Has it already been eight and half months? Has it only been eight and a half months? Time has flown by and, yet, it seems like we have been here longer than that. I thought it would be good, especially for those who do not access Facebook, to give you a pictorial view of our lives here at RAU. I started out taking pictures with my i Pad, but during our last visit to the States I was given a wonderful camera as a gift. I hope that I am and will be doing it justice!
Jacob and I had been preparing our hearts for this momentous move for many years, but preparing to say goodbye does not mean diminishing love or the object of one’s love so that it doesn’t hurt so much.
Our loves!
Josh and Becca, Eliza and BenJosiah LeeAnna and Kenny Danley and the little one, yet unborn, who we would later come to know as Keira!Creating memoriesSaying goodbye at the airport
Is it possible to be happy and sad at the same time? Well, we were! There were tears and hugs and sad goodbyes, but there was an inner excitement in being on our way to this grand adventure to which the Lord had called us. And an adventure it has been…from the start!
Muddy road ahead!On the way to MoyoNear Murchison FallsSign post for the Nile River–you know you’re close!The bulrushes at the Nile RiverHome at last!
It wasn’t long after we reached our home in Afoji that we realized that our family was not replaced but expanded!
Patrick BukenyaVickie BukenyaGabbie and Genesis BukenyaSam! (AKA Nyombi Samuel Wilson, AKA NSamuel RAU)Getting to know and love our cook, Lucy
RAU family!Vuamaiku Abraham, co-workerLanguage study with Maggie, Abraham’s wife
Cuisine D’Afrique
Adjusting to cultural differences was a challenge; however, I have to say that having grown up in India as a missionary’s kid made the transition much easier. In some ways, it was as if I were returning to my childhood home and to a landscape I knew and loved, including some foods.
Our taste buds had a new palate of foods to accommodate to, some of which were no trouble, but delight…like fresh fruit from the tree onto our table! And the wonderful benefit of our new diet?—much needed weight loss!
Developing new tastes–posho and beansAnd remembering and reviving old tastes–guavasLearning new skills–chapathi makingRed hot!Home made hot sauceMaking passion fruit juicePapaya!Luscious watermelonMangoes!
OK! OK! I have stirred up enough envy and covetousness!
Ministry
On to ministry! Jacob immediately started circulating to all the local churches to encourage them and let them know about RAU’s ministry plans.
Visiting a churchVisiting a local churchMeeting our Anglican brothers and sistersAnother local churchHeading home after prayers.
This church is made of bamboo walls and a tin roof and is shaded by a large mango tree.
It was at the church in the above picture that I got this beautiful shot of Jacob and the pastor’s sons. Jacob never stops being a grandpa! And kids seem to love him, too.
An Unexpected Journey
I had the privilege of accompanying Gabbie to California for heart surgery, after which I had the joy of being reunited with our family in Texas (Sadly, minus Josiah; he could not leave work so suddenly) and of meeting our newest grand baby, Keira Danley.
Unexpected JourneyCuddling the newest grand baby, KeiraKenny doing an amazing job as a first time dad!Auntie Becca!BenjaminEliza
Daddy, Mommy and Keira
I felt bad for Jacob missing out on this. He was a trooper for letting me go. It’s a good thing he was kept busy getting things ready for upcoming ministry. I did my best to send videos and pictures to keep him in the loop as much as possible.
Ministry
It wasn’t too long before RAU was able to launch its envisioned task–Pastors’ retreats and training. It was a blessing to have, as our first guest speaker, our dear friend, Ron Zeiner. Soon after, we welcomed the “Tennessee Trio”, David Jones, Michael Lambert and Eric Williams. Only a week and a half later we had the pleasure of meeting a good friend of Jacob, Kevin Turner (SWI) and his team member, Ron Day.
Leaving for Obongi; Ron and JacobVery first retreat with Ron ZeinerThe Tennessee Trio, Eric, Michael and DavidKevin Turner and Ron Day with SWI
As you can see from this last photo, we were not always serious. Each team that visited us brought with them the life of Christ displayed in a beautiful and peculiar way. Without any doubt, each one that came gave us a view of the servant-heart of Christ, not only in word, but deed as well. It was a joy to get to know them all! We are blessed!
Some of our favorite memories are the “getting-to-know-them” moments.
In Moyo town, walking around with the guys from TennesseeWhen we first started referring to the front porch as “The Internet Cafe” because that’s where the strongest signal was.Michael Lambert…hanging out!At the Ugandan/South Sudan border with the “Tennessee Trio”. Seated: David, Jacob,Officer in Charge of Afoji Border Crossing, Michael, Eric.Standing: Carol, Immigration Officer
A wild and crazy guy! Kevin Turner. Can you say, “mamba!”Interesting photo op…”how beautiful are the feet…” with Ron DayFavorite refreshment!Friends
Christmas Holidays
Christmas with our grandchildrenShowing Eliza how ladies carry babies on their backs in Africa
Josiah and Keira
Reconnecting and receiving grace through prayer from our home Church, Lifegate.
Unavoidably and Royally Detained
On our way back to Uganda after the holidays, we met with some delays, but it certainly turned out in our favor! We missed our flight from Amsterdam to Entebbe and so Delta Airlines put us up in a very, very nice hotel and gave us a meal voucher for supper and breakfast. That was a royal treat!
Back in the Saddle Again
Our friend, John Howarton; we were blessed to celebrate him on his birthday…with chocolate no-bakes!
Yumbe Pastors’ Retreat
Enjoying the bag of resources: Bible, books and other materialsHeartfelt worship
The cooks: Lucy and her sister, GraceGoody bags!
Yumbe Outreach
We (Carol and Sam) spent many hours in Kerwa clinic demonstrating Christ’s love through nursing care and dispensing medicines RAU had purchased with donations from faithful giversNurse SamJacob preaching in the marketOpen Air Preaching in Yumbe
Obongi Discipleship and Baptisms
Our beloved Godfrey, pastor of the fledgling and flourishing church in Obonge.Students of the WordBaptisms in the Nile River
Adjumani Pastors’ Retreat
Studying God’s Word together2 Timothy 2:2…A band of brothersJacob with Vuamaiku Abraham interpretingDavid KabaalePatrick BukenyaFresh mango pineapple juice made with blender
Muzungu!
It was always a treat to see some other white faces who speak American English…
Amanda Samrani, with Wings of Healing in South Sudan; pictured here with her director, Duane Jones.
Brad and Kim Campbell and two of Kim’s daughters who were in Juba when war broke out and had to flee for their lives with the orphans for whom they were caring.
Incredible Edibles?!!!
Tasty mole…or so they say!The queen of the termite mound. Good cooked or raw…Where’s the Phenergan?!Grasshopper!Rat!Fried white ants…or termites!
And then there was fox! Sorry, no picture.
Oh dear! Just thinking of eating any of these makes my stomach turn.
A Special Joy
As I mentioned earlier in the post, I received a very nice camera as a gift and it has been a very special joy to grow in my artistry with it. The following are some of my favorite pictures: of faces and places and flora and fauna. It is a very small representation of the vast quantities of photos taken and a very difficult task to pick only a few. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did hunting them down or in being at the right place at the right time with the right equipment! My favorites are of the beautiful faces and, especially the women, who work incredibly hard, not only in the field, but the home.
Baby sitterCollecting and carrying firewood.The woman on the left is pregnant.Nursing motherWeeding cassava by day, collecting wood to go home and cook…by night.I loved their hysterical laughter at being photographed!
A favorite of mine–mothers and babies
Relaxing after a hard day’s work.Jacob with Josiah, Abraham’s son.On the way back from prayers in Moyo…on a boda boda.
Comrades in Christ!My favorite modelOne of watchman John’s many crafts.John, watchman and general handyman
Favorite sunsets
Creative Ventures
I have also enjoyed another avenue of creativity and am so grateful to have some time and the inspiration to do it. I have done some painting in the past, but am doing it now with a little more regularity. It has been recreational as well as a means to raise funds for a special project–that of helping a friend here through medical school.
Beginnings
Papaya paintingRAU tukalooMangoes
Five small commissioned paintings for a friend for Christmas gifts.
Here are three paintings which have sold in fund-raising efforts. There is also one in the works.
This artistry is by no means my primary purpose here, but it has been an enjoyable and anticipated hobby. It is an opportunity to express the image of God in creating as well as a means of communicating to you in a special way our experiences.
Thanks for your interest, love, support and prayers!
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.
“…What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes….” (James 4:14). With my gray hair increasing and with more aches and pains seemly each day I realize more and more my “mist” is a lot thinner these days! When I think on this and also the fact that I must give an account of my life in Christ to my maker and redeemer ( 2 Cor. 5:10), and that His great love is given to me each and every moment, my choices for this day and my limited days (Ps. 39:4) are much much easier!
How will they hear unless someone prays for them and goes to them with the good news?
There are a few things I appreciate about writing a newsletter.Notice, I didn’t say “love.”When Jacob reminds me that it is my turn to write there is usually a twinge of resistance.Writing well is hard work!And I am usually in the middle of something I don’t want to stop at the moment.However, writing does some important things for me:it makes me stop and think, look back with thankfulness and remember.In looking back and in looking forward writing helps me gain perspective.It gives me an avenue for creativity.Most of all, it allows me an opportunity to focus on YOU and think about what might be important and helpful to you as you remember us in love and prayer and support.That is, after all, the primary reason newsletters are written.
CAVEAT:This newsletter is more letter than “news.”If you are a “just-the-facts-ma’am” kind of reader, you might want to scroll down to the last two pages where you will be directed to the needs of the ministry!Don’t worry!I don’t think I’ll be able to find out who you are!
THANKFUL
Jacob has done a wonderful job of keeping you all in the loop with pictures, videos and short updates.Those are evidences that the seed of passion and vision that was implanted in his heart many years ago is continuing to grow and bear fruit.The opportunities for interaction with and feedback from pastors only fertilize that passion and vision even more!I am sure that his efforts in communicating have helped you all to visualize more clearly what we are doing and why it is vital.Thank you, Jacob, for your “stubbornness” in taking what could have been an ivory tower pipe dream and making it an in-the-trenches reality.
Thank you, Pastor Abraham, for sharing the vision and stirring it and putting “feet” to it so that ministry happens.You and Maggie were so warmly hospitable to Jacob on his many trips to Moyo.You have been an example of one who never grows weary in well doing and who is tireless in making the Gospel message available to so many.You are ever looking for new ways to embody Christ to the people around you.And, another thing, as a result of your efforts, we simply have the best cook around—Lucy!—and a perfect fit for RAU.
Thank you, Pastor Patrick, for being a faithful co-worker in the Gospel and a dear friend.You and Vickie have also been a family to Jacob and to me; we have enjoyed your hospitality, your home and family.You have been key in making things happen in establishing RAU:processing documents, researching, communicating, sending supplies, and much more.We and many others have benefited from your teaching ministry.Most importantly (for me anyway!) you have kept me connected to the world with SIM cards!
Nurse Sam, thank you for making a conscious, God-inspired decision to partner with us at RAU.You were in great demand by other medical personnel.You could have made more lucrative career advancements, but you chose to heed a calling from the Lord to join with us.You have been invaluable to Jacob as a friend, a great help to him in the day to day operations of RAU, and a member of the family for us.Your joyful faith and integrity strengthen and inspire us.It gives us a great deal of joy to tease you and induce that wonderful laugh.In the very near future, we want people to benefit from your compassionate nursing expertise.
Lucy, Stephen, Aldo and all the day workers here at RAU, though you will probably never get to read this, we thank you, too, because what we are doing for pastors we could not do without you and the benefits of your hard work!
Thank you, Rope Holders, for the constancy of your prayers and giving.We have other folks stop in for a visit occasionally and they have commented on the generosity of your support, from money for building and other resources to abundant coffee bean supplies!We are blessed!Jacob and I continue to be amazed that the flow of support never wanes!One might think that you all had a Father who owned the cattle on a thousand hills…or something!This physical support would not happen if you did not first identify strongly with the spiritual vision and mission of RAU.
REMEMBERING
It has been eight months since we arrived. Wow!It seems like we have been here much longer—almost like we have always been here.Time passes quickly when we have been fruitfully occupied.
When we first moved to RAU in July of 2013 and up to December there was a LOT of physical labor:building and fixing and furnishing.Thankfully, it did not keep ministry from happening.Kindles from our friend, Delmar Hager, and other resources were being made available.Jacob made the circuit of the local churches to preach and also to make it known that we were here to come alongside the pastors.We had our first Pastors’ Retreat with Ron Zeiner doing a superb job of teaching on Leadership as he worked through Ezra and Nehemiah.Our family grew as we welcomed two American teams here for ministry:the Tennessee Trio—David Jones, Michael Lambert and Eric Williams—and Kevin Turner (Strategic World Impact) and Ron Day.It was an encouraging, learn-as-you-grow season which left us looking ahead to a time of refreshing.
Sandwiched in between 2013 and 2014 was a much anticipated return to our hometown, Seguin.We arrived there mid December and left mid January. What a joy to be reunited with all of our children, Josh and Becca, Josiah, Anna and Kenny, and to hug, sing to, play with and rock our grandchildren! Reconnecting with family and our friends from Lifegate and the Seguin area was a great source of joy and encouragement.At the end of our stay trouble was brewing in South Sudan and, for a moment, it looked as if we might head back early.Changing our flight to an earlier date proved impossible and unnecessary—all the better to enjoy more time with family—but it helped us to transition our focus back to the place of our calling.
And suddenly…it is March 2014. Oh my goodness!
We already have another Pastors’ Retreat and the Yumbe outreach under our belt.Jacob, Patrick and Elder David from First Presbyterian Uganda had opportunities to strengthen the churches from Yumbe and Obongi. Sam’s, Jacob and my time in Yumbe itself was very fruitful. As Jacob has been so good about explaining, church ministry in these areas can be stressful and lonely; it does the pastors of these areas so much good to know that others are coming alongside to strengthen, encourage and stand with them.
LOOKING FORWARD
Standing on the precipice of future ministry is thrilling and scary!The calendar is filling up fast and these coming events are the ones we know about at this point!
March:we are continuing to work on the physical/structural projects of RAU.Now that the container has arrived, all of the contents need organizing and putting into place or good use.Jacob’s favorite project is getting his massive library in ready condition for pastor’s to come and prep for sermons and teachings.He is excited that they will have the best pastoral study library in the area—maybe even in Uganda!Pastor Abraham said today, “If you build it, they will come!”(Well, he did say, “they will come!)Starting March 17th, Jacob will be going every Monday to Obongi for discipleship and market day preaching.There is a possibility that a dear friend may make a visit towards the middle of March.We will be heading to Kampala with Lucy later this week to meet up with Sam who has already gone for much needed dental work.Everyone (except me) has an appointment.YES!
April:We have scheduled two Pastors’ Retreats:April 8th – 11th for 18 Pastors from Adjumani, and April 29th– May 2nd for 17 pastors from the Moyo Baptist Association.April 19th and 20th we will travel to Yumbe where Jacob will preach at Pilgrim’s Anglican Church.
May:18 Pastors and leaders from Obongi will come for a Pastors’ Retreat from the 6th through the 9th and the Yumbe Pastors will return on May 20th and stay until the 23rd.
June, July and August:have yet to be filled and most likely they will be!As we have always said, the pastors here are thirsty for teaching and resources.There is the grand possibility of some friends coming for a visit in August.
September:the youth group from First Presbyterian Uganda will be coming for the 2nd week in September for ministry.
October:Hooray! We will head back to the States for itinerating and reuniting with family and friends.
November:We have the possibility of a team from America visiting.
December:open
Abraham and Jacob were discussing today the value of starting up a level I health clinic, even if it’s operating from a tent (which came in the container) or small structure.Abraham felt it was important to step out in faith and begin such a ministry even if we don’t have a clinic built and operating.The medical needs here are so great.Even providing screenings, assessments, referrals and simple meds can be a means of displaying that Jesus is still here in flesh and blood through His people.It gives us the opportunity to share the hopeful message of the Gospel and to do health education.So many health problems are preventable if the right information is given.
Be still my palpitating heart!It’s starting to sound very busy!
PERSPECTIVE
When I step back to look at RAU’s accomplishments, I can’t help but think of it as the building of a house that becomes a home.
The importance of a home’s foundation is a foregone conclusion.RAU didn’t just begin its work in July of 2013 when we made our move here.The foundation was being dug deep as Jacob became acquainted with pastors from Uganda, both in Kampala and Moyo.It was being strengthened with every visit to Moyo as Jacob was moved by the plight of pastors in the region and hearing their impassioned pleas to “come and teach!” them.The foundation was being built up as the plans were made for a campus and a building and put in to action from opposite sides of the world, plans that couldn’t have happened without an American and Ugandan team, plans that would not have materialized if not for persistent vision-casting and willing investors.
Our moving here in July was our merely moving in to a house that was made ready for life and ministry.This is home now—where we’re living life!It is not a short-term trip.By God’s grace, we will stick it out and accomplish all of the good for which this place was designed, and by God’s grace, RAU will outlast us as we implant a seed of biblical vision for a living, ever growing and vibrant Church in the coming generations.
ON-GOING MINISTRY NEEDS
1.Pastors’ Retreats:each retreat costs about $1500 and includes transportation, food and other amenities, supplies for the pastors, hiring extra help during the week of the retreat and even medicines for unexpected illnesses.
2.Travel expenses:having no vehicle means that we must hire taxis or bodas.This is a costly aspect of ministry here.
3.Vehicle:we are still in the process of trying to retrieve the $15,000 that we paid for a Land Cruiser.The dealer in Japan has not owned up to his end of the bargain by providing a vehicle and the broker in Uganda has not returned the money which was paid to him for transacting the purchase.We have had to contact the Ugandan police department who are in contact with Japanese Interpol.Patrick has found another vehicle which could serve us well, but we cannot move forward without the money.
4.Pray for the strengthening and growth of the Church in Yumbe and Obongi.It has for years been beleaguered by Muslim opposition as well as, unfortunately, by in-fighting along denominational lines.There is a new surge of hope and desire for the churches to work together, believing that there will be revival if the churches present a loving and united front.
5.Hall of Tyrannus-Yumbe and Obongi Branch:This idea was birthed by the fact that it is logistically difficult and costly to transport pastors here on a regular basis.Initially, the thought was to find already existing structures in those towns in which to meet for discipleship.This has proved to be difficult, if not impossible.In Yumbe, the only place available is the Anglican Church; however, this presents some difficulty when the aim is to provide care to an interdenominational group.The Pilgrim’s Anglican Church has been more than gracious in offering the use of its building, but for long-term discipleship and with the need to have resources available to all, another set up would be better.In Obongi, there are no buildings available to rent or purchase.Meeting under a tree will do, if necessary, but can present problems during rainy season and gives no place to store resources for the pastors and leaders for study.
6.Medical outreach:medications are available but funding is needed to purchase them.
We feel hopeful and blessed as we lay out our needs, knowing that it is God who is bringing forth in all of us both the desire and the effort, for the sake of His good pleasure, to accomplish these things.
Thanks for reading and being stirred, for allowing the Lord to move your heart.
Please write us back!You know what the Proverbs 25:25 says, “Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.”
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.
Over 1100 Global Study Bibles, over 3500 Biblical sound Christian books, over 40,000 gospel tracts are now available for 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!
I continue to thank the Lord for your prayers and support. The last two weeks of ministry has been very fruitful and the things which were done could not have happened without your prayers and financial support. May the Lord pour out His blessings on you!
“You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
2 Corinthians 1:11
In our last newsletter Carol wrote about the Yumbe pastors retreat here at RAU where 17 pastors from Yumbe and 2 from Obongi attended. After they all left RAU, Carol and I looked at each other, smiling, and said, “This is why we are here!” The pastors left full of joy and enriched through the teaching they received and materials they were able to take with them.
Most of this past week was spent in Yumbe itself. In past newsletters I have written much about Yumbe and our desire to see Jesus exalted there. Pastors Ben and Charles, as well as some pastors who were at the retreat, planned discipleship training in Yumbe town and an outlying, hard-to-reach sub county, called Kerwa. One day of medical outreach in Kerwa was also planned, along with open air preaching in a Kerwa market and Yumbe town itself.
(Pictures and video’s of the week are below)
On Monday, when we arrived, we checked in with the Yumbe police and the Criminal Investigation Department. These departments needed to be aware of our presence in the city and district for our protection. Plain clothes officers were assigned to us. These law officials were very kind and helpful! We also visited the District Director of Health Services. He is a Christian as well as a physician and happily received us, giving us permission for our medical outreach in Kerwa. He also found a vehicle to transport us. We just had to provide fuel and pay the drivers for the two vehicles we used from the District.
Tuesday we all headed to Kerwa, which is near the South Sudan border. The road to Kerwa would be virtually impossible in the rainy season unless one has a powerful vehicle.We had discipleship training in the local Anglican church. Anglicans, Baptists, and Pentecostals gather together. Some came from as far away as Juba. We had a wonderful time together in study of God’s Word and worship. One of the video’s which is posted below gives you a flavor of what our worship of the King of kings in Kerwa was like.Carol and Sam shared the love of Christ with many at the local medical clinic. This clinic serves a large population and the personnel were very grateful for all the help. We had purchased medicines in Kampala and they were given out with loving care and counsel. Most of the time, the clinic does not have the medicines they need. Those who needed care were many! It was a very exhausting time for Sam and Carol, but they were refreshed and invigorated by God’s grace. You would all be proud of both Carol and Sam in how they displayed Christ’s love.
At about 6 PM open air preaching began in the local market. It was market day and there many,many people there. Mosques cover Yumbe District like churches in “Bible Belt” of America! Romans 1:16 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”. The power of the gospel was evident in this Kerwa market as over 20 people openly chose to say “I follow Jesus”! Thank you for praying!
On Wednesday and Thursday we had discipleship training in Yumbe itself in Pilgrims Anglican Church and open air preaching. I have been greatly encouraged by the Anglicans in the West Nile of Uganda. Though there are not many who are born again in Yumbe District, of the ones which are, Anglicans number the most. They are some real, Jesus-loving brethren! At these discipleship sessions many pastors and leaders attended from all over the district with the exception Kerwa where we were on Tuesday. We had to facilitate their transport, food and lodging. It was so encouraging to open God’s Word with these hungry saints! We are believing for God’s Spirit to be poured out on Yumbe District. Please join us in this prayer.
Lord willing, we will be able to keep hosting pastors from Yumbe at RAU for retreats. There are a number of young men who want to come for mentoring in the fundamentals of the faith. Because of the difficulty of transport to RAU the Yumbe brethren and RAU would like to have a resource center and Inter-denominational training center in Yumbe, aka Hall of Tyrannus- Yumbe Branch. Pilgrim Church has agreed to allow something to be done on their plot of land. Some details still need to worked out between them and the RAU team but it looks promising. I will keep you posted.
I cannot express adequately how much I appreciate you. Your prayers, support, and words of encouragement mean so much to Carol, the RAU team, and me. 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.
Since it is the dry season we hired a car instead of 4 wheel vehicle to take us to Yumbe. A vehicle this in the rainy season would not do. The vehicle was packed with us and supplies “African style”.
In the dry season one does not have to worry about getting stuck however the trade off heavy dust and heat is not much better.
On our way to Yumbe we went by village after village with NO church. They will not hear the gospel unless someone goes to them!This is the Guesthouse Sam, Carol, and I stayed in while in Yumbe.We were blessed to have several hours of electricity each evening via generator. We had flushing toilets too!What a joy to be with Carol on this journeyYumbe has so many beautiful children!
This is the main street in Yumbe. It has a population of 35,000 with evangelicals numbering less than 1%. May the gospel go forth here in love and power!
Discipleship training in Kerwa.
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
Kerwa Health Center II. This clinic serves around 50,000 people with 2 RN’s ,a midwife, and 2 nursing assistants. They have difficulties in keeping enough medicines there. The staff and all the patients were all very grateful for the care and medicines they received from RAUMany people waited for many hours to see Sam and Carol
Open Air Preaching in Kerwa Market
These pastor are praying and counseling those who have openly chosen to follow Jesus in this Muslim community.Youth singing before open air preaching in Yumbe townOpen air preaching Yumbe Town
Preaching Jesus!
Discipleship training in Yumbe Town
Pastors and leaders from all over Yumbe district attended RAU’s two day discipleship training in Yumbe town.Pastors Ben and Charles did an excellent job heading up our four days of ministry in Yumbe District. Please continue to pray for the church in Yumbe District and RAU’s as we work together for god’s glory..
On Friday, the 14th, we watched the van loaded with 17 pastors from Yumbe District make a trail of dust as it left the RAU compound and we felt joy and satisfaction in all that was, by God’s grace, accomplished this last week. From the 11th, when the conference started, to its end on Friday, it was a steady effort to squeeze the maximum good that was possible out of this time. As goodbyes were said and hugs and handshakes were given on the last day, these were done with an appreciation all of us had in growing together in Christ. Jacob and I received a very special blessing in having these men gather around us, lay hands on and pray for us. This blessing was also extended to all those that work at RAU. What a way to end the retreat!
(Pictures and a video are below)
This special event had been in the works since last October. Initially, the plan was for our beloved brother and friend, Kevin Turner, with SWI (Strategic World Impact) to come for this time and bring his gifted friend, Jonathon Fletcher, with him to help us teach our brothers from Yumbe. The Lord apparently had different plans than ours. We have heard Kevin say, “God doesn’t have any plan B’s, only plan A’s,” however, we were saddened to hear that the reason for the change in plans was that Kevin’s wife, Tammy, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and would require immediate treatment. Please keep Tammy and the Turner family in prayer as she goes through rigorous and aggressive treatment. Understandably, this was a game changer for all of us.
Jacob called on our coworker, Patrick Bukenya (one of RAU’s directors) to help and he was gracious in accepting the invitation to come and teach alongside Jacob. Patrick also brought with him Kaabale David, an elder at First Presbyterian Church Uganda. Both men, as we learned, are excellent and inspiring teachers and served the pastors of Yumbe very well in teaching on principles of leadership! Jacob, Patrick and David each took 3 hour sessions each day and covered important topics of discipleship, leadership, suffering and evangelism. Not only did the pastors express appreciation for the teaching, but begged for future training. Between sessions there were many conversations around developing future events and opportunities and resources. This event was, by no means, the only one of its kind…there will be more with Yumbe leaders who represented different denominations.
One of the many blessings of the retreat was the opportunity to get to know these pastors a little more intimately and to identify the areas of difficulty in their personal lives as well as in their ministries in the context of living in a non-Christian environment.
One of the pastors at the retreat was a witness to the murdering of two American missionaries around eight years ago just outside of Yumbe, and he, himself, narrowly escaped. After the missionaries were bullied and then shot, this Yumbe pastor was locked in a hut which was then set on fire. He decided he would rather escape and be shot to death rather than be burned alive and found a way to climb out of the hut. When the armed men saw him, they told him to run and started shooting at him. By God’s grace he was able to escape without being hit by gunfire. Since that time there has been little help from the church outside of Yumbe. One pastor stated, “We thought that God had forgotten us!” Many times Jacob has been told that RAU is an answer to their prayers!
Part of the discussion during the retreat entailed helping them to strategize a respectful defense of their schools and property as well as giving them ideas to disciple their flocks so that everyone is prepared to give a humble, gentle and knowledgeable response to pressure tactics and a reason for their hope.
Among the prayer requests and accounts of challenges faced by the pastors, a very prominent issue is the low socioeconomic standing that most Christians have in the community. It is hard for them to keep their heads above water, economically speaking, and unexpected illnesses, educational needs and hardships can pull them under completely. This also means that a pastor cannot make his living by the Gospel and he must find means of supporting his family apart from pastoring.
Listed here are some of the specific requests by pastors for prayer: training and discipleship for church leaders, material/resources for training, people to come alongside them in their struggles, personal discipleship, financial resources to help the churches physically (buildings, transportation), illnesses in loved ones, financial resources for putting their children through school, prayer for the youth who are being drawn to the world or into Islam, wisdom in how to navigate, in a Christ-like loving way, political clashes and pressures and everyday living in an Islamic culture, unity among all the denominations that presents a positive answer to Islam, the joining together of all the churches as a united force in the region and so many, many more needs.
The pastors went away from the retreat with a renewed desire to reach their communities for Christ in a loving, gentle and powerful way.
As we move forward from here, this is what is in the works for RAU:
*On Monday, Jacob, Sam, Godfrey, and I will head to Yumbe town and District for a time of teaching, evangelism and medical outreach; this is being coordinated with pastors who were at the retreat. (See below the lists of medicines that were purchased for South Sudan refugees and for outreach in Yumbe this coming week) We will come back on Thursday.
*There is a plot of land available in Obongi for the same purpose of making a resource center and a location for interdenominational discipleship (Hall of Tyrannus:Obongi Branch).
*There are a dozen or so young men in the pipe line for mentoring/discipleship at RAU for pastoring/church planting.
A few of the young men who want to be mentored at RAU
*We are closely working with the Kampala police and the Japanese Interpol to get our money for the ’99 Land Cruiser which we purchased from Japan refunded so that another one could be purchased. It is difficult and expensive to find vehicles that can take us to more rural areas. Please pray we can recover our money and find another vehicle soon.
*For the first time ever, there is an Aringa New Testament that is currently being published. Aringa is the main language spoken in the Yumbe area. For about $4 a copy (which must be ordered ahead of time) we could purchase Bibles to give out in outreaches to that area.
*Jacob did an interview with a Dinka tribesman and pastor from Bor, South Sudan, who narrowly escaped after hiding himself in the Nile for over a week. They were being shot at by rebel groups. Many drowned in the Nile trying to save themselves. He is now in a refugee camp in Adjumani. Jacob will be posting the video interview on the website. It is here.
*There are at least 3 pastors’ retreats that could be quickly be organized if funds were available. When hosting these retreats RAU transports the pastors to RAU and back to their homes, feeds and cares for them while at RAU, and provides resources for them. Please consider helping fund these retreats and consider coming to teach (if teaching is your gift and passion).
I have been thinking, once again, about how much people in this region need resource and development help from those who are rich in both. There are so many things that can be done in, not only pastoral training, but vocational training. If you are knowledgeable in any areas that could help people build life skills please consider getting a group together to come over and help! The women of the area are very involved in bringing income to the family. They are eager to learn skills that will help them do so.
Your ongoing prayerful support is very much appreciated. Please pray for our safety and health and for provisions for all of these plans. We entrust them to the Lord. May they be accomplished according to His will and purposes!
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! JL
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.
ArrivalGood times of fellowshipPrayer before one of our mealsWe enjoyed our meals togetherLucy and Gracie prepared excellent meals for us. We had beans,posho,rice, and a variety of vegetables with tea and coffee throughout the day. There were no complaints about not having “meat”. The pastors were very appreciative of the simple cuisine.We had many times of sweet worship and praise
Prayer time!Study time2 Timothy 2:2
Teaching God’s Word
PatrickDavidEach pastor received a Global Study Bible and a bag of biblically sound books.
The Yumbe pastors praying over us. What a special time!
Pastors
Enjoying Carol’s guitarBenjamin and DavidCharles is in the pink and Ben is playing the guitar. Together with them we began planning this event last October
Servants of the Lord…Sam, Godfrey, and Carol!
SamGodfrey
Getting ready to head back to Yumbe17 pastors returned to Yumbe full of joy and encouragement from the LordPlease pray with us that the glory of Christ will shine brightly in Yumbe. Pray for God’s faithful servants who labor there tirelessly.
These are drugs which have thus far been purchased with donations.
Reaching Africa's Unreached 