I hope you all are well and pressing on in your relationship with the Lord and your God given responsibilities. The RAU team is encouraged by your faithful prayers and support! We are “straining forward to what lies ahead,[and we] press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus….”(Philippians 3:13-14, ESV). Let us together walk in the righteousness which comes by faith in Christ Jesus and seek to “…know him and the power of his resurrection, and…share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” (Philippians 3:10, ESV).
I only have time for a short update this week as we are working very hard on the final phases of making ready Reaching Africa’s Unreached Guesthouse and compound for visiting teams from America and, most importantly, pastors and church planters for discipleship. Because of gifts from God’s people we have had funds to work on projects we have been telling you about in our last newsletters. During this last 10 days, nearly everyday, work has started at 7AM and continues until 10PM with only short breaks for lunch, tea and supper. Sam and I are kept busy getting supplies and coordinating work details on the various projects. The Lord has blessed us with some hard working and talented men from both Kampala and Moyo.
Veranda Tile work
The tile work on the veranda is about 80% complete (the slick tiles will definitely make it much more difficult for snakes to trespass), we are almost to the roof level on the charcoal burning kitchen and living quarters for Lucy, our cook. Plaster work is nearly completed on the fourth tukalu; we have a water line dug to them and we have started on our African/American latrine and septic for the tukalu compound. Double and triple bunker beds are being built . We still need to buy the 28 mattress and mosquito nets for them. We need to finish these projects as well as finish work on the outside water tank and beams for the container to sit on when it arrives with all of its precious, God-given cargo, all before our first group of pastors arrive on October 22nd. They will be here until the 25th.
Kitchen and Cook’s QuartersSight for tukalu latrine and wash stationThe septic tank and drain field is next to the new latrine. Our rainy weather makes for challenging digging!Serving table and sink on the front verandaEquipping a place from scratch requires many things we often forget…where and on what will 20 plus people eat and sit?
Currently the number of pastors attending our first retreat is 20. It is a bit larger than what I would like to have, but it is hard to say no to someone who really wants to come. The pastors’ church backgrounds are Baptist, Anglican, and Pentecostal. I personally know each of these pastors and have preached in most of their churches. They are hungry to learn and grow in the Lord. My prayer is that they will be strengthened in their faith and in sound doctrine so that they, in turn, will be better equipped to feed their congregations and be a part of church planting in the many areas without churches.
Ron Zeiner will be arriving the 21st. He and his wife Joanna were missionaries in South Africa for many years. Interestingly, I have been good friends with Ron and Joanna since 1979. Both Carol and I have benefited from their lives and teaching! Ron will be teaching sessions on Ezra-Nehemiah (Principles of Leadership), with some lessons on hermeneutics. I will have lessons on 2 Timothy 2:2, as well as work through, with the pastors, Dawson Trotman’s sermon/booklet, Born to Reproduce. I first read “Born to Reproduce” in the late 70’s and it has been one of those messages that has remained in my heart over the years. When you have an opportunity read it or read it again if it has been a while since you tasted the biblical truths in the message. Our major theme at RAU is discipleship and this first retreat sets a good precedent for us. Please be in prayer for Ron’s trip and our time together with these precious pastors!
Godfrey,Alfred, and Leonard, the possible missionary candidates for Obongi and Yumbe are devouring everything I give them. Pray for them and me as we work together in our growth and dependance on Christ Jesus and His word.
The discipleship materials I am currently usingWith Leonard and Alfred…2 Timothy 2:2
Pray for the the towns of Obongi and Yumbe (See: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/…/ ) that the Lord would save many there and establish His church. Recently, I had opportunity to give John Piper’s “A Hunger For God,” in Arabic,, to the Imam of the mosque which is near RAU’s southern border. The next day the Imam was back! He came waiting for the truck which was to haul bricks to RAU. (It had broken down so it didn’t make it here until late afternoon.) He ate and had tea with all of us. He mostly sat and and observed us interact. Interestingly, I found out he has been sent here to Afoji from Yumbe as a “missionary”. The Imam only speaks Labara with limited English and reads Arabic so it was hard to have a conversation with him. I also gave him another gospel booklet in Arabic by Piper which I saw him reading throughout the day. Pray for him and us!
John Piper’s books in Arabic and his “Quest For Joy” tract in Ma’di . Ma’di is the main local language spoken in Moyo.
We have several other day workers here during this construction time who are also Muslims and many others who are not “born again” (John 3). Whether in Africa or America we are all called to bear witness of Christ with those whom the Lord sends our way. Let us each be faithful in this God given task!
In Yumbe
Let me close with an earnest plea that you continue to intercede on our behalf, as well as Christ’s mission in this part of the world. Please also continue to give as you are able. There is still much to do! I have been utterly amazed at what has been accomplished, especially in these last two months. A little over two years ago the area in which I am now writing was wild African bush. Now these acres are fast becoming an oasis for drinking and feasting on the goodness of the Lord and a launching pad for getting the gospel to the unreached…those that have no opportunity from their own community to hear the glorious gospel. Thank you for your partnership and love!!
Jacob & Carol Lee, PO. 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa
Many have asked so our “wish lists” may be found at Amazon
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.
Blessings to each and everyone of you! Thank you for your faithful and continuing prayers and support. We recognize that we could not be here without your loving support.“Missions is nothing less than an organized revolutionary assault on the unseen forces of the present darkness by a spiritual legion of soldiers who fight for the extension of God’s kingdom to dominate the Universe. And local churches are the bastions that defend that cause, forge the weapons, train the soldiers, and populate the ranks with men and women bent on spreading God’s fame, or die trying.” (Clint Archer in Missionaries: A Unique Breed, emphases mine).
Since I wrote you last week we have had a few new developments which are exciting and I believe Christ-honoring. Our mission’s name, Reaching Africa’s Unreached, encapsulates our primary calling. Our goal is to come alongside and support evangelical churches (the term used here is “born again churches”) in our area through discipleship training helping them to remain strong in the Lord and to be multiplying congregations. Secondly, we want to locate and specifically target villages, towns,districts, and tribal groups which do not have even one Christ honoring church. I am happy to report we are moving forward on both fronts.
In the last week we have identified two nearby communities with no church. In Carol’s last newsletter, she shared about Obongi which just has a few new believers in it. There is a strong village church in Otobonga about 4 miles from Obongi which was planted in the latter months of 2009 and is pastored by a dear brother named Bosco. Abraham has a strong working relationship with this church and I have ministered there on a number of occasions. Through the joint efforts of Otobonga church, Abraham, and others there are now a few believers who live in Obongi. Our goal is to see a vibrant church planted in Obongi to be a witness there and which would also work with Pastor Bosco and RAU to plant churches in the many villages near Obongi with no church. Obongi is a Muslim dominated area.
Pastor Bosco receiving a ESV Study Bible and several Christian books.
This past Sunday Carol, Sam, and I had a wonderful time with Moyo Town Baptist Church. Many, if not most, of the members of that congregation are Dinkas, so the translation of my sermon was English into Ma’di and then English into Dinka. Many Dinka’s came to the Moyo during the war in southern Sudan. This congregation loves Jesus! After the service we had a nice lunch with the pastor and associate pastor. At one point our discussion turned to neighboring Yumbe District which is over 80% Muslim (Yumbe). There are a few churches in the district. In 2004 two American medical missionaries and one of their Ugandan students were killed outside Yumbe. From that point on in our discussion my heart burned to see churches planted in Yumbe town. Yumbe town(Obongi is somewhat smaller) has approximately 35,000 people in it . Both Yumbe and Obongi are about a two hour drive away from us when the dirt roads are dry.
We believe the Lord has given us a strategy to reach these communities and others like them. It has been my experience that in a room with, lets say, 10 people there are usually 8 or 9 who say something can’t be done and will lay out a multitude of reasons (excuses) why it can’t be done. Then there are those one or two who state it can be done and who lay out a strategy of how it can be done. A good biblical example of this is when the 12 spies were sent into the land of Canaan and only Joshua and Caleb supported the task given by God, in their case, to take over a land filled with “giants”. They said it could be done because it was ordained of God! I see great parallels of this with Christ’s Great Commission given to us. Some of the “reasons” given as to why there are no churches in Yumbe and Obongi are: 1.”It is a very difficult area” 2. “They are dominated by Muslims”. 3. “The Muslims will not let you do it!”. Christ says “Go”! Is that not enough for us? Please stand and pray with us as we seek to plant churches in Obongi and Yumbe!
Our strategy to reach Yumbe and Obongi , as well as other unreached areas and tribes, includes bringing local missionary candidates (preferably those who are from the targeted area and who know the local language already) here to RAU for intensive, one-on-one discipleship for about 6 weeks and who then, at the end of their training, would go and live among the the targeted group with the intended purpose of being shepherds in a newly planted church. We would work together with the pastor in evangelism and discipleship. RAU would also give some financial help with the understanding that the financial help would not be given indefinitely, but only until the church could be self-supporting. We have such men in the pipeline. Please be in serious prayer for Obongi and Yumbe. There are strongholds of the enemy there which must be broken by intercession and proclamation of the gospel!
Godfrey, the young man Carol told you about, is moving into one of our unfinished tukalus on the 26th of September and has already begun his biblical study assignments. He is very familiar with Obongi and has a willing heart to be in there. He has left a well paying job. Two other brothers are possibilities for Yumbe. They both speak Lubara which is the main language of Yumbe district. They, too, would stay in our tukalu’s as well. I look forward to studying the Word with all whom the Lord sends our way! Please pray that the Lord would raise up others for the many other unreached areas that do not have the gospel and will not have it unless someone physically goes to them and are willing to live with them to help establish a Christ-exalting, local church. Where there is a Christ-honoring local church the orphan and widow will be cared, the suffering and needy will be given lasting and Christ-honoring love, oppression will be resisted, and, most importantly, the living and true God will be worshiped in Spirit and in truth!
The children are so precious. May they be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord!
Just recently a friend on a social media site wrote an encouraging note about us and our church planting desires. In one of the comments a person stated that the West needs more churches planted than Africa does. I often hear this or other variations of it. I would have agreed with the comment if it had stated that both the West and Africa need churches planted. My disagreement with the statement came with the word “more“. In my 58 years, with most of it being in the USA, I have yet to see even the smallest town without a church. In fact, in most cases, there are many, many churches even in the smallest towns. People in America have easy access to evangelical churches. In contrast, while Christianity is growing rapidly in Africa, (PTL!) there are many, many villages, towns, and tribal groups (some have estimated the number to be 3,000 tribes) with NOchurch at all in them. So on that basis I would say Africa and other places in the world are in greater need of church plants than the West (e.g., How many towns in the United States have a population of 30,000 without one church?)
Please don’t misunderstand, I am a firm believer that the West (USA) does need church planting. My only plea for prayerful consideration for denominations, churches, and individuals in the West is to consider placing a larger portion of their prayer commitment and resources to help see that churches are planted in areas of the world which are devoid of believers worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords. What percentage of prayer and finances are actually being used by churches and individuals to help see that churches are planted where there is no church? In this vein of thinking missionary Oswald J. Smith‘s exhortation is appropriate“No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” and “We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”
I know that because of your active and prayerful support I am “preaching to the choir”. Thank you so much for your on-going help and intercession! Together with you we are “laying up treasures in heaven”!
I just had another triple bunker bed and single bed made, so slowly by slowly we are getting RAU ready for guests and teaching retreats. Our first large group will be here the week of October 20th. It looks like we will have 15-18 pastors. Ron Zeiner, a good friend and former missionary to South Africa will be our main teacher. His primary topic is Ezra-Nehemiah and Principles of Leadership. We have a lot to accomplish to be ready for this first group. We also have several other teams which will be coming in November. Pray for these times of discipleship and ministry and for the funds needed to get the RAU facilities in a position serve in a Christ honoring way (see below). Please also pray for the safe arrival of the ’99 Land Cruiser on its way from Japan and the container from Texas. Thank you!
There is a short and powerful video posted here of William Booth’s vision of the lost perishing without the gospel. The video exemplifies God’s call given to each and every follower of Christ Jesus. Let us shake off our complacency and set our eyes upon Jesus lifted up and seated at the right hand of God. Surely as our eyes are opened to see Him who died for our sins the the things of this world which we are chasing and living for will be seen as trite as they really are! There is also a 32 minute message posted here by John Piper on missions which is very encouraging. It is one of my all time favorites! You too will be encouraged in your pursuit to be obedient to Jesus mission (John 20:21)!
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon and be gracious to you!
Below are the start-up projects we are hoping to finish so that we may move ahead in the desired aim of training. Please pray for their completion and consider giving to help finish them.
Thank you!
1. Finishing up the refurbishing of our four existing tukaloos on the land. The four have now been roofed with new grass. The the doors and windows are finished. To plaster them and do some repairs on their foundations will require an additional $400. 2. $1000 to dig a new double stall pit latrine for the tukaloo quarters with an outdoor bathing facility. The existing pit latrine is about to cave in and there is no place to bath.
3. $4,000 for an outdoor kitchen and attached living quarters (one small room and bathroom) for Lucy, our cook/helper. The current one is about to fall down and is some distance from the Guesthouse. As stated in an earlier newsletters we need an outdoor kitchen to be able to cook for large groups with wood and charcoal. To get propane gas for our indoor stove is hard to obtain and expensive. It also opens up the room Lucy is now staying in for guests.
4. The pouring of a beams to set the container on when it arrives in November: $300+-. Provided!
5. Upfront furnishings to host groups (beds,mattress,mosquito nets etc): $550+- and $900 for remaining shelving/furniture in Guesthouse.
6. Tile on our wrap-around veranda to create an extra barrier between the Guesthouse and snakes! It would also make it easier to clean. We would have to bring the tile up from Kampala. The estimation to do this is $3000+-.$3000 has been provided! PTL!!
7. The building of 4-5 more tukaloos to house pastors/evangelists/church planters for discipleship. Each tukalu can take care of 4-5 people and they are inexpensive to build. To build one tukaloo is around $500.
8. Support for church plants: $100+ per month per church plant and for evangelism and discipleship in these new church
“Is not the commission of our Lord still binding upon us? Can we not do more than now we are doing?” William Carey
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 organazation. 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.
“The reality of eternal rewards inevitably fosters an investment mentality. For instance, with $15,000 I may be able to buy a new car. With the same money, I could help translate the Scriptures for an unreached people group, support church planting, feed the hungry in the name of Christ, get gospel literature distributed in Southeast Asia, or send out multiple Nigerian or Indian missionary families, and support them full-time for a year. If I have an investment mentality, I ask myself, What’s the better investment for eternity?…Of course, it may be God’s will for me to buy a car. True, a car used for his purposes can also be an investment in the kingdom. But I must be careful not to rationalize. A used car or no car at all may serve his kingdom purposes equally well or far better—and allow me to make an investment in heaven that will never get scratched, dented, stolen, or totaled. And if I invest the money in his kingdom and ask him to provide a car at little or no expense, might he choose to do that? Why wouldn’t I give him the chance?”
The Lord has once again shown us His favor. About one year after our application, Reaching Africa’s Unreachedhas received its 501c3 status from the IRS. A special “thank you” goes to a good friend and Lifegate member who made our application. He put many hard hours of work into it!!
This means that people in the USA can now give directly to RAU and receive a charitable tax deduction for their gift. This frees us up to receive charitable contributions from corporations and others who desire to give directly to RAU as a charitable organization. It also makes it easy for donors to give via a debit or credit card. Our donation page describes how this can be done. May the Lord use RAU’s 501c3 status for His glory and the spread of the gospel to people who currently do not have access to it!
Our calling…
Carol and I are continuing to press on with our learning of Ma’di. Ma’di is a tonal language with many sounds we have never heard before and are difficult to reproduce. Carol is catching on much quicker than I am and is fast becoming another tutor for me. What helps me most is when I am actually doing something physical and interactive while trying to speak and understand the language. In our last lesson we went outside so that I could practice with our faithful workers. They enjoy and appreciate my efforts, laughing much along the way. Please continue in your prayers for us in learning Ma’di.
Ma’di Language Lesson
Our health remains good. No malaria, thank you Lord! We are actually eating much more healthily than ever before and have lost a lot of our “America jiggle”. Please continue to pray for good health!
Sam and I are enjoying Posho (ground corn flour) and beans. These, along with pumpkin,tomatoes,onions, cabbage,rice,and carrots are our main food items. We have meat once a week on Sunday.
For the tile on the veranda around the Guesthouse, $1500 of the needed $3,000 has been given…PTL! The tile on the veranda will provide another barrier to prevent snakes from getting into the house. It is very,very difficult for snakes to move on tile. I only want a cobra curled up next to my bare foot once in my lifetime! I have all openings into the Guesthouse sealed up tight and we are continually working on getting the grounds cleared with hoes, machetes and axes. I will be very happy to see that tractor in November; it will make quicker work of the clearing and other work. It is packed in the container which is on its way here.
A strip of land is now clear between the Guesthouse and our four refurbished tukalu’s. About $400 will completely finish the tukalu’s.
We now have well over 200 fruit trees planted. With the tractor we will clear the brush away and also plant some cash crops to bring in income for ministry efforts. After talking with an Ugandan agriculture expert I am thinking that soybeans will be the cash crop of choice. We could get two crops in a year and there is a good demand for soybeans. We will first have to clear about 15 acres of African bush!
There is much brush to clear!
In the two months since we’ve made our move to RAU land, there has been a wonderful transformation. When visitors come they are amazed at how well developed the land is. Making the RAU Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus useful for hosting pastors, church leaders, church planters, and evangelists has been challenging but rewarding. We see it coming together very nicely! However, there are a number of items on the list we still need to finish in order to host groups (see below). We will have to stop work on them this week unless more funds come so pray that hearts will continue to be touched to give and please prayerfully consider investing in the areas listed below. I will be happy when this start up phase of our work is complete. It is amazing how God has supplied for RAU and is continuing to do so through faithful, generous partnership with people like you! May we always be good stewards of the grace He has given!
Front View of RAU’s Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus
We have received information on some unreached/unengaged tribal groups/villages within driving distance of RAU. When the ’99 Land Cruiser gets here (expected arrival is late September) we will visit the areas with the specific goal of planting church in the midst the unreached/unengaged tribal group or village.Please pray for efforts in this! Right now our thought is to have several local missionary candidates stay at RAU for in depth, one-on-one training who then, with our assistance, would live in the midst of the unreached group with the ultimate goal of seeing a thriving church planted.
There are many places within reach of RAU where the gospel has not penetrated.
We now have a PO Box where letters and small packages can safely be sent. The address is: Jacob Lee, PO Box 55, Moyo Uganda, East Africa. Missionaries love care packages! However Carol’s and my wish lists are different…surprise, surprise! We would be happy to inform anyone of you what is on the top of our lists.
Below are the start-up projects we are hoping to finish so that we may move ahead in the desired aim of training. Please pray for their completion and consider giving to help finish them. Thank you!
1. Finishing up the refurbishing of our four existing tukaloos on the land. The four have now been roofed with new grass. The the doors and windows are finished. To plaster them and do some repairs on their foundations will require an additional $400. 2. $1000 to dig a new double stall pit latrine for the tukaloo quarters with an outdoor bathing facility. The existing pit latrine is about to cave in and there is no place to bath.
3. $4,000 for an outdoor kitchen and attached living quarters (one small room and bathroom) for Lucy, our cook/helper. The current one is about to fall down and is some distance from the Guesthouse. As stated in an earlier newsletters we need an outdoor kitchen to be able to cook for large groups with wood and charcoal. To get propane gas for our indoor stove is hard to obtain and expensive. It also opens up the room Lucy is now staying in for guests.
4. The pouring of a slab to set the container on when it arrives in November: $300+-
5. Upfront furnishings to host groups (beds,mattress,mosquito nets etc): $600+- and $1000 for remaining shelving/furniture in Guesthouse.
6. Tile on our wrap-around veranda to create an extra barrier between the Guesthouse and snakes! It would also make it easier to clean. We would have to bring the tile up from Kampala. The estimation to do this is $3000+-. $1500 has been given so we just need an additional $1500. [Update Sept. 15: The other $1500 has been given. PTL! ] 7. The building of 4-5 more tukaloos to house pastors/evangelists/church planters for discipleship. Each tukalu can take care of 4-5 people and they are inexpensive to build. To build one tukaloo is around $500.
Your Partners in getting the Gospel to the Unreached,
Jacob (for the both of us)
Let us pray and work together to reach the lost with the glorious gospel planting Christ exalting churches which in turn will also seek to reach the lost and plant Christ exalting churches!
Charitable Donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has the option for an ongoing monthly gifts. You may click on their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All charitable 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.
*“Saving souls can be likened to a man drowning in a deep well and a volunteer can do nothing unless there are people who will hold the rope for him to be lowered till he reaches the drowning man, and then pull them up to safety… I will go to India as a volunteer to seek sinners drowning in the well of Sin. But I can’t do it alone. I need rope holders.”
William Carey~ Father of Modern Missions
——–
“This is the mission of God. Missionary martyrs going, financial martyrs sending; and all of us praying and working together, for the gospel and the glory of God to be known and enjoyed by all peoples.”David Sitton
Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) has just received notification from the IRS that it has been granted its 501 c3, tax exempt status as a charitable organization. This means donors can now give to R.A.U. charitable donations by credit card or check and receive a tax deduction. We are grateful to the Lord for the favor He has shown to us in moving upon the IRS to grant Reaching Africa’s Unreached this tax exempt status.
“…R.A.U. is grateful for all financial gifts! We commit to faithfully use these gifts to extend Christ’s work in Northern Uganda, Southern Sudan, and Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and regions to the North.
It is our desire that any gifts given to R.A.U. would not compromise what you are ALREADY giving to your local church or to foreign missions . To get the gospel to the unreached will take sacrificial giving on the part of all God’s people. May we all walk faithfully in the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 so that our Lord God is worshiped by men and women from every tongue , tribe, people, and nation!
Charitable Donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has the option for an ongoing monthly gifts. You may click on their link below. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All charitable 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.
“Saving souls can be likened to a man drowning in a deep well and a volunteer can do nothing unless there are people who will hold the rope for him to be lowered till he reaches the drowning man, and then pull them up to safety… I will go to India as a volunteer to seek sinners drowning in the well of Sin. But I can’t do it alone. I need rope holders.”
William Carey~ Father of Modern Missions
“This is the mission of God. Missionary martyrs going, financial martyrs sending; and all of us praying and working together, for the gospel and the glory of God to be known and enjoyed by all peoples.”
We thank the Lord for the progress which has been made on the Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus and on our 17 acres the past two years! Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Note: If you right click on a photo it will be enlarged. Many of these pictures were taken from from Pictures and Vision for the R.A.U. Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus web page however there are also many new ones. Enjoy and praise God with us for what He has done and will surely continue to do! The vision and mission of Reaching Africa’s Unreached was planted in my heart way back in 1977 when Leonard Ravenhill challenged me with Romans 15:20. That flame was rekindle with my first trip to north Uganda and southern Sudan in 2007. My testimony can be found here.
August 2011Footings dugBringing foundation stonesBottom of the footings pouredFootings nearly done
The foundation is complete…thank you Jesus!!Front view of the R.A.U. GuesthouseSteel for concrete roof supports are set (Northeast corner of the house).Our bedroom is in this cornerLooking down upon inside walls. They will be brought up to roof height with venting along the top of corridor walls so that hot air can escape through the center roof vent thus creating our “African Bush air conditioning” :-)!We want lots of air flowing into the rooms thus the vent bricks. We will get fine metal screening in Kampala to put over the vent bricks and windows to keep out those nasty malaria biting mosquitoes.Sam in standing in the future north doorway. The breezeway runs through the entire center of the house so that the north-south winds can freely go through the whole house. Nurse Sam likes his Texas Longhorn shirt….you non Longhorn fans be kind now :-).Here Salongo, an expert, helps select the right trees to cut for our roof rafters.The upper part of the rafters will rest on this top beam once it is poured.Tying the steel for the top beam.Our trucked arrived with our water tanks, electrical supplies, and roof materials from Kampala. The truck had three blow outs and got stuck twice and had to be offloaded and reloaded both times. The roads from Gulu to Moyo are very,very bad. The Lord has granted grace and our supplies are now safely here at the site. Thank you for your prayers…please continue!Our God is good and He is good all the time!Taking shape!More rafters upThis 5000 liter tank will gravity feed our rooms. Our hope is that the water will be warmed in the attic for our baths. September ’13 Update: Our baths are cold, maybe during the hot season they will be warmer!October 2012The first iron sheets are up!Southeast viewEast Side of GuesthouseNovember 2012Garage Doors SetThis big window will bring a lot of air into the Hall of Tyrannus….very needful during the hot season!Plaster workLate December 2012
Inside CorridorFront
Front Veranda CeilingStone work around the base of the veranda.
Setting our outside 10,000 liter water tank. Water is pumped into this tank from our well. It gravity feeds our our attic 5,000 liter tank as well as future facilities.Thank you Jesus!Tile work in the Hall of TyrannusBreezewayGuesthouse kitchen counter topThe glass has now been installed in the windows and doorsThe first of four toilets set.All our vents have screens over them to help keep out those nasty malaria biting mosquitoes!Lower Kitchen CabinetsNorth Side of Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus June 20th 2013Starting work in battery/power roomThe battery room is finished!We have 4 operation 230 watt solar panels. We also can power the Guesthouse via generator if need be.We have electricity in the middle of the African bush 🙂 !Our working Kitchen!Our first table in the Hall of Tyrannus. By God’s grace at this table people’s bodies and souls will be nourished.Our first triple bunk bed is in place. All it needs now are its mattresses and mosquito nets. WE want to build 4 more.Touch up painting.Lots of work on the grounds to be done and all by hand for now.
Dedication Service August 10 2013. More photos as well as videos are here.
August 2013Widening our driveway entrance so that our 40′ container will be able to enter when it arrives.The graders last pass on the drivewayThe nicest driveway in Northwestern UgandaOver 1,100 Global Study Bibles and 3,500 christian books for distribution to pastors and others are on their way ..PTL!Faithful Seguin Texas brothers loading the RAU container.
RAU road sign. Its frame and poles are in the container headed to us.Soon this will parked at R.A.U….PTL!Refurbishing the remaining four tukalu’s on the land. They are not far from the Guesthouse. Many of the native pastor’s will feel more comfortable staying in these instead of the Guesthouse. We hope to build 4-5 more. They cost about $500 to build and will sleep 4-5.
We now have new grass roofs on tukalu’s. Our next step is to fix the doors and windows.Our existing outdoor kitchen. We use it each day (except Sunday’s) to cook for a dozen or more workers. This is the way we will also cook for our future discipleship groups and short term mission groups. Propane is very expensive and difficult to get here. Lord willing, soon we can build a updated one closer with a small room for our cook and helper to stay. We need about $4,000 to complete it.We have been clearing and planting a native low growing drought resistant grass around the Guesthouse. In the foreground is one of our many newly planted mango and we have a trellis for passion fruit in the background.
September 2013
Great exhortation right outside Carol’s and my bedroom.Our large garage serves us well.
Carpenters at work.Hall of Tyrannus library
Our calling…Make disciples of all nations (people groups)! A tribal group from North Uganda.
The Mbuti Pygmies of Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Train up children in the way of the Lord.Demonstrating Christ’s love to the poor and needy.Making Jesus known where He is not known
Please pray for
Reaching Africa’s Unreached!
Any financially help you can give is greatly appreciated. We will seek to be wise in our stewardship of your gifts.
Ron Zeiner will be arriving the 21st. He and his wife Joanna were missionaries in South Africa for many years. Interestingly, I have been good friends with Ron and Joanna since 1979. Both Carol and I have benefited from their lives and teaching! Ron will be teaching sessions on Ezra-Nehemiah (Principles of Leadership), with some lessons on hermeneutics. I will have lessons on 2 Timothy 2:2, as well as work through, with the pastors, Dawson Trotman’s sermon/booklet, Born to Reproduce. I first read “Born to Reproduce” in the late 70’s and it has been one of those messages that has remained in my heart over the years. When you have an opportunity read it or read it again if it has been a while since you tasted the biblical truths in the message. Our major theme at RAU is discipleship and this first retreat sets a good precedent for us. Please be in prayer for Ron’s trip and our time together with these precious pastors!
In Yumbe
Reaching Africa's Unreached 