We just finished the first weekend in a month of ministry dedicated to Yumbe District. I preached in a Church of Uganda congregation in Eleke. RAU has been given an open door to preach in Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Independent churches. Eleke was brimming with people, especially children! The opportunity for them is great if they find a way to capture the hearts and minds of all these children.
Call to worship – in a culture where people don’t live by the clock.Procession to the ChurchPreaching on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. This is one of most compelling parables illustrating the gospel and how it is to be lived.Moving confession of and repentance from anger and unforgiveness following sermonMany children, waiting to be engaged in Christ’s commission
Later, from the top of the Land Cruiser, I had the privilege of heralding the gospel in the market of Kerila, right after the Pilgrim’s Church Choir drew the crowds with their beautiful singing . Our preaching site was 100 yards from a large, beautiful, and brightly colored mosque and our message was lovingly aimed at the many Muslims of the area who are nearing the end of Ramadan celebration. Whether they gathered around us or were listening from behind closed doors or from a distance, our prayer is that the Lord opened hearts to believe the Gospel message in the same way the Lord opened Lydia’s heart in Acts 16.
The choir leaderWorshipersIs there a Lydia among them?Climbing the “podium”! I know George Whitefield would have loved this platform!Chatting with Brother Barnabas who was my interpreterPreach the gospel to all of creation!
Gathering to listen
The Land Cruiser served us well to not only take us back and forth from Afoji to Yumbe, but to ferry the choir, instruments and sound system to the church and market area.
Loading up the Land CruiserHow full can we pack it?!!Every space used!African style!
We will head back this next weekend!
Updates:
We have been hard at fence work, giving RAU an amazing “face lift!” A special thank you to Andy and Patsy Hildebrand from Seguin, Texas for supplying RAU with T posts and barbed wire which hitched a ride in the container. Termites are especially bad in this area so wooden posts do not last long. Also, animals love to come grazing if they’re allowed, so a sturdy perimeter is a must. Our soybeans, beans, peanuts,corn, and cassava are doing well. A nice rain would be beneficial as it is getting a bit dry. The proceeds from the crops will go directly into the ministry.
“Mildred Forgive”
We are sorry that we don’t have an updated picture of Mildred. She is back home and looks like a normal little baby and doing very well. She has a follow up visit at the end of this month. The family is very grateful for the financial help of those who made the surgery possible. Hopefully soon, we will be able to meet up with her and the mother to get some new photos.
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 names)
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 their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas 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.
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” –Leonardo Da Vinci
How far are we willing to go…physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually…to realize the the things we deem important? The Apostle Paul spurs us on like this: “Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14, NET)
We were blown away this last week by the lengths some of the retreat attendees went to obtain their goal of being taught and receiving resources. They did not sit back and “let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.“ Three of the men cycled around 20 km – not on paved, level roads, but on hilly, rough and rocky roads, not with fancy ten speeds, but basic cycles – to get to RAU campus and then cycled back!
It is this caliber of person that gives us such joy and satisfaction to host at our Pastors’ retreats. But whether the pastors and lay leaders have come from near or far, their expressions of gratefulness to the Lord for His provision are equally genuine and spur us to continue what we are doing. This last week we hosted a group of Pastors and lay leaders from the Church of Uganda in Moyo, Lefori, and Koboko. We enjoy each group that comes and love to hear their stories, empathize in their struggles, pray for them, equip them and encourage them to press on. At the end of the retreat we set aside time to hear from them. That’s where we get especially encouraged as they give thanks to God for the blessings they have received during the week.
Fiery and gifted preacher and teacher, Patrick Bukenya, with Robert interpreting into the Kuku (Bari) language
Jacob Lee, visionary architect for RAU and gifted teacher; Robert, interpreter extraordinaire
Some of the women lay leaders who attended, along with Robert.Seriously taking notes!The group photoCollecting quotes from the talking wallsA joyful smile
Thanks be to God for all our faithful supporters! As time passes we see so much more clearly that you are like a tree and we are like the branch. You support us; you provide the sap that keeps us alive! Thank you for faithfully giving and praying!
This coming month of July has been set aside for ministry in Yumbe and Yumbe District. We will spend each Sunday in Yumbe where Jacob will have the privilege to preach. During the week we will have other opportunities for ministry – teaching, medical and evangelism. We are expecting a young couple, Preston and Laurel, to join us from Florida in the last two weeks of July. We look forward to including them in the ministry that is planned and pray that it will be a time of mutual blessing! From July 15th through the 18th we will be hosting our third retreat for pastors and leaders from the Yumbe area here at RAU. There are many unreached and unengaged people in Yumbe District, so we feel it particularly crucial to focus on the spiritual care of the Christians in this region.
Resources needed!
As we look forward to years of serving pastors and church leaders, it has been on our minds that we need to start working on the next container – this time, perhaps, a smaller one with just Study Bibles, books and tracts. Knowing that it will take some time to reach the goal financially, we feel the urgency to think and talk about it now! Our hope is to get 5000 more ESV Global Study Bibles as well as other literature from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach, as we have in the past. Confining the container strictly to literature will, we hope, keep it from being bogged down at customs in Kampala.
Resources for pastors and church leaders which have been given during retreats
We will keep you updated on the details of this plan, but keep this as a matter of priority in prayer and giving. Without resources our impact will be softened.
Please keep praying for our growing opportunities for medical outreach and care. The Lord continues to place people with special needs before us and it is a particular joy to be able to be involved in changing their lives through surgeries and other treatments. Thank you for always responding so joyfully and promptly when we place these medical needs before you.
Some very happy mothers! Thank you for your prayers and support!
The two children who received cleft palate surgery are doing well. The second child still needs the palate reconstruction. (A generous couple has come forward to provide funds to see that it happens.) Mindra’s daughter, Anzo (whose name means “happiness” or “gratitude”) had her cataract surgery and she is healing wonderfully and able to see with greater clarity during the day. We still have plans to ensure surgery for the two young children with orthopedic abnormalities (club foot and knock knees).
Awaiting provision for surgery at CoRSU Hospital in KampalaAwaiting provision for surgery at CoRSU Hospital in Kampala
Little Mildred, with hydrocephalus, is at the CURE Children’s Hospital in Mbale, Uganda, which specializes in neurological problems. When we found out that the surgery was not free, a wonderful couple stepped up to provide the funds. Understandably, the surgery is not free. It costs the hospital around $2000 USD to perform it, but because it has been subsidized by donors, the cost is $400 or 1 million Ugandan Shillings plus care while in the hospital and transport to and from the hospital. Mildred, we just found out, had her surgery several days ago and is recovering very well in the ICU. She still needs a second surgery. Please pray that the shunts will remain open and functional. Statistically, shunts have a 40% chance of closing off within a short period of time, requiring repeat surgeries.
2 month old Mildred with hydrocephalus
Last week, we received some photos from our friend, Ben, in Yumbe, of children who have various correctable problems. Four of them have cleft lips/palates, one has hypertrophied adenoids (severely enlarged adenoids – to the point where he is barely able to swallow) and the last child has both male and female genitalia. We will continue to help these children with surgery as the Lord provides.
Please pray about funding a specific surgical need. We don’t want to make any promises to these families without having the certainty of provision. Also, we don’t want to drift from our primary purpose of pastoral training, so any provision of medical care will be from funds raised specifically for each medical need or case, and not from money that is given generally towards RAU’s ministry.
As we press on, please pray about the following needs. As the Lord moves your heart to give financially, please indicate, along with the gift, to which ministry you want the funds allocated.
1. Pastors’ Retreats
2. Literature Resource Container
3. Medical needs of Children: 2 orthopedic surgeries (our next priority), 4 cleft palate surgeries, 1 enlarged adenoids, 1 child with both male/female genitalia
“Now to Him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.“
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 names)
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 their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas 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.
Yesterday we attended the dedication service (June 24, 2014) of the first translation and publication of the Aringa New Testament! It was a beautiful day of celebration! What a joy to be a part of this history making day for the Aringa people and the Kingdom of God! We look forward to be a part of placing this New Testament in the hands and hearts of the Aringa people. If you too would like to take part in this, each Aringa New Testament costs around $3 depending on the going exchange rate. We are also rejoicing that we have 20,000 Quest For Joy tracts in Aringa ready to make their journey here from Texas. Pray with us that Yumbe District which has very few Christians will be filled to over flowing with worshipers of Jesus!
This little house represents the goal of placing a New Testament in each Aringa home
John 3:16
Charles Onduga was on the translation team and also part of the team which translated the Quest For Joy tract into Aringa.
We were able to assist 2 month old “Mildred Forgive” (and her mother and grandmother) to go to Mbale for treatment for hydrocephalus. We were told, on this end, that the surgery would be free and our part would consist of transport and upkeep costs. However, when the three arrived in Mbale, they were told the surgery would cost around one million shillings or, roughly, $400. This is in addition to what we have already paid for travel and living expenses. If your heart is moved to help towards the surgery costs we would be most grateful, as would the family of little Mildred. This little girl has no hope of a good outcome without the treatment. She has been sickly and weak from birth, unable to suckle effectively and sufficiently. They may have to delay surgery until her physical and nutritional condition are compatible with surgery.
2 month old Mildred with hydrocephalus
Pray for Mildred
The 26th-28th we will be hosting 22 pastors/church leaders from the Moyo area. This will be our sixth retreat. Please pray for our gathering together that each leader may be refreshed and strengthened through the teaching of God’s Word. May the Lord be exalted! Please pray for us!
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 names)
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 their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas 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.
“There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
Jacob and I have been reflecting a lot on this season of life with sober joy. The rough patches do their good work of humbling us, helping us sort through priorities and causing us to keep our eyes on the prize. The joys of seeing fruitfulness encourage us to continue with hope. In one way or another, to one degree or another, everything we hoped and prayed and planned for is being accomplished. In God’s good purposes, however, the way has hills and valleys, ups and downs, so that our hearts are never fully satisfied except in Christ. We rejoice soberly until every good work begun by Christ is brought to completion on that Day!
What a solid blessing that we, at RAU, are not walking the way alone! It is almost like a broken record in my head: we could not do anything here if we did not have believing, praying and giving partners back home and around the world. One of my recent analogies has been that you are the bow that the Lord uses to launch the arrow that is RAU so that it hits its mark! Philippians 2: 1-2, especially, describes what we have been experiencing in relation to you all who are partnering with us—encouragement in Christ, fellowship in the Spirit, and comfort in love. It is a joyful, wonderful thing to be of the same mind, united in spirit, and having one purpose. Thank you for uplifting us with prayers and support and encouraging words!
We happily report the completion of two more Pastors’ Retreats—one for pastors from Yumbe and the other for pastors from Obongi and Maracha. Two very rigorous weeks, but what satisfaction! Even if back-to-back retreats place their demands on us, they certainly come with a greater measure of encouragement. There is nothing better than hearing the pastors express thankfulness and enthusiasm in being better equipped to serve their people.
Early in the morning will I rise up to greet thee!Farmer talkYumbe groupObongi/Maracha RetreatHanging out before the next session!Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!Waiting for the taxi.One more song for the road!
Every retreat solidifies our goals for the ones who come: that they would be strengthened in life and in teachings that help them love and lean on Jesus; that they would be encouraged with love and be refreshed in Christ through fellowship and the Word. All of the men are leading in very difficult situations and with little support and few resources. We hope that the days they are with us are truly a “retreat” from the rigors of their world, but also resourceful for them upon returning to the rigors of their world.
Resource Bag contents
This is why one of our greatest joys is being able to gift them with the “resource bag”. Can you imagine your Christian walk without books, DVD’s, online teachers, access to Bible Schools or online degrees? We are saturated with resources in the West. In “their world“, they are blessed if they have a New Testament or even a complete Bible. For them, receiving a bag filled with a ESV Global Study Bible, books and other items is much like the excitement of Christmas morning as we experience it in America. Thank you for making that possible! We are certain that these resources are going to be well used and that the fruit of joyful obedience to Christ will grow in their lives.
Equipped and ready to go!
We are looking forward to many more of these retreats! Our goal is to have two retreats per month with other ministry and preparation time in the weeks between. This is what we have planned in the coming months.
At the end of this month, June, we will be hosting some brothers in Moyo from the Church of Uganda. Sam will also be accompanying Mindra and Anzo to Kampala so that Anzo may receive her long awaited eye surgery. We can’t wait to “see” a marked improvement in her ability to see! There is also a local pastor who will be going along to have an eye problem assessed.
Big sister, Anzo. She will have eye surgery next week.
The month of July is being reserved for outreach in Yumbe District which will include evangelism, teaching and medical care. During their last retreat here, several pastors from Yumbe testified to their lives having been spared from death or danger at the hands of Muslims who oppose any Christian presence or influence in Yumbe. We want to support them in a way that is equal to their struggles as Christians. Part of that month will involve a retreat for Yumbe leaders here at RAU. Most of our time will be spent in Yumbe, itself. We are expecting a young couple, Preston and Laurel Sink, from the States to join us for part of that time.
In August we will have two more back-to-back retreats here at RAU for two groups of Baptist Pastors from the Moyo region.
The youth group from First Presbyterian Church of Uganda/Kampala will join us for the week of September 8 through 12th for ministry in this area. The following week we’ll be hosting a group of pastors from the DR of Congo, as well as Koboko and Maracha, two nearby districts in Uganda. Each of these districts have counties within them without one single church.
Note: Please pray for us on the back-to-back ministry weeks, especially that it does not rain too heavily. It is difficult to get all the sheets and towels washed and ready for the next group if we do not have sufficient sunshine! Pray for safe travel for the teachers as well as pastors and leaders who are traveling to be here during rainy season.
Rain or shine, the week after the last retreat in September, we will head to Kampala to catch a flight back to Texas; we plan to be in the States for a little over a month. We are expecting the birth of our 4th (!!!) grandchild at the beginning of October and anticipating the happy reunion with family and friends.
Looking over the proposed site for Hall of Tyrannus-Obongi Branch
This week, Jacob, Sam and a couple of men who work with us traveled to Obongi to finalize the purchase of a small plot of land where the Obongi branch, Hall of Tyrannus will be. It will also serve as a location where Godfrey can meet with those whom he is shepherding. Jacob has shared much about Godfrey who pastors a growing gathering of believers. Just yesterday, Godfrey shared with us that, as a result of some tracts that he passed out, two people made professions of faith. We believe they will thrive under the enthusiastic, patient and loving care of Godfrey. And by the way, he did an amazing job of organizing and orchestrating the group of leaders from his area. The more we spend time with him, the more clearly his shepherd’s heart shows through. Also, please pray for his health as he seems to struggle in that area. Pray for this piece of land (for which a gracious couple in Texas provided funds) and the building that will be raised there. We know that this physical investment will play a part in producing eternal dividends in the spiritual care of many!
Continue to pray for all of these activities—
*retreats—teachers and attendees, for safe travel, health and well-being, enriched growth and learning, that resources will be a solid, visible help to pastors and leaders.
*outreach in Yumbe—opportunities to proclaim the Kindness and Mercy of God in word and deed, safety in the midst of opposition, believers who are strengthened and emboldened to stand firm in their faith.
*medical outreach—location of and continued support for children or adults that can be assisted with surgeries. Pray for Anzo as she undergoes surgery on June 18th.
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 names)
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!
Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas 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.
We have just finished another retreat for pastors from Yumbe District. Please pray for them. What a blessing for us to hear their stories of faith!
Just like our last time with a different group from Yumbe, we were so moved by their exuberant worship and prayers and their desire to link arms with other believers in the area to reach out in Christian love and unity to those who have not had the privilege of knowing and loving Jesus. Bob Gad and I shared the teaching sessions (we had 9 long sessions between the two of us.) Our emphasis was on the fundamentals of the faith and on becoming ones who have a heart for discipleship. Pastor Bob, from Kampala, did an excellent job of, not only teaching, but inspiring and spurring on the pastors to go back and equip their churches to be ones who are ready to serve in humility and to share what they have learned with others. It has been a week of pressing 2 Timothy 2:2 into their hearts and thinking (teaching the faithful who will in turn teach others.) It was a delight to be able to send them home with the many resources which your donations have allowed us to purchase and ship here. In the link below you will hear the testimony of one pastor who beautifully expresses what many of them feel after the retreat is over.
Bob Gad
Above are the resources pastors at RAU retreats have been receiving. We are praying we can get another shipment of Global Study Bibles and Christian books as supplies are dwindling. The 1100 Global Study Bibles and books which came in the container are great,great blessing!
We are breathing a happy sigh of satisfaction this afternoon before we start up, again, tomorrow washing sheets and towels in preparation for the next retreat this coming Tuesday. Normally, we don’t like to have them back to back because it is such an intense time, and we need some time to prepare for the next one, but circumstances made it difficult to do it differently.
This coming week we will have the privilege of hosting pastors and church leaders from another area, 17 from Obongi and 1 from Maracha. We are happily busy doing exactly what the Lord put it in our hearts to do! The Lord has open the door to us in West Nile Region of Uganda.
The week before this, Sam and I were busy running around in Kampala, doing what was needed to bring the Land Cruiser back here to Afoji. We also were able to see Anzo (Mindra’s daughter) receive an eye examination and and set up a date for eye surgery at Mengo Hospital for June 17th. It was a time crunch to get everything accomplished, but it was a joy to finally be driving back to RAU in our Land Cruiser! Since I had never driven in Uganda before, it was a welcome relief to have Bob Gad along to do most of the driving. I tried my hand at it on the last leg of the journey from the ferry at Laropi to our home at RAU (Afoji). I am slowly getting use to driving on the wrong side of the road, sitting on the wrong side while driving and shifting with my left hand :-). Now that we have the Land Cruiser we are planning with Yumbe pastors a month of outreach (July) in Yumbe District for discipleship, evangelism, and medical care.
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 names)
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!
Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductibleas 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.
Reaching Africa's Unreached 
