I have good news to report! I received a call from our faithful and persistent brother Thomas that the truck carrying the RAU container has left the Uganda Revenue Authorities warehouse in Kampala. It’s journey to us will be via Arua, Koboko,Yumbe, Moyo and then Afoji. The truckers think they will be arriving Friday evening. Are any of you available for its unloading ? :-). Please pray for its safe delivery to RAU! Over the years I have seen many a container along the road on its side.It was a little over a year that we began to collect things and there have been many challenges along the way. The Lord has given grace and mercy. Through your prayers, the many who sacrificially gave, and hard work of so many, the precious cargo within the container when here will help facilitate the spreading of the fame of King Jesus in RAU’s working region. Only the Lord can measure the effect of these materials. At this link here you can see what is in the container.
Over 1,100 Global Study Bibles and 3,500 christian books for distribution to pastors and others are on their way. PTL!
We are close to getting our money refunded back to us for the 1999 Land Cruiser we had ordered from Japan last September. Pray for the money to be placed in our account and for our new search for a suitable ministry vehicle. Going six months without a vehicle has not stopped our ministry outreaches but having one will greatly facilitate our travels for ministry. The terrain we work in is rugged. One can only go so far and only to certain places by boda boda or taxi. My back will especially appreciate a vehicle. Your prayers for us in this would be greatly appreciated.
These are the road conditions in our area during the rainy season
We have been putting a lot of thought and prayer into our next pastor’s retreat at RAU in which we will be hosting Yumbe pastors and leaders.There have been a number of relationship and strategy meetings in Yumbe since last November. These pastors will be with us from February 11-14th. Pray for us as we dig into God’s Word together. Our good friend Kevin Turner and Bible teacher Jonathan Fletcher will help in the instruction. It is our desire that these men from Yumbe will go back to their congregations strengthened, encouraged, and blessed. They are working for God’s glory in areas which are around 99% Muslim. Then the following week of February 17 we will go to Yumbe and stay there teaching, evangelizing and doing some medical work in a very rural part of Yumbe District. As soon as our vehicle arrives (I say that by faith) I want to make weekly visits to Yumbe to meet with pastors for bible study and encouragement. Please be in special prayer for these outreaches.
Yumbe needs Jesus! Pray!
Godfrey reports that the RAU church plant,Obongi Town Church, is growing with new converts. We need to have another baptism service soon in the nearby Nile River As you remember, Godfrey spent two months with us here at RAU studying before we sent him to Obongi. As the Lord would have it, there appears to be eight more young men who are interested in doing the same thing as Godfrey. It brings me great joy to be a mentor of young men who want to see churches planted in unreached areas and are willing to serve in them! Please pray for these opportunities. Your gifts and prayers help make this possible
Making open proclamation in Obongi “I follow Jesus!”Sending Godfrey out from RAU to Obongi to shepherd a new church plant
Thank you for your prayers and gifts for refugee relief. We are of the opinion, after being here for about two weeks, that we can best serve and minister Christ’s love by providing medicines to those in our immediate area along with some food stuffs for those refugees staying with family and friends in the Moyo area. There are a number of large organizations providing food relief for those in the camps. As you know, malaria is rampant in our area. Having malaria meds, as well as others, will show great love to those who had to flee their homeland. The news reports say things are better in South Sudan, but on the ground level there is still a great deal of concern for a working peace agreement, and rightly so. Please keep praying for South Sudan.
We are here because God called us to be here and confirmed it through your prayers and support. It is an honor to partner with you in spreading the fame of our King Jesus in Northwestern Uganda (West Nile Region), Southwestern South Sudan, and Northeastern D,R. Congo.
These new believers are hungry for the Word of God. Please continue to pray and support us. Thank You!
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.
A big hello from Afoji, Uganda, to all of our family and friends!
In receiving this letter, you will know that we arrived safely to Moyo and Afoji after a long, dusty, hot bus ride from Kampala. It will certainly be a big blessing when the roads are nicely paved from Gulu up to Moyo. It’s in the works, but will take a few years!
It was a dusty 13 hour bus trip from Kampala to Moyo
On the bus ride to Moyo Jacob’s laptop was stolen from his back pack which was right above our heads the whole time…and I never left the bus. Jacob was distressed about it, initially. The Lord has been, through this experience, teaching him about surrendering ALL to Jesus. It is altogether too easy to become attached to earthly conveniences to the point that you begin to think you cannot live without some item or another…but…you can!
Since then, we have managed to find some ways to connect with the world. We found some very astute computer “wizards” in Moyo, a couple of young men who really know what they are doing. They were able to fix my old laptop, which had been rendered useless to us, but not, apparently, to someone who knows what they are doing. A friend from church had given two mini laptops or e-books this last visit. Our young computer experts here were able to get one going. So…Jacob is back in business as one of the world’s great communicators! (This time, it’s me (Carol) writing as Jacob is on his way to Yumbe.
Not everything has arrived safely in Moyo, however! We were hoping the container would be here by now, but, alas, it has not left Kampala. Jacob just wrote the shipping company another letter to inquire into the matter. We shall see! It is one of our RAU jokes: “Oh…I’ve got a ______! But it’s in the container!!” Hmmm…will it actually make it here?
Our friend from Seguin, John Howarton, arrived on Thursday and will be here this week. He and his wife, Angela, have a discipleship ministry in Israel during the summer months of the year. They had developed relationships with some South Sudanese men who were initially refugees in Israel, but have since returned to South Sudan only to be caught up in the civil unrest there. It has been wonderful to fellowship with him. He is a Jesus-loving encourager! Today (Monday) the guys are off to Yumbe to meet with Pastors Ben and Charles to strategize.
Kevin Turner and his friend, a theology professor, will be arriving February 8th. While they are here we will host a four day retreat for pastors and leaders from Yumbe. Then the next week we will be in Yumbe itself for ministry. Looking forward to that!
We were surprised to see very few signs of refugees here in the Moyo area. Most of the refugees that are here are staying with relatives. On our way up by bus, we passed large encampments of refugees who were being cared for by World Vision and, perhaps, other groups. Apparently, the encampment we passed was for people from the Dinka tribe. Most of the refugees are women and children, as the men have returned back to South Sudan, probably for participation in the war. Apparently, in the Adjumani area, there are around 9 camps for Dinka tribe members, and around 7 in the Koboko region for people from the Nuer tribe (pronounced “new-eh”, as we recently found out from John Howarton.)
We have funds for refugee care which were given by folks back home and have decided to use the funds for medicines that will be available to the refugees that are here locally. While refugees in this area may have a place to stay, they probably do not have the funds for medicines. This will alleviate some of the burden on local families who are hosting them.
A refuge camp near Adjumani
While Jacob was in town with Sam the other day and meeting with the local heads of police, there happened to be an official from South Sudan there. Initially he spoke of a peace treaty that was being signed, but, almost under his breath, also muttered, “I am concerned that my country will divided into three.” With the strong tribal loyalties that are present that is a sad but likely scenario.
Thanks for your prayers, your gifts, your encouraging letters and love.
As always, continue to pray about and consider the possibility of coming with a team to use your gifts and skills to strengthen pastors. Women, you are welcome too! There are many ministry opportunities for you! Just give us a heads-up so we can find a spot on the calendar for you!
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.
With Pastors Ben and Charles on the main street of Yumbe. These two pastors have been faithful witnesses Yumbe.
I had a great day in Yumbe on the 10th with Sam and pastors Ben and Charles from Yumbe town. Sam and I took public transport. At any given point there were 10-13 of us packed into a small mini van. With the many stops and slow going what is typically an hour trip one way was 3 hot and dusty hours one way.The hot/dry season has begun.
Oh boy! It was worth it though! We all had a very good time of fellowship with Ben and Charles. I was able to get a good interview with them on the general state of Yumbe and plans for Reaching Africa’s Unreached working with the few but zealous pastors of the Yumbe District in proclaiming Jesus.
I hope you have been encouraged to pray and support our work in Yumbe!
In February we will hosting 17 pastors/church leaders here at RAU from Yumbe. We have an excellent team visiting from America to participate in this ministry week. To make our ministry even more effective in Yumbe we need to have a more constant presence in there.
RAU would like to see a small Reaching Africa’s Unreached Hall of Tyrannus teaching/resource center on main street. We would try to come on a weekly basis for teaching and encouragement for local pastors and those called to shepherd new church plants in Yumbe District. Since it is difficult for them to come here to RAU often this would put us in a position to go them often. Only as the church is grounded in the Word will it prosper and grow in Muslim dominated Yumbe!
We want all of Yumbe District to hear the gospel just as Asia did in Paul’s Day.
Godfrey has gone ahead of us to Obongi. Early in the morning Nurse Sam, Pastor Abraham , and myself will join him along with Pastor Bosco for teaching and baptisms in the Nile. While Godfrey and Bosco were visiting the believers today they were used of the Lord to lead another person to Christ who also wants to be baptized. The videos below are from our previous evangelism outreaches in Obongi. Nearly 30 are ready for baptism. A sight has been chosen near the ferry crossing. These baptisms will no doubt draw a crowd in this Muslim town. We will celebrate God’s work in baptism and proclaim the same glorious gospel to onlookers praying they too will place their trust in Christ Jesus and also follow in baptism. God is building His church in Obongi!
Please pray for Pastor’s Bosco growing church in Otobonga near Obongi and for RAU’s first church plant in Obongi town with Godfrey leading it. Also pray for a small group of new believers just outside Obongi. It too far for them to walk to Otobonga and the Obongi town church. We are praying hard,thinking hard, and working hard to get a shepherd for them.
I am writing to give you an opportunity to share in the joy of the harvest. You have shared in the plowing through prayer. You have participated in the sowing through your generous giving (building,operating expenses, books, Kindles for Pastors, evangelism,church planting etc.) and by your coming and planting seed or watering. Believe me,God is giving the growth!
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.“ I Corinthians 3: 6-9
Since Jacob’s last letter, so many wonderful developments have occurred.
Godfrey, who has been undergoing a mentoring process here at RAU and an intense time of study, is nearly ready to make his move to Obongi. He is truly excited, not only about the Word of God, but also about being able to be a part of the milestone outreach to this unreached area. Jacob has so enjoyed helping to equip Godfrey in different ways and has had great conversations with him. Last night, after having had some time to read in his new Kindle, loaded with over 100 Christian books, Godfrey came inside from the veranda, nearly giddy, and stated, “You know, God gave Adam this beautiful garden with all kinds of fruits for him to enjoy. What God gave Adam in the garden, you have given me in this Kindle!” Awesome! Thank you, Delmar Hager, for your vision and provision of this most excellent tool for pastors! The fruit that the Kindles, as well all the Christ centered books given out, will bear in eternity cannot even be contemplated now! Thank you to all who have been a part of providing Bibles and books to enrich pastors. We look forward to seeing the harvest of wisdom in Godfrey through the resources he has been given and planted within him. Pray for him as he leads a new church in the center of Muslim dominated Obongi. Pray for us as we seek to encourage him and assist this church plant which has only new converts.
One of R.A.U.’s goals is to get quality Christian literature and Study Bibles into the hands of pastors and church leaders.
Godfrey has been spending more and more time in Obongi, following up with new believers and discipling and encouraging them.The guys have made a number of evangelistic trips there the past 6 weeks. He has been able to locate a Tukalu that we will rent for him. He will be heading back there tomorrow to prepare up to 30 new believers for baptism on Thursday. Jacob and Abraham will follow him early Thursday morning for a day of teaching followed by a baptism of believers in the Nile River by Pastor Bosco (a young man into whom Jacob has been thrilled to pour resources since 2010. There is a video him on this page). Jacob and Abraham will also be delivering a bed and some other essentials to Godfrey for his move to Obongi. If you could see the exuberant joy that Godfrey exhibits as he talks about the people that are expressing thankfulness for his being there to shepherd them, you would “catch it” too! It is contagious!
A previous baptism in the Nile River.
By the way, the Church at Obongi is meeting under a mango tree.
Yumbe is another area of promise and encouragement. RAU has found a gold mine in Pastor Ben and several other pastors and lay ministers who faithfully serve the Lord in this Muslim region. I would encourage you to read again the history of Yumbe in Jacob’s last newsletter It is a privilege to come alongside them and encourage them, strengthen them through teaching and provide resources for them. The ones that met with Abraham, Sam, Alfred and Jacob have shared how greatly they are blessed by RAU coming to partner with them. They no longer feel forgotten! When we return to Uganda after the Christmas holidays, we will be gearing up for a special retreat just for the Pastors and workers in the Yumbe region. Kevin Turner is planning on bringing a team to help in this retreat at RAU.
Yumbe’s main mosque
As you pray for us and give towards the ministry of RAU, please keep in mind the financial cost of outreaches to these towns and also the funds needed to help the pastors who are called to shepherd the fledgling churches or church plants. They are being sent out by us and need our support until the churches can be a little more self-sustaining. Godfrey, for example, gave up a good paying job and a home in answering the call to move to Obongi. Our commitment is, on a short-term basis, to provide for some of his needs so he can focus on discipling and evangelizing. It will be the same for the other church plants in the works.
One of the markers of RAU has been its commitment to be an interdenominational organization, promoting the forward movement of the Gospel and Kingdom of God among all evangelical churches. This has been appreciated by many pastors here when they see that there is no favoritism, but the emphasis is the glory of God and the going forth of the Gospel. The pastors from Yumbe also have remarked that among the small number of churches of varying evangelical denominations in the region, this is the first time a group has come in to work together with all of them. These pastors are now committed to working with each other in getting the Gospel into the community.Part of their strategy is to identify several young men who would make good pastoral candidates and to have them stay here at RAU on a short-term basis for training and mentoring. It would be hurtful for the Church at large to evangelize and bring in a harvest of souls and not provide them with good under shepherds. This is the very commitment of and basis for RAU!Yumbe church leaders
Alongside the planned trips to Yumbe and Obongi and formal opportunities for teaching, Jacob has also enjoyed some unplanned opportunities lately. From time to time, he feels that he ought to go out and work with the men in the slashing and clearing of the property. (Funny, but I feel no such compulsion!) Among the men are pastors and church leaders. They have had great questions and conversations on spiritual matters. It gives Jacob a springboard to do some teaching. Also, on any given day, a young man or a pastor may pop in for a visit. Jacob has this opportunity to give books and urge them on to study. I remember overhearing Jacob tell Godfrey the other day, “A leading man must be a reading man.” (or something like that!) One young man who dropped by yesterday was asking about the Kindle. Jacob, who had just given him some books, told him, “If you have read what I have given you by the time we come back from the States, I will give you a Kindle.” He is quick to emphasize to them that the resources are limited and he only wants those resources in the hands of those who will actually read and use them.Clearing brush and Bible study can go hand in hand!
Please pray for Jacob and all of us here at RAU. We have the opportunity to love on and encourage a couple of young Muslim men who are becoming more open to what we have to say about Jesus. Please pray that nothing about our lives and words will contradict what they are hearing about the Savior. Pray that hearts would be softened, eyes would be opened!
On the operating side of RAU ministry, we are still awaiting the container to be released. The hold up has mainly had to do with the registration plates for the tractor and the motorbike (which we now have, but will cost us $1000) and getting the release from the Minister of Gender. He is the one who signs off on our tax exemption for the container. If we did not have this exemption our import taxes would be over $20,000 for the container so you see why his signing off on our tax exemption is important. This exemption was given to us last January. Apparently, due to past abuses of the tax exempt status through the Red Cross, they are going through release requests with a fine tooth comb to ensure that containers are not going to groups who will turn around and sell the contents for a profit. The RDC, (Resident District Commissioner. See the video of him at RAU here) the local representative of the President here in Moyo (with whom we have become acquainted ), has agreed to meet with the Minister of Gender in Kampala this week to assure him that RAU is a legitimate group and not hawkers. We are grateful for the favor the Lord has given us with the RDC. We have a small window of time in which to receive the container before we return to the States. Please pray it would be released this week! The longer the container stays in Kampala, the more fees will rack up. We have not been given a current price for fees (loading/unloading, various administrative costs,storage while waiting, etc.). It was $2,700 a few weeks ago, so it probably will now be over $3000 with tacked on storage fees. The things which are in the container can be found here. Any help you can give to get the container here would be a great blessing. Jacob wrote in his last newsletters of our other needs so i will not mention them here.
Pray that this will be parked at RAU soon!
Thank you all for your faithful prayers and support.
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 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.
Reaching Africa's Unreached 