his associate, Geoffrey, just finished a preliminary visit in preparation for our trip together. They were warmly received and it was evident the Lord had been preparing their hearts. Tobious was told that someone had come briefly six years ago preaching in these villages and then left. Since that time they had been hoping someone would come and tell them more. Tobious and Geoffrey shared the gospel then and there and 14 believed upon the Lord!

Our goal is to see a church planted in Bari with a shepherd. I have seen, time after time, where evangelism takes place in a village, whether through open air preaching or the Jesus film, and many believe. Then, either because there are no shepherds willing to relocate or there is no provision for them to do so, the new believers are left like sheep without a shepherd. Geoffrey has agreed to be the shepherd of the church in Bari but has no resources and little biblical training. This is where RAU, through you, can come alongside the local church and assist in the planting of this church. This would be the second church in which RAU is directly involved in planting. The other is Obongi Town Church led by Pastor Godfrey, about whom we have written much. Our focus is to see churches where there is not one single one. Places which have no church ought to take precedence in church planting over places which have one or several churches in them already. The Bari Church, like Obongi Town church, will be made up of almost all new believers who, all the more, need shepherds trained in the Word and walking in the Spirit. Godfrey is doing a fine job in Obongi and we pray that we can assist Geoffrey and others in the same way. Please pray for these new churches and for us as we walk arm in arm with them.

We are also actively working indirectly to see churches planted where there are none. We do this through our pastors/church leaders retreats and by going out to local churches teaching and equipping. RAU’s main purpose is to come alongside pastors and church leaders in order to strengthen and equip them so that they can “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Many of the pastors in our West Nile region have not had the blessing and benefit of attending Bible College or seminary and they are very eager to receive resources that will aid them in their work. Our model is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 where the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to entrust to faithful men (who will also be able to teach others) what he has taught Timothy. Everything is passed along. In this way, the truth of the Gospel does not become a stagnant pond, but a life-giving, outward-flowing river of life.

unnamed (6) — Studying in the Hall of Tyrannus

Paul demonstrated this model in his own life when, as recorded in Acts 19:10 by Luke, he taught daily in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, “so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” Paul himself did not reach each resident of Asia, but those who heard Paul told others who told others. This is the ministry fruit we hope for at Reaching Africa’s Unreached. We want the Gospel and all the truths of the Bible to be that life-giving river making its way out to all the West Nile Region and beyond!

unnamed (11) — Seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2

Biblical discipleship is key for the church to be able to reach the unreached. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) has correctly said, “Since Satan cannot destroy the gospel, he has often neutralized its usefulness by addition, subtraction, or substitution.” When you pray and sacrificially help us you are helping to destroy the works of Satan.

When Carol wrote last I was in the midst of another bout of malaria. Thank you all for your sincere prayers. It had laid me low from last Friday -Monday. As per doctor’s orders (Carol) I was allowed to get up and do some work on Tuesday. This past week we have concentrated on creating a fire line around the perimeter of RAU’s 17 acre. We are now in the beginnings of the hot/dry season and you may remember last time we had some close calls from surrounding wildfires. We are also digging around and mulching our young mango trees. We have bagged around 865 kilos of dried soybeans harvested from the RAU land which we will seek to sell. One hundred percent of these proceeds will go directly back into the ministry. The same thing will be true when we begin to harvest the many mangoes from our newly planted trees. When the rains begin again we will plant more. Our perimeter security wall is coming along nicely. We are grateful for a wonderful building crew from whose expertise we will benefit and have benefited.

Work is progressing well on the veranda security wall. The outside of the stub wall will have matching flagstone and the inside will be plastered/painted. The gap between the wall and top will have decorative metal work.

Weighing and sacking our soybean harvest.

There were also six pastors who came by this last week for prayer and encouragement. On a weekly basis many stop by RAU. We see these times also as being a part of God’s plan for us living here. We can send them on their way refreshed in the Lord and packed with resources, both for them and their churches.

All these are reasons why we believe it is the Lord’s will to get more resources here via a second container. Already 700 pounds of gospel tracts in English, Madi, and Aringa and 800 pounds of books from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach are on pallets at our home church, Lifegate. Our biggest desire is to pack 5,000 ESV Global Study Bibles into the container. As we have written previously, we can purchase them at a 70% discount and have them shipped to Lifegate for $10 a Bible. We have $3,000 of the $50,000 needed to buy these excellent, pastoral resources. Please pray and believe with us for the remaining funds and give if you can. All the information you need is at our web page here:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/

Carol and I, as well as the whole RAU team, realize we could not be doing what we are doing without the sacrificial and loving support you give us. You are the Lord’s means of grace for us who labor joyfully in the field the Lord has given us. Thank you and God Bless you!

On a personal note, please pray for Carol and me during this Christmas season that the Lord would minister peace and grace in those times we desperately miss out loving family back in America. Thank you!

May you have a blessed and merry Christmas!

Jacob (Carol) Lee