“The United Nations has declared a famine in parts of South Sudan, the first to be announced anywhere in the world in six years….UN agencies say 100,000 people are facing starvation in South Sudan and a further 1 million there are classified as being on the brink of famine. This is the most acute of the present food emergencies. It is also the most widespread nationally. Overall, says the UN, 4.9 million people – or 40% of South Sudan’s population – are “in need of urgent food, agriculture and nutrition assistance….”. BBC Africa: “Why Are There Still Famines?”

The need is real and the fighting is real. Because we are located just two kilometers from border we have heard the exchange of gunfire, RPG’s, and  have seen tracer fire in the night sky. We are safe and secure on our side of the border.  Unfortunately, it’s not so for the ones on the other side!

The Lord has set us here in the the very midst of hundreds of thousands of refugees in our three district regions of Moyo, Yumbe, and Adjumani. He has also given you a direct connection to them through us and others “for such a time as this”!

Currently, we have begun construction on an enlarged “Hall of Tyrannus” with adjoining dining and study. This new structure will allow us to host larger pastor retreats. It will also help facilitate the hosting of groups from the community, as well South Sudanese leaders from Refugee Camps, for biblical and agricultural training. RAU’s focus is 2 Timothy 2:2, teaching faithful leaders who in turn will teach others who then, in turn, teach others.

Any financial help you can give in this building project would be much appreciated! We would like to complete the Hall as fast as possible so that we can begin using it soon.

Recently, I had a visit with UN officials and they are happy that we want to bring leaders from refugee camps here to RAU for agricultural and biblical training. They will be back for more discussions. RAU will endeavor to work with the Ugandan gov’t, UNHCR, and other larger NGOs in the region that have heeded the call to help.

We have been told that the South Sudanese refugees will probably be here for at least 5-10 years. RAU wants to, especially, be a part of giving developmental help to them through agricultural training with the gospel always being front and center. The enlarged “Hall of Tyrannus” (See Acts 19:9b-10) along with our 17 acre demo plot will help facilitate hands on training.

On RAU’s 17 acres we now have many bananas (6,000+/-) that will be in full production when the March rains begin; this can bring immediate food relief. Most of our 740 grafted mangoes are still too young to produce but, in a couple of years, they will begin producing as well. In the our upcoming first growing season, in between the rows of bananas and mangoes, we are looking to plant soybeans along with many different kinds of vegetables. We will use our  soybean seed stock which we harvested in May ’16 for planting. When harvested, our plan is to grind the soybeans into meal. Soybean meal is one of the most complete foods God has given us. It can be a great food resource for the refugees as well as the local community.

Long term, we want to help prepare and equip the refugees in the Word of God and in ways they can better care for their families and community through agriculture. The agricultural skills with which they are equipped at Reaching Africa’s Unreached can be taken back with them to their homes in South Sudan when peace returns; this is something we all pray will happen sooner rather later.

We commit to use funds given faithfully and wisely. We live here so we are “the boots on the ground” to ensure that God’s love is seen through you, his people.

With Love and Appreciation,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

 

Dear American evangelical Christian,

Please….PLEASE!! Watch this message and let it change your heart and your thinking and your obedience! This message was given in context of the current refugee crisis which is the worst it has ever been all around the world!

Here are some key points from the message that, I hope, will inspire you to live differently in these coming days and weeks and years:

The road to and from Yumbe is becoming very familiar these days!  A person can almost anticipate every turn, every pothole, every rock on the way – that is, if one could see the road through all the dust! Oh! How we long for the rainy season to start.  Of course, that will have its challenges, too, by turning the roads into mud pits!

A Danish proverb says, “The road to a friend’s house is never long.” In the same way, in spite of the rough, hot and dusty ride, our reason for traveling to Yumbe overcomes the distance and discomfort and finds us happy to engage in yet another meeting with Aringa Imams and Sheikhs or working in partnership with Charles and Pilgrim Church in ministry to the Yumbe District community.

This last Tuesday, Jacob, Emma, Zakeo and I returned to Yumbe (Apo Sub-county).  At Apo Seed Secondary School (a very nice facility), we met with 45 Imams and Sheikhs. There were to be 60; however, a well-revered, elderly Imam from the nearby Mosque passed away and many were attending his funeral.

As always, the meeting started out with introductions and a couple of very short speeches by key leaders from the community.  We also passed out some gift bags and literature, all of which the attendees were eager to receive.  At every Dialogue, there is that reminder that we are, indeed, having a dialogue and not a debate; we are not trying to undermine each other, but to understand each other.  So far, this approach has worked well.  Though we have known of a few who oppose our coming, that we just had our 12th Dialogue is proof positive that the opposition is in the minority.  We have always been warmly welcomed.

“I believe in language even though it has been wounded, deformed, and perverted by the enemies of mankind. And I continue to cling to words because it is up to us to transform them into instruments of comprehension rather than contempt. It is up to us to choose whether we wish to use them to curse or to heal, to wound or to console.” – Elie Wiesel

Jacob is typically given the first slot of time to present his words (most of which focus on who Jesus is according to Christians).  This time, because we were also offering  an Ag extension portion, Jacob took less time and decided to explain the Gospel in story form – a story he created to describe creation, the fall of man (in the Garden), redemption (through Christ) and consummation (being reunited with the Father).  It was a particularly effective story (in which the audience seemed sincerely engaged) with its setting being a rural village and…a latrine pit; the story line was something to which everyone could relate.

Emma “grabbed the baton” after Jacob and presented “Growing Bananas as a Business”, a topic which had been requested by several Muslims at the last Dialogue.  Agriculture nearly and dearly touches these people’s lives.  For many, it is one of the only means of potential income-generating activity.  To each participant, a booklet of agricultural principles and practices (written by Emma) was provided.  A bunch of RAU grown Matooke bananas was brought as a gift and for inspiration (given that the banana came to fruit during the dry season due to the way in which it was planted and managed) – instructions included.  Emma concluded by answering their many questions.

Part way in to Emma’s Ag session, we noticed that people were coming and going.  The facilitator said the men were taking turns to go outside for their noon prayers.  Rather than anyone missing parts of the teaching, we stopped for a short while to allow them the opportunity for their ritual washing and prayers and then resumed the Ag teaching.

The Yumbe Muslims also have their “go-to” person whom they respect and call upon to represent their faith.  This time, he was feeling poorly due to a bout of Malaria (we had the opportunity to give him anti-malaria meds and pain pills), but he did not let the opportunity pass him by to very graciously offer his perspectives and clarifications about Islamic beliefs.  He shared about a common belief we have:  being rude to the person to whom you are explaining your beliefs does no good thing in winning them to your side.  He expressed appreciation that Jacob has maintained a gracious mode of sharing what Christians believe.

It was a long day – without a lunch break! (We provide them a small amount of money to cover a meal and transport.)  However, not a time goes by when we don’t leave these meetings with a pleasant sense of accomplishment and growing friendship and favor.  During the meeting, one of the very top leaders offered Jacob several opportunities to meet again with Imams and Sheikhs in the area.  We praise God for this friendly platform from which to share who Jesus is from a biblical perspective and to clear up misunderstandings which Muslims have about our beliefs.  Our sincere and loving hope is that, one day, many, if not all, will have their eyes opened to see the beautiful Savior, Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

With Love and Appreciation,

Carol (Jacob) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

 

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a wonderful day, Saturday (4th), interacting with 54 Imam/Sheikhs from Yumbe. They all listen respectfully to the clear message of the gospel.

 Perti and Heidi Söderlund, Aaron and Hannah Mason,Cam Seals, and Joseph Mann joined Charles, Carol and myself. It was Aaron’s, Hannah’s, Cam’s, Joseph’s first time to be with us and Perti’s and Heidi’s second time.  Everyone at the gathering introduced themselves and then I was given and an hour and 10 minutes to speak, which I used to the minute. I taught/preached from John 10:1-18. After I finished. Perti shared his stirring testimony.  

 

Then a spokesman from the Imams spoke for about 45 minutes. Next I was given a short time to respond. In closing, I shared our desire and plan to bring agriculture training to them as well English lessons.

All the Imams and Sheikhs were very hospitable and attentive. Our friendship is growing. These dialogs have shown to the community and world that Christians and Muslims can sit together in friendship and respect in spite of their different and strong convictions of belief.

We brought and distributed Bibles, literature as well as medicine and dental care items.

 

This coming Tuesday (7th), we will meet with a different group of 60 Imams and Sheikhs from a different area of Yumbe District.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! Please continue to pray and give as you are enabled that we may continue in our outreach to Muslim leaders among the Aringa unreached people group and other ministries of outreach into surrounding churches and communities.

In God’s Loving and Sovereign Grip,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

 

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

On Saturday, the 4th, I have another opportunity to meet and dialog  with my Muslim friends in Yumbe. Our friendship has grown since our first dialog in June of 2015. Charles, our faithful co-worker in Yumbe and my interpreter, reports that we are expecting around 50 Imams and Sheikhs. Our topic remains “Who is Jesus?”. Every time we have met the Muslims leaders have been hospitable and friendly. They have been openly appreciative of the Bibles, literature and other gifts they have received.  In this dialog Perrti, a missionary from Finland, will be joining me. In one of our previous dialogs Perrti as well as Pastor Illka from Finland, also spoke. Illka has an active and fruitful ministry in Finland.

This time along with more Bibles and literature I am bringing some RAU-grown Matoke bananas, soap, medicines, tooth brushes/paste which were sent back with us the last time we were in Texas. I will preaching and teaching from John 10:1-18. Please be  in prayer for our time together. Usually we meet for 4-5 hours. Pray that each and everyone will behold the Good Shepherd who, of His own will, laid down His life for the sheep.

This past Saturday, we took a 10-member team with Adventures in Mission to the Metu Mountain village churches of Oku and Cinyi. Members of the team shared their testimony and encouragement from the Word of God. On Sunday, the 29th, they broke up and went to various churches in Moyo District. They left on Sunday. Carol and I greatly enjoyed our short time with them.

Tuesday, I returned with Tobious and Samuel to Cinyi Community Church . It is a rugged drive. I continue to be thankful for the Land Cruiser which enables these kinds of trips. Thank you for the support given to make constant repairs on it. The Cinyi church has now been in existence for two years and continues to grow. Tuesday we had Bible Study, distributed Madi NT’s and literature, medicines, building supplies, Kindle Fires with “Jesus” film in Madi (with accompanying portable solar panels donated by “Study To Be Approved”) and another drip irrigation kit donated by “M.A.R.S.”.

On a sad note we are literally  watching a mass exodus of people and things passing by us. The South Sudan border is just a little over a mile from us. A quarter of a mile south of us in the Afoji trading center where the UN is setting up a processing center for all the refugees leaving Kajo Keji . It is heartbreaking to see all the people fleeing and most with just what they can carry. Some, who have money, are able to hire bodas (motorcycles) and trucks to ferry their things. You can see the fear and despair in their eyes. Please pray for those fleeing the fighting in their homeland. The Lord has set them right in our midst so that we may show the love of Christ in both Word and deed. In about a month our banana trees (6000) will be in full production and we will get soybeans planted when the rains begin in the first of march. Lord willing we will be able to assist them with these crops. Pray for us and help if you can. Thank you!

Carol and I as well all the RAU team appreciated your love and support. We could not be doing what we are doing without your faithful prayer and financial support. We pray you will not grow weary in your gracious support and prayers!

Carol worked hard and put an overview of RAU’s ministry in 2016. You can read it here. She has included many of her beautiful pictures. Our Lord is so good!

May God Bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you!

Thank you,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org