Dear Family and Friends,

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.”       (Romans 8:25, New English Translation)

Last week, we eagerly received Dr. Stephen McConnell to RAU.  We had been anticipating his visit for months, making plans with local medical personnel, especially Kiiza Frances, a clinical officer, to squeeze as many experiences as possible into Stephen’s fact-finding mission.  Our efforts did not disappoint!

It’s a good thing Stephen got some rest in Entebbe before he arrived in Moyo/Afoji on Saturday because we did not give him any down time.  On Sunday, we took him to the Gbari/Arapi Community church where, on the previous Sunday, 71 were baptized from this church and a few surrounding churches.  Everywhere we took Stephen, he was able to hold an impromptu clinics to help diagnose various ailments which were brought to him and give advice on treatment. We made a short visit to a local clinic where Stephen was able to see the amazing work that healthcare workers do with limited resources for the communities they serve.  What a blessing to have his expertise and he was tireless and kind in giving his time and attention.

On Monday, I took him to see Moyo Hospital and to meet with many of the staff there.  Moyo Hospital has made great strides in upgrading its facilities – it will be such a blessing to see things up and running well for the benefit of the local community as well as the many refugees who are also being referred there for treatment.  It was especially a success to meet and talk with Dr. Joseph, one of the very few physicians, and to get a clear idea from him what the major concerns and needs are.  In addition, Dr. Stephen McConnell was also inspired and encouraged by the possibilities of coming in the future with other physicians and medical personnel to work alongside Dr. Joseph and to do capacity building workshops for healthcare workers as well as to provide community health instruction for disease prevention to community members.

Tuesday was a completely different and unique venue:  the Metu Mountains and some of our favorite, hard-to-reach villages.  We stopped at a clinic along the way, near Ijujo, and met with a wonderful woman who runs the clinic under the most bleak of conditions, bearing a load with little help and a deficiency of supplies and medicines that must be very discouraging.  Further down the road we stopped in Cinyi (Chinyi) where we looked at the proposed site for a bore hole and where Stephen held a small clinic for the local village members who would, under normal circumstances, have to walk a day’s journey to get to the nearest .  After Cinyi, we hiked down to Oku, which is the end of the road for that deep valley.  We wanted Stephen to see the difficult circumstances in which these precious people live.  Along the hike down into the valley, we noticed several women, young and old, some with babies on their backs, hauling water up the very steep mountain. These experiences made their mark on us all and inspired us anew to do as much as possible to improve the lives and livelihood of this remote “unreached” (in terms of resources) community of people, especially clean water via bore holes.

Wednesday took us in a different direction: to Palorinya Processing Camp for Refugees and, then, to a local Health Center III, right across the road from one of the new refugee settlement areas called, “Beramaling 3”.  While Uganda has been gracious and welcoming to the flood of refugees, it has not done it without a cost to its own host populations.  This was evident in the clinic we visited as resources, space and personnel had to be shared and the waiting lines were long.  Fortunately, several NGOs are partnering with the clinic to bring personnel and supplies to this needy area which serves a growing population of refugees fleeing from South Sudan as well as the host community.

Jacob and I are particularly grateful for a young man who has proved faithful to minister inside the refugee settlements, disseminating many of the resources which have been given to RAU to distribute.

Thursday was Stephen’s last day in Moyo.  He was grateful for some time to spend on RAU farm, observing the folks who were hired to dig holes and plant soybeans and also helping cut down banana trees which have finished fruiting and slicing them up as mulch which is then placed at the base of the other trees.  Stephen never missed an opportunity to serve in any way he could while he was with us. He and Jacob enjoyed hanging out together just “doing stuff” around the compound.

Thursday afternoon, we spent some time visiting a local family and experiencing their love and hospitality.  Thursday evening was an inspiring “think tank” experience where we met with Dr. Joseph and clinical officer, Kiiza at a local restaurant.  Two physicians, Doctors Lynn and Sharon Fogleman, a husband and wife team from the USA who will be living and working within Moyo, joined up with us for what was an exciting sharing of needs and ideas of how those needs could be met through networking and shared resources.  It gave Jacob and me an eager hope of good things to come – a foretaste of the grace which the Lord wants to extend to this under served and underdeveloped area.

Friday was a bittersweet day.  We took Stephen back to Arua to catch a puddle jumper to Entebbe on Saturday morning.  We enjoyed every bit of time spent with him; his humble and kind spirit  brought refreshment to us and his exuberance and vision for the future fueled us with eager expectation for “what’s next.”  While he was here we half-teasingly, half-seriously pointed out where we could build a house for him and his family for when they “decide to move here” and told him we were going to go way “over his head” (if you know what I mean) and ask for a transfer!  Thank goodness, all those things are in the Hands of a wise and loving God who knows the end from the beginning and everything in between!

We want to especially thank Maddie McConnell for not only “allowing” Stephen to come, but for encouraging him to come.  We were blown away by her organizational skills and by the care and thoughtfulness with which she packed the many supplies which were donated for the ministry.  A grand “thank you” to all the loving people who gave requested items, including the suitcases in which everything was safely arrived.  We definitely look forward with eager hope to the next time when Maddie is able to accompany Stephen!

While we were in Arua, dropping Stephen off, our next group of visitors was arriving at RAU!  Recently, we met George Smith from Mississippi who, along with his wife, Geraldine, have been missionaries in Uganda for 17 years.  When he came through the last time, he was looking for opportunities for short term mission groups and for places for them to stay.  At that time, we made plans for him to bring a team of 3 men to stay with us as they ministered in various places in the West Nile region.

It was a particular joy to meet and fellowship with George, Shawn, Doug and Brian.  His three visitors are all from Texas, so you KNOW they had to be good folks!  It never ceases to amaze us that perfect strangers, because of the bond in Christ, can immediately feel like family!  They spent three nights with us but, during the day, they headed out to Itula and other places along the Nile where several of the refugee camps are located.  Their goal was to share the disciple-making strategy of T4T (Training for Trainers) in hopes that, by a multiplication process, the impact of the Gospel will go far and wide.  Our visits in the evening were full of laughter, great conversation, sharing of personal stories and prayer.  Thank you, George for coming our way and giving us the privilege and blessing of knowing you and your guests.

We look forward to seeing George and his wife, Geraldine, when they bring a larger group (12-13) at the end of this month!

On a personal note, we have found out that the Lord is bringing several American missionary families to this area to serve both the host and refugee communities.  This has meant for me the eager hope of friendships and fellowship and the possibility of being more involved in medical endeavors as time allows.

We have so much to be grateful for.  The Lord is clearly at work in this area and is increasing the opportunities we have to serve Him and the people to whom He has called us to live alongside.  I have told so many people that I am thrilled to see God openning the windows of heaven to pour His blessings out on this particular area of Uganda.  Though the attention and help has come largely on account of the influx of refugees, we see that many resources are being channeled to the West Nile region, both material and human resources.

Being so close to the South Sudan border means their civil war has been brought a little closer to us as well.  In Face Book posts we have shared links to many of the events in South Sudan as well as our own experience of seeing and hearing exchange of gunfire right near the border.  Just this week we heard of armed rebels who came across the border into Uganda and were seen at Afoji center, just a quarter of a mile from us, and apparently they were hunting down some of their own people.  However, they threatened our local people not to make any calls out “or else”.  We also heard that some of them were able to sneak into refugee camps and several deaths were even reported.  You can find the story at this Ugandan Newspaper link:

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/South-Sudanese-gunmen-sneak-Moyo-District/688334-3880536-13ob5fv/index.html

Jacob never misses an opportunity to meet with Muslim leaders who are willing to interact on matters of religion.  Here is something he posted on Face Book about his latest visit:

“I had a very good one on one meeting with a Sheikh yesterday. I was joined by co-workers,Charles (who interpreted), Samuel, and Mindra. I have known him now for almost 2 years and he has attended a number of my dialogs with Imams and Sheikhs and has become a friend. He gladly received Bibles in Aringa,Swahili and Arabic along with other reading materials and RAU-grown fresh mangoes. He is older (my age  ) and teaches Islamic studies in a school. We discussed, civilly, differences on the person of Jesus, salvation, and prayer. He is very ingrained in Islam but, by the end of or three hours together, I sensed him opening more to the message I was sharing with him then and in our past times in group dialogs. Close to the end of our time together he stated, “Jacob, if what you say is true and it is revealed to me I will come to your side and you,Jacob, if it is revealed to you that Islam is right you come to my side “. Before we parted he asked for me to pray for him which I gladly did in, Jesus Name, with my head and arms upward to Jehovah! Sometime, in the next couple weeks, I want to take him to the clinic to be tested for an illness which has been plaguing him for a long time. Thank you all who prayed…may the Lord grant him revelation and eyes to adore the Savior!
Pray also for another one on one meeting next Saturday with another Sheikh who leads other Sheikhs and Imams. Also, we have the opportunity to show the “Jesus” film, in the middle of next week, to a large group of Imams and Sheikhs. Praise God for these open doors!!”

Here are some of the things we are working towards with EAGER HOPE and for which we ask you to be in fervent prayer:

• The work on our larger “Hall of Tyrannus” is making great strides.  There is still a bit of pressure as we see the end of the month coming upon us more quickly than we want and in light of the two groups we will be hosting back to back at the end of April and the beginning of May.  Please pray that all will move well and without many obstacles and that the builders will meet that deadline with some time to spare!  We are so grateful for the provision of a large donation to help with its completion!
• The drilling of 3 bore holes in the remote areas of the Metu Mountains (Alugodu, Cinyi and Ijujo).  In partnership with a local engineer, John, we were able to do a survey and locate a water source in each of these 3 areas which will provide clean water and an improved quality of life and health for these communities.  Currently, we have funding for 1 of the bore holes.  We ask for your help in funding the other two bore holes.  Each one costs $7500.
• Please be praying for the two groups which will be arriving back to back beginning on April 29th .  Pray that all the preparations would go smoothly and that all the accommodations would be ready to go!
• Pray for rain in this region.  We have had some rain, but, now that the soybeans and regular beans have been planted, we could use some heavier rains to help them germinate well and grow to produce abundantly.  As we have stated, the soybean yield will be ground with millet and given to a local health center to assist host and refugee community members who are suffering from malnutrition.
• Pray for South Sudan! The loss of life and livelihood, the displacement of millions of its citizens, the horrific trauma they have experienced and the wanton destruction in terms of infrastructure, food production, resources and progress is beyond understanding.  Please also pray for Uganda who is struggling to keep up with and care for the immense number of refugees.  The influx is stressing the local population.

Thank you for your loving interest and partnership with us!

Carol (and Jacob) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

The Family of God

By Carol Lee

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Ladies hard at work preparing lunch for the gathering

  This beautiful section of scripture heralds belonging, love and family and the God who displays it and makes it so. Our awesome Trinitarian God lives and works in loving community: “Let US make man in OUR image.”  (Genesis 1:26)  He means for us to live and work in loving community as well.  God created and placed Adam in the Garden to work it and keep it and then said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Genesis 2: 18)  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have so wonderfully modeled for us what it is to exist together in loving and humble community.  It is our desire, at RAU, to see this pattern fleshed out among ourselves and multiplied among those who have received the call to love and serve the Lord.  This garden of loving community must be tended and we mean to work it and keep it in such a way that it will flourish and be fruitful.

This past week we experienced something wonderful – a community of “new creations” being baptized in the Metu Mountains –  members of Gbari/Arapi Community Church joined by other church plants in Duku and Oyo  as well as a couple from Aya Baptist, making a total of 71 people.  For the past two years Aya Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Ojji Tobious and in partnership with RAU, has been pressing into these Metu Mountain villages with the hopeful story of God’s redeeming love in Christ Jesus.  Many have responded by expressing a desire to trust in what Christ has done on their behalf.  This last Sunday provided the opportunity to make a public declaration of their intention to be followers and disciples of Jesus – through Baptism. The event was a joyful assembly of thankful people.

Though it has been a challenge for Aya Baptist Church, they have found men who are willing to take on  a shepherd’s role of caring for the new believers in these remote places to which they have to “foot” every weekend.  It has been RAU’s privilege to support, encourage, train and provide resources for this band of brothers.  We are so proud of their commitment to be faithful in a calling which has few earthly remunerations and rewards.  It remains our strong commitment to see them through.  When Jacob preached this Baptism Sunday, he reminded them of the message in Philippians 1:6 which germinates into hope: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  The task is daunting to reach the many who have not been reached and to disciple, with limited resources, the ones who have.  BUT GOD is at work in all of us and is able to do so much more than we can imagine.  We long for and work towards the unimaginable, glorious fulfillment of this promise.

Our deep desire is that these new communities of believers are not only birthed, but that they are strengthened in their inner man and have a deepening understanding of the love of Christ as well as a richer expression of that love towards others within the family of faith and towards those who are not yet part of it.  “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:35)  Please be praying for them.  They have so many struggles.  Please pray that their sights would be set on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith.

At the same time that we long for their faith to be firmly rooted in Christ, we also long for them to experience the grace and blessings of God in their physical lives.  They are no different than we are.  They struggle to make ends meet, to find healing in times of sickness, to get their children educated and empowered for a better life than they have had and to have more than a life of subsistence.  To this end, we are working with them, through the empowering and inspiring avenue of Agricultural training.  Emma has especially been focusing on Agriculture as a business in hopes that they will envision and experience the fulfillment of their aspirations to improve their lot in this life through knowledge and hard work.

Thank you, family and friends, for working with us to see faith become sight.  Every activity in which we have invested energy, resources and faith is bearing fruit.  The feedback we are getting  through friends and acquaintances and through call-ins on the Ag radio program all attest to the fact that we are not wasting our time.  And, because of the current refugee situation, more and more opportunities are presenting themselves.

Jacob posted this on FaceBook:

 Taste and See

by Carol Lee

Dear Friends and Family,

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!“

Psalm 34: 8

How many of us have cringed…or fumed…inwardly, while listening to a slick salesman trying to “sell us” on a product while making us feel utterly stupid for not “buying into” his sales pitch? If only he could understand how ineffective his method really is of luring us to buy what he is selling.

Now, think of that time when you listened to someone you knew or trusted rave about a product they were using…and…they showed you just how effective the product had been in achieving the desired results.  Big difference, huh?!!!  I bet you went right out and bought some yourself!

It is no different when it comes to “giving a reason for the hope you possess” in Christ Jesus.  The guard goes up the minute someone feels you are a “slick Willy“(Definition: a term that, upon hearing it, is understood to mean something uncomplimentary towards the person to whom it refers) trying to dupe them into buying “your product” with some ulterior motive other than genuine concern for them.

On the other hand, if you are a friend who is genuinely joyful, sincere and full of integrity in your walk with Christ and you want your friend or neighbor to experience that same joy and you explain how Jesus has changed you (and they can see it!) the response from them is likely to be genuine interest.

With each new dialog with Imams and Sheikhs we see more clearly how  much the motive of our hearts and the way in which we give a reason for our hope matters in the long run.  As Jacob and I reviewed our last dialog together we were convinced of the need to make very clear our goals in standing before these men, not as pressurized, slick salesmen, but as genuine friends who want others to “taste and see that the Lord is good“!

These goals, which are now part of the apologetic booklets which will be passed out, are distilled in the following points:  1) NOT to tear down (abuse) the other’s belief system, 2) NOT to tear down the person (who is made in the image of God), but to be 3) READY to give an answer to anyone who asks about our hope in Christ Jesus, 4) to PAINT a beautiful picture with words of who God is and what He has done and to 5) URGE each person to “taste and see that the Lord is good” because the Lord wants us to be in relationship with Him.  The last dialog was instrumental in helping us clarify our focus and purify our motive; we sincerely hope continuing open doors of deeper friendship and, ultimately, a brotherhood in Spirit and in truth.

Last Saturday, we went for another dialog to Yumbe with Pertti Soderlund and his friend, Jonas Walliser (a young German who uses his athletic prowess in football…soccer…to engage with youth about his love for and belief in Christ).  Both of them shared engaging testimonies of God’s grace and power in their lives.  It was a complementary blessing to the clear and beautiful picture which Jacob painted, as he shared from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, verses 1-12, on “Who is Jesus?“.

Hearing from the Imams, particularly one who stands as their spokesperson, always helps us discern areas where they have a false understanding of what Christians believe and then address those issues the next time.  This time, one of the Christians stood to request that, in the future, the Muslims spend some time talking about their beliefs and experiences from a personal viewpoint in addition to highlighting where they think Christian teachings are inconsistent.  These dialogs are insightful and helpful as we hear first hand more fully what Muslims believe about God.

The week previous to this dialog was busy for Jacob.  He continues to oversee the building of our new  Teaching Hall of Tyrannus.  Upcoming retreats and new opportunities to open the teaching hall to other venues keep Jacob pushing to ensure the building gets done in a timely manner.  As stated in the last letter, we eagerly await a Texas team from “Reaching and Teaching”.  We will be hosting about 30 leaders for the second module of their “Hearts, Heads and Hands“ course.

Last Tuesday, Emma  and Jacob went to the Metu Mountains to encourage church leaders there to get inspired about how they can contribute to their own improvement and successes through Agriculture.  Jacob highlighted the many resources that are available to them and tried to capture their interest, focus and energy to think in an entrepreneurial way.  One of the local men shared his success story with the group, hoping that the others might also taste and see the possibilities.

On Thursday, we received Pertti and Jonas as our guests.  What an awesome time of breaking bread together, sharing stories and laughing together!  We are grateful for all the goodies that Heidi (Pertti’s wife) keeps sending along for us!  Talk about tasting and seeing that the Lord is good!!!

On Friday, March 10th, Jacob took Pertti and Jonas to the Metu Mountains so they could experience first hand what Aya Baptist members are doing in partnership with RAU to strengthen new believers in remote villages.  They also took note of the “water holes” which were being used by the villagers.  Our hope is that, in partnership with our supporters and other well-drilling NGOs, we might be able to get more bore holes to these remote areas.  It was a long and tiring day of driving and hiking, but, I believe, it was rewarding for our friends to get a taste of God’s goodness in that region.

On Tuesday, March 14th, Emma and Pastor Henry took the RAU boda to Aya for an Ag Demo plot training.  They also went to Gbari/Arapi to look at the potential site for demo plot in their area.  Our sincere hope is that the leaders and believers in the Metu Mountains will be able to revolutionize their lives and economic status by seeing farming as a business and putting into practice the wealth of information shared and demonstrated by Emma.

God’s people are not only called to tell of Him and His greatness with words, but to display the goodness of Him in their lives.  Titus 2:14 testifies of a God “[W]ho gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” As I have heard it preached before, Christians are not just saved from something (the wrath of God towards sin) but saved for something (lives that reflect grace and the many attributes of God and that bring God glory). “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.  Our good deeds are another way of inviting the world  to not only  hear of God, but “taste and see” that He is good.

How glad we are to be linked in love through the Spirit, prayer and financial support to so many of you.  Thank you for hanging in there with us!

Please be praying for these upcoming events:

• Jacob travels, again, to Arua for mechanical repairs on the Land Cruiser and to accomplish other items of business. Pray for safety and timely accomplishment of everything.
•  Saturday, March 18th, is another dialog in Apo (Yumbe) with possibly as many as 100 participants.
• Dr. Stephen McConnell comes for a fact-finding mission on March 25th; pray that he will get a clear picture of the needs and a clear guidance for ministry.
• April 1-2, a team from IMB (Baptist) will be staying with us and using RAU as a base of operations for their ministry outreaches.
• April 30th to (possibly May 4th), a Baptist group from Mississippi will be with us for ministry
• April 6-16th, the team from Reaching and Teaching comes for training.

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

By Carol Lee

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”

What do we desire and what do we fear?  What do we, Christians,  want our lives to look like?  What do we want to accomplish?  From what are we being held back because of fear?   Where are our energies being invested, in avoiding what we fear or in obtaining what we desire?

Fear is a thief, robbing us of all the fruitful possibilities that might have been if perfect love had been around to bind the intruder.  Perfect love believes that God loves us. Fear robs us of peace in God’s presence.  Perfect love believes that God is good and His plans for us are good.  Fear robs us of the courage to take risks that will result in experiencing God’s goodness in and through us. Fear keeps us from enjoying all the gifts of God’s grace and ensuring that those gifts benefit others, too.  But…perfect love gives us a captivating vision of the redeeming plans God has for us and others and gives us courage to take risks to realize these plans.

God, the Father, so perfectly loved us that He sent His risk-taking Son, Jesus, to overcome His fears (“Father, if there be any other way…not my will, but Yours be done”) and to prioritize the glorious reward of risk-taking love (“who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross…”).  WE are the reward upon which His eyes were set – bringing many sons to glory! This is the captivating vision the Holy Spirit is at work in us to produce. Let us pray to be like Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith!

The Lord has put before us (RAU and its partners) amazing opportunities to be a part of His redeeming plan among the Aringa tribe in Yumbe District.  In many parts of the world, especially the United States, the thought of going into a predominantly Muslim community and meeting, on a regular basis, with a large group of Muslim leaders can muster a fear and hesitancy because of what “might” happen. Stories in the news have thrown fuel on the fire of our fears. We, here, have experienced the fear of “what ifs” and the trepidation based on negative stereotyping.  Thankfully, the perfect love which the Father has for his “lost sheep” among the Aringa has captivated Jacob’s heart and has bound any fear which might keep him from realizing fruitful, redeeming possibilities.  And his courage has spawned courage in many others, including me!

This last Saturday (March 4th), Jacob and the RAU team headed to Aringa County in Yumbe District, to Govuli.  This was our first visit there.  Here is what Jacob wrote about the experience on Face Book:

“Many thanks to all who prayed for our dialog with Sheikhs and Imams in Govuli, Yumbe District today. It is the birthplace of Islam in the District. I had brought Bibles and materials for 50 and we ran short. Fortunately, I was able to make arrangement to get Bibles to them next weekend. All the leaders were very kind and hospitable to us. God loves them and so do I !

The meeting went beyond my expectations. The Khard said, in the beginning, that he did not want a dialog this time. He wanted me to teach the whole time! I preached/taught for over 2 hours and the Sheikhs and Imams listened intently. They are pushing for me to come back again for more.

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With Love and Appreciation,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

http://www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org