GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY which WILL COME to ALL THE PEOPLE!

On December 13, 2014December 13, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Discipleship, News and Status Updates

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“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them (the shepherds), and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.BUT the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY which WILL COME to ALL THE PEOPLE. For to you is born this day in the town of David a SAVIOR, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!” (Luke 2:9-11 AV, emphasis mine).

This is my 59th Christmas and will be my 4th to celebrate outside the USA. Christmas has many fond memories for me. As a child I had a wonderful time of celebrating with family. After marriage and children, new joys were added; and, then, there were the joys of celebrating with grandchildren. These memories and times are all precious and I am forever grateful for them.

As joyful as these times have been for me they pale in comparison to the “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY“ that has come in the person of Jesus Christ. There are so many bound in the chains of fear, as were the shepherds. My favorite word in the Bible and, perhaps, the most important one in the Bible is “BUT”. In the above passage from Luke, “but” is the bridge between fear and joy. Good news of great joy has come to all peoples because Jesus has come to dwell among us and give His life a ransom for all peoples! Oh what rapturous joy that fills my heart! Such news would be unbelievable if we did not have God’s sure Word to tell us so! Who would have dreamed such good news is possible!

Such good news must be published to the “ALL THE PEOPLE! I am reminded afresh, as Christmas approaches, there are many in this world who have never once heard this “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY“ ! We live in the midst of many such people here in the West Nile. On this coming Friday Sam, Carol, Paul George (from Austin Texas) and I will travel, along with members of Aya Baptist Church, to two such villages (Bari is the name of one) on Metu Mountain. Pastor Tobious and his associate, Geoffrey, just finished a preliminary visit in preparation for our trip together. They were warmly received and it was evident the Lord had been preparing their hearts. Tobious was told that someone had come briefly six years ago preaching in these villages and then left. Since that time they had been hoping someone would come and tell them more. Tobious and Geoffrey shared the gospel then and there and 14 believed upon the Lord!

Our goal is to see a church planted in Bari with a shepherd. I have seen, time after time, where evangelism takes place in a village, whether through open air preaching or the Jesus film, and many believe. Then, either because there are no shepherds willing to relocate or there is no provision for them to do so, the new believers are left like sheep without a shepherd. Geoffrey has agreed to be the shepherd of the church in Bari but has no resources and little biblical training. This is where RAU, through you, can come alongside the local church and assist in the planting of this church. This would be the second church in which RAU is directly involved in planting. The other is Obongi Town Church led by Pastor Godfrey, about whom we have written much. Our focus is to see churches where there is not one single one. Places which have no church ought to take precedence in church planting over places which have one or several churches in them already. The Bari Church, like Obongi Town church, will be made up of almost all new believers who, all the more, need shepherds trained in the Word and walking in the Spirit. Godfrey is doing a fine job in Obongi and we pray that we can assist Geoffrey and others in the same way. Please pray for these new churches and for us as we walk arm in arm with them.

We are also actively working indirectly to see churches planted where there are none. We do this through our pastors/church leaders retreats and by going out to local churches teaching and equipping. RAU’s main purpose is to come alongside pastors and church leaders in order to strengthen and equip them so that they can “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Many of the pastors in our West Nile region have not had the blessing and benefit of attending Bible College or seminary and they are very eager to receive resources that will aid them in their work. Our model is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 where the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to entrust to faithful men (who will also be able to teach others) what he has taught Timothy. Everything is passed along. In this way, the truth of the Gospel does not become a stagnant pond, but a life-giving, outward-flowing river of life.

unnamed (6) — Studying in the Hall of Tyrannus

Paul demonstrated this model in his own life when, as recorded in Acts 19:10 by Luke, he taught daily in the Hall of Tyrannus for two years, “so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” Paul himself did not reach each resident of Asia, but those who heard Paul told others who told others. This is the ministry fruit we hope for at Reaching Africa’s Unreached. We want the Gospel and all the truths of the Bible to be that life-giving river making its way out to all the West Nile Region and beyond!

unnamed (11) — Seeking to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2

Biblical discipleship is key for the church to be able to reach the unreached. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) has correctly said, “Since Satan cannot destroy the gospel, he has often neutralized its usefulness by addition, subtraction, or substitution.” When you pray and sacrificially help us you are helping to destroy the works of Satan.

When Carol wrote last I was in the midst of another bout of malaria. Thank you all for your sincere prayers. It had laid me low from last Friday -Monday. As per doctor’s orders (Carol) I was allowed to get up and do some work on Tuesday. This past week we have concentrated on creating a fire line around the perimeter of RAU’s 17 acre. We are now in the beginnings of the hot/dry season and you may remember last time we had some close calls from surrounding wildfires. We are also digging around and mulching our young mango trees. We have bagged around 865 kilos of dried soybeans harvested from the RAU land which we will seek to sell. One hundred percent of these proceeds will go directly back into the ministry. The same thing will be true when we begin to harvest the many mangoes from our newly planted trees. When the rains begin again we will plant more. Our perimeter security wall is coming along nicely. We are grateful for a wonderful building crew from whose expertise we will benefit and have benefited.

Work is progressing well on the veranda security wall. The outside of the stub wall will have matching flagstone and the inside will be plastered/painted. The gap between the wall and top will have decorative metal work.

Weighing and sacking our soybean harvest.

There were also six pastors who came by this last week for prayer and encouragement. On a weekly basis many stop by RAU. We see these times also as being a part of God’s plan for us living here. We can send them on their way refreshed in the Lord and packed with resources, both for them and their churches.

All these are reasons why we believe it is the Lord’s will to get more resources here via a second container. Already 700 pounds of gospel tracts in English, Madi, and Aringa and 800 pounds of books from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach are on pallets at our home church, Lifegate. Our biggest desire is to pack 5,000 ESV Global Study Bibles into the container. As we have written previously, we can purchase them at a 70% discount and have them shipped to Lifegate for $10 a Bible. We have $3,000 of the $50,000 needed to buy these excellent, pastoral resources. Please pray and believe with us for the remaining funds and give if you can. All the information you need is at our web page here:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/fill-the-container-study-bibles-books-and-more/

Carol and I, as well as the whole RAU team, realize we could not be doing what we are doing without the sacrificial and loving support you give us. You are the Lord’s means of grace for us who labor joyfully in the field the Lord has given us. Thank you and God Bless you!

On a personal note, please pray for Carol and me during this Christmas season that the Lord would minister peace and grace in those times we desperately miss out loving family back in America. Thank you!

May you have a blessed and merry Christmas!

Jacob (Carol) Lee

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

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 name or email address)

The greatest evil is having the gospel and not doing everything within our power to get it to those who do not have it. May the Lord grant each of us His followers the wherewithal to be obedient disciples! Jacob W. Lee

Tax deductible charitable donations may be made via PayPal. PayPal also has a way to make reoccurring monthly gifts. To do so please click the PayPal link. PayPal deducts a small amount from each gift as a processing fee. All gifts given through PayPal are now tax deductible as 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

Back in the Saddle Again

On November 23, 2014November 23, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Discipleship, News and Status Updates

Pastors at RAU Retreat

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

Carol and I have now been back at RAU a little less than a week. We both have come back from our visit to the USA encouraged by the love shown to us by family, friends, and the various churches we fellowshipped with. The love and support we have from so many is just another confirmation of the open door the Lord has given to us and Reaching Africa’s Unreached. For the gospel to advance in areas of the world where there is little or no witness of Christ’s life,death and resurrection we, as followers of Christ, must work hand in hand to bring the gospel ( Romans 10:13-17 ) to unreached areas. The Lord has set us in such a place and, together with you, we are continually seeking to make Christ known where He is not known. There are vast areas in the West Nile (Northwestern region) of Uganda with not a single church! Partnering with you we have the joy of bringing the glorious gospel and of being a part of Christ building His church in this region of the world. Thank you for your continual prayers and support! May the Lord richly bless you!

We spent a couple of days in Kampala getting work done on the Land Cruiser, buying supplies, and purchasing a solar powered submersible water pump which also can run via generator. We made good time on our trip here to RAU from Kampala. There are more sections of road which have been improved. Because of the many big trucks at the Laropi Nile River crossing we had to wait awhile. After crossing and heading up the steep incline out of the Nile River basin I ran over a sharp object and had an immediate flat tire. After a lot of sweating, Sam and I got the spare on and we made it to RAU. Our drive ended up being about 12 hours.

It was so good to see all our friends at RAU. We are also happy to find that our immediate area is more stable and peaceful than when we left. There are efforts on the part of both the Madi and Kuku tribes for reconciliation. The Uganda government is also trying to help those whose homes were burned and there is cooperation between the UPDF (Ugandan army) and SPLA (South Sudanese army) in patrolling the area. Keep praying for both tribes as tensions remain under the surface. Tribalism’s only cure is Jesus!

Two men with Davis & Shirtliff arrived Thursday with the water pump,solar panels, and accessories. We had some challenges pulling the old pump out and setting the new submersible pump,a Grundfos SQF, in. The pump is now quickly and noiselessly pulling water up to our 10,000 liter tower tank which gravity feeds into the Guesthouse, pastor’s quarters (as well as any future facilities). The pump gets its energy directly from the sun via roof solar panels…no batteries, inverters, and NO loud generator using expensive and sometimes hard-to-get diesel. This is yet another grand blessing to better equip Reaching Africa’s Unreached to serve pastors and others who come to stay with us. Thank you Lord and thank you to those who have given!

Another project which will start soon because of the gifts of God’s people is the building of 4′ stub wall with iron work above it around the outside of the veranda of the Guesthouse. This need was mentioned while we were caring for and protecting refugees on the veranda during the recent tribal conflict. This extra perimeter gives extra common sense security and privacy to the Guesthouse.

As the Lord provides,future building projects include more pastor’s quarters and a branch of the Hall of Tyrannus in Obongi which would also double for the new church plant there. Obongi Town Church is pastored by Godfrey who has been receiving some training at RAU. We have the land purchased in Obongi but are still struggling with the resistance of powerful people in the town who oppose the work of the gospel. You may remember that Godfrey has been physically assaulted twice and he ,as well as RAU, has received threats. We would not want to build until those issues are resolved. The pastors’ quarters would be at RAU and would allow us to keep more pastors for retreats and also could be used if we are able to open a full fledged Bible School to train pastors for work in the West Nile.

Late on the 22nd, Sam picked up Ron Zeiner, Doug Neel, and Mark Borman at the Entebbe airport. They will make their trek to RAU on the 25th and will be bringing their God given gifts to the people of Yumbe District, Obongi sub county, and for a pastors retreat here at RAU. The pastors will all be from Moyo District. Ron is a returnee and is an excellent Bible teacher. Doug will be teaching and sharing agricultural resources and expertise. Mark,a farmer, will share his love of Jesus and farming experiences. One the reasons RAU is here is to host short-term missions teams like this. We can match people’s giftings with avenues of ministry.

We are actively seeking to bringing another container to RAU. This container would primarily be filled with resources for pastors,church leaders, teachers in the region. I have set a page a specific page entitled Fill the Container: Bible,Books, and More at the RAU blog site with all the pertinent information. Please take a look at that page and pray about helping.

Lastly, on a personal note, please continue in your prayers for Carol and me. These first weeks back are always the most difficult for us as we have tasted the joy, once again, of being with family and loved ones. Playing with and loving on our four grandchildren was especially delightful. We do have joy in our calling being here but it is a joy mixed sadness of our separation from family.

Thank you and may God bless you,

Jacob (Carol) Lee

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

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 name or email address)

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 deductible as 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

“To and Fro”

On November 17, 2014November 17, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized1 Comment

“Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.“

Daniel 12:4

Jacob and I have often discussed with amazement how the “increase in knowledge” (technology) has made it possible to “run to and fro” the opposite sides of the world in a matter of hours or to be connected electronically in an instant with people on the other side of the world. It gives life a surreal quality. The New English Translation reads this way: “Many will dash about…” We have certainly done our share of “dashing” over the last 6 weeks.

We hit the ground running in our home town of Seguin where we were reunited with some of our family (Anna, Kenny and Keira, who picked us up from the airport in Austin, and Josh, Becca, Eliza, Ben and Vera.) Vera was kind enough to hold off her entrance into the world until we arrived – she was born 3 days after we landed in the States. It was a special experience to be present at her birth and to be able to photograph the event of her arrival. In spite of jet lag and loss of sleep during travel, Jacob and I jumped into grand-parenting duties with great relish! Skype and videos help us to keep up with our kids and grand kids, but nothing beats real time hugs and kisses and singing and story-telling and all of the normal, everyday stuff of being there! We are so proud of Josh and Becca and the family they are raising.

We were reunited also with our dear church family, Lifegate Ministries. What a joy it was to receive their warm and enthusiastic welcome and to give and receive hugs! Jacob had the privilege of preaching there on our first Sunday back. Over the next week and a half we also made it a priority to connect with other individuals and churches (Amazing Grace Baptist and Good Shepherd Evangelical) who have partnered with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) and who had become amazing prayer warriors during the harried weeks of the tribal conflict and unrest in which we found ourselves. The tensions and uncertainty made our home coming all the sweeter.

The dashing about had only just begun though…we had places to go and people to see! Our first stop was Iowa, Jacob’s home state. In addition to connecting with family we had not seen in years, we were there to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Jacob’s parents, Keith and Gert Lee. The number of friends and family who came to help celebrate were a testament to the measure to which Keith and Gert have endeared themselves to many.

Our next stop was Stephenville where Anna, Kenny and Keira live. The last time we were there, Keira was just a baby and going through a difficult time. This time, she turned the corner from baby to toddler, was a bundle of energy, learning to take her first steps and picking up new words almost every day. Grand-parenting joy! As parents we were also overjoyed to, again, see the answers to very specific prayers we had prayed for our daughter, Anna, before we made our move to Uganda: that she be settled with a godly husband and family and cared for in a God-fearing and loving church family. We love to tease Kenny about his being such a treasure and we love his family, too. Rocky Point Baptist Church has become a very special place to us as we have met the godly folks who love Anna and have taken her under their wings and whom she loves and cares for as well. We personally experienced their care as they gave us a whole Sunday to share RAU’s vision and passion and shared with us how earnestly they had prayed for us during the tribal conflict and for the region in which we live. Kinship expands beyond blood when the bond is the Spirit of Christ.

Next stop: Chattanooga, where our beloved son, Josiah, lives and with whom we were very keen to carve out special time. October was a great month to visit – the leaves on the trees were changing. It was truly beautiful and perfect for photo ops! Josiah was able to take time off of work giving us the opportunity to take walks, enjoy a variety of cuisines, take a road trip and picnic, just hang out and meet his girlfriend, Melinda. We cherish every opportunity to take part in his life as he has lived further away from the epicenter of our lives in Seguin.

In no time we were back in Seguin! It must be told what a miraculous gift it was to fly to each of these places. Jacob’s heart dropped when he looked at the price of the tickets, which would have been about $3500. However, when he put in his accrued travel miles (we have stuck with Delta airlines through the years and have rarely used them) his jaw dropped as he saw the total amount due: $0! Praise the Lord!…and, thank you Delta!

The last week and a half in Seguin was beautiful and busy as we tried to make the most of the time left by soaking up the last dregs of grand-parenting joy, enjoying sons and daughters, making special appointments with loved ones and shopping for supplies for Africa till we felt like dropping! Again, we were reminded of our kinship in Christ as we fellowshipped with our friends from Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, Gospel Life Church in New Braunfels and the final Sunday with our beloved “Lifegaters.” We are “blown away” by the increasing partnership with so many people and churches.

Phew!!!!

Just like that!….it’s over and we have crossed back to the other side of the world! We are in Kampala with Patrick Bukenya and family. Jacob and Sam are dashing about Kampala trying to cross everything off their “to do” list before we head back to Moyo/Afoji on Tuesday. We will be receiving our first team from the States this weekend and then hosting a pastors’ retreat the following week.

As we look back over our whirlwind tour, we are shaking our heads in amazement at what the Lord allowed us to experience and accomplish. We are encouraged as we look forward to the busy months ahead and anticipate the pleasure of seeing many of you come to visit and minister with us. We are encouraged about the provisions and plans that the Lord has made clear. We are thankful for the pastors in the West Nile region who are working under difficult conditions and show a deep desire to grow in their faith. This morning I was reading in Philippians 1 where Paul says, “And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith.” This verse so beautifully states the purpose and passion of RAU – to come alongside pastors in the West Nile region for the sake of their progress and joy in the faith.

We labor energetically in the day because we know the night is coming (John 9:4). There will come a day, maybe very soon, when doors of opportunity may close or when another kind of technology will be at work and we will be whisked away, not to the other side of the world, but to the other side of time. How surreal and beautiful THAT DAY will be! We know, however, there is much to be done before THAT DAY and, so, we work! We thank each and everyone of you that shares that urgency and vision and who has prioritized and partnered with us in this particular course we have taken.

We especially want to thank Sam who has done of great job of “holding down the fort” and keeping things going at RAU in our absence. We thank Patrick for his wisdom and help and his family for their hospitality (our home away from home.) We are grateful for our friends who have continued to work at RAU to keep things looking good and to provide security. Thank you, Delmar Hager (Study To Be Approved), for your on-going contribution of Kindles which come fully loaded with hundreds of books to help pastors in their progress and joy in the faith.

We have several praises to report! The money for a solar powered water pump was provided and it will be brought and installed soon as well as funding to build a protective outer wall on the outside of the veranda. Also, the Lord (through the love of a family in the States) made a way for little Richard, with bilateral club foot, to receive corrective surgery on both feet. Due to the severity of the deformities, he has to receive a total of 4 surgeries. He has received two now. It will prolong his stay, but, thankfully, it is getting done!

While we were Stateside, the American RAU Board of Directors met to review RAU activity and to look at and approve future projects.

Here are some of the upcoming projects and events:

1. Fundraising for another container of Bibles and books. Jacob has spoken with Crossway Publishing, which has supplied the ESV Global Study Bibles in the past. Once again, they will give us a great discount on an order of 5000 bibles, bringing the cost down from $29.99 to about $10 which includes shipping to Seguin (TX) if we buy 5,000. We have friends in Seguin who are working on the purchase and placement of a container at Lifegate, where it will stay until it is filled. Jacob has touched base with Bill Walsh from The Gospel Coalition International Outreach for more books for pastors. Jacob has also contacted a representative of The 9 Marks series of books that would be an effective tool for pastors in leading their churches.

2. As mentioned above, our good friend, Ron Zeiner, along with two others (Doug Neal and Mark Borman) will be visiting RAU for several weeks and arriving this weekend. Paul George, from Dayspring Fellowship in Austin, will be spending about 3 weeks with us in December. In January, Dave Jones and Michael Lambert will make a return visit and John Howarton will be back in the latter part of January and into February. We are hoping that the Turner family will be able to make their visit in December and January. Did I mention that it will be a very busy and exciting next few months?

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

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 name or email address)

Back in the USA for a Visit

On October 7, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

Carol and I are greatly enjoying our time with family and friends. Thank you for all your prayers for a safe journey to Texas.

Carol’s and my internal clocks are still messed up as well as our stomachs. We keep getting up around 3 AM. Ten months in Africa does not allow a quick switch :-). Besides enjoying family and friends we have enjoyed eating a Kirby Burger at the local Seguin (Texas) burger joint Saturday, other meats at the church pot luck Sunday, cereal and milk, and delightful, warm showers :-). Our stomachs are having difficulty switching from beans,rice, and vegetables.

It was wonderful that the Lord allowed us to be here for the birth of our 4th grandchild, Vera Grace Lee. She joins her brother Ben, sister Eliza, and cousin Keira. When we booked our tickets last Christmas little Vera Grace was only seen by the Lord. We enjoyed our first weekend with all our Texas family and, later this month, we will be spending time with Josiah in Chattanooga.

Vera Grace Lee

Having fun with Ben,Keira, and Eliza

Our first Sunday back was spent with our sending church, Lifegate. Lifegate has been our church family the last 32 years. It was a great joy to report back to them and preach from RAU’s theme verses of 2 Timothy 2:2 and Acts 19:9-10.We have many precious friends and memories with our dear ones at Lifegate. We showed a short video that our friend Gary Greaves put together on RAU and its mission/vision. The rest of our Sundays in America will be with various churches and we are trying to connect with as many of friends as we can on other days.

Please be in prayer for our special friend, Kevin Turner. He is the president of Strategic World Impact. He spent five days with us at RAU during the conflict which swirled all around us between the Madi and Kuku tribes. The situation between the tribes has improved as result of many calling out to the Sovereign Lord. More information of the turmoil is at the RAU blog. After Kevin returned to the States he came down with a very bad case of malaria and has been hospitalized. The incubation time for malaria is 7-10 days and, therefore, the symptoms didn’t show up until his return to the States.

We just received a report from the Ugandan American Embassy that a case of the Marburg Virus has killed a person in Kampala and 80 people have been quarantined. The Marburg virus is similar to Ebola and transmitted by fluids and through animals like fruit bats. We go through Kampala and do business there and are a hard days drive north to our Uganda base of operations near the South Sudan border. Marburg and Ebola (Ebola is in West Africa and we are East Africa) are wicked cousins. Ebola does have the ability to be where we are…it has been in our area before. So keep the prayers going!

During our 10 months in Africa we have stayed healthy by the grace of God. In many ways, because of diet and lifestyle, we are more healthy. We do not constantly take anti-malarials prophylacticly as it would not be good for our bodies. If and when we get malaria there are treatments. Please continue in your prayers for us to stay free from malaria, and that Marburg and Ebola viruses will be contained and destroyed throughout the rest of Africa. Being in the will of God does not exempt us from getting these things and the many other nasties in the area (e.g., aids virus, sleeping sickness, stomach ailments etc.). We all are in the gracious and loving hands of our King.

What David Sitton has said is right, “Risk is right when the cause is Christ!” With the advance of the gospel there are always adversaries and trials. The Apostle Paul puts it this way, “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, AND there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:8-9 Emphasis mine). The article below on

1 Corinthians 16:8-9, which I recently read, has been an encouragement: “Kingdom Opportunities Mean Kingdom Adversities”.

Carol and I have had our first appointments with the dentist. Carol has to go back for more extensive work. We also need to get some general medical checkups.

Here are a couple of future projects we are hoping to complete after our return for which we covet your prayers:

* A short wall on the outside of the veranda with decorative ironwork above it to help protect those in the Guesthouse/Hall of Tyrannus. We saw this need when we were seeking to watch over those displaced during the recent tribal skirmish near RAU. Estimated cost:$10,000

* To switch our generator operated submersible water pump for a solar powered one which also can be run by the generator as a back up. We use a lot of water with all our guests and only more will be used as the facilities grow. Fuel costs are high and fuel is sometimes hard to obtain. This pump, as well as all panels/batteries/installation, has been estimated at $15,000+-. An additional $2000for a solar hot water system could allow us to fix the showers in the Guesthouse.

I hope we get to see many of you while we are back. We head back to R.A.U.the second week of November. We could not be doing what we are doing without you! Thank you!

Blog: www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReachingAfricasUnreached

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 name or email address)

Journey Mercies

On October 1, 2014 By Jacob LeeIn News and Status Updates

Journey Mercies

by Carol Lee

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hands have provided.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”

(From a hymn by Thomas O. Chisolm, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”)

The words to this hymn are the testimony of Jacob’s and my experience. The Lord has been merciful to us on so many occasions in our lives and in these past weeks and He has rescued us from many trials. But let it be said, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that even if we had not seen a physical rescue or had not been spared from suffering, our testimony would still be, “Great is thy faithfulness,” because the Lord has rescued us from something far worse than suffering in this life.

As Jacob already related in previous posts, we came through a rough and frightening experience at our home in Afoji as we watched violence and unrest erupt suddenly around us during a local tribal conflict. The Lord was merciful in protecting us and those in our care. Mercifully, He sent our good friend, Kevin Turner, with SWI, whose experience and expertise in war-zone areas was an extraordinarily timely encouragement and help. By God’s grace, the tribal conflict was kept from becoming a full blown, long-standing war as leaders from both sides met together to find peaceful solutions for return to normalcy. We know that the Lord worked through the thousands and thousands of earnest prayers sent up on behalf of all the people in the region of Moyo district and South Sudan.

We were grateful, as you can imagine, that the disruption of peace did not prevent our long awaited trip back to the United States to reunite with family and friends. Traveling from Moyo to Kampala (or anywhere in Uganda) has inherent dangers and discomforts. The Lord was merciful, indeed, to bring us safely to our destination in Kampala, along with our traveling companions.

In His mercy, the Lord made a way for some of our passengers to receive medical care here in Kampala, which they might not have gotten if not for the loving reach of Jesus’ arms through His Body. the people of His redeeming love.

102_6088 — Jacob with Anzo who is getting her glasses after successful cataract surgery.

102_6096 — Baby “Miracle” after first surgery (cleft lip) and now awaiting 2nd surgery (cleft palate). She has the most heart-warming smile!

Anzo returned with her father, Mindra, to have a check-up on her eyes after cataract surgery and to receive glasses which will help her as she attends school. Little baby, “Miracle,” was admitted, again, to CoRSU Hospital in Entebbe for the second part of her cleft lip/palate surgery (repair of the palate). We thank God for the mercy He has shown through you!

As it says in Isaiah 58:6-9

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

This showing of mercy is intrinsic to the message of the Gospel and must be a loving not only in word or tongue, but with actions and in truth. (I John 3:18) Reading recently in John 1, I was again refreshed by this: the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. We are acutely aware of the fact that RAU is an extension of the love and Gospel-giving commitment of our supporters and that, through you, the truth of the Gospel walks side by side with the grace that is shown to us in Christ and is seen in the lives of His people.

We are eagerly anticipating our journey to the USA to be reunited with our family and friends and to meet our newest grandchild. We are eager for times of refreshing and reconnecting with those we love and with whom we are partnered. Please pray with us for journey mercies on the next leg of the trip.