“Oh, Canada!” And “All Aboard For Afoji!”

On May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

By Carol Lee

Arnold, Abe, Jonathan and Rachel

We had barely said goodbye to dear friends, Wayne and Nancy Reigel, when it was time to prepare for the next group–from Canada! Here is what I posted on FaceBook after they left: “We just said goodbye to some friends from Canada who have been wonderful partners in some projects we have done–specifically boreholes (water wells) and Bibles. We laughed a lot, had deep conversations, and took them into the mountains to see several of the boreholes in remote villages…”the ends of the earth”?…seems like it! We even did our level best to work on the USA/Canada tariff and trade agreements! Mostly, we marveled at how much more we have in common in Christ, than differences that divide us. It was so much fun!!“

————–

Hill Country Fellowship TEAM

Travel List:

Pack tubs with Toys, Treats, Texas plates, Thingamajigs and more: CHECK!
Malaria Medication: CHECK!
Jerky and Protein bars: CHECK!
Walking shoes: CHECK!
Pain medicine, Blister treatment, Pepto and Electrolyte replacement: CHECK!
Camel Back Back Packs: CHECK!
Passports, tickets: CHECK!
Sense of Adventure: CHECK!

And OFF THEY GO to Afoji, Uganda!

On the heels of Team Canada was the Hill Country Fellowship Team! As you might surmise from the picture above, this one would require Multivitamins and Energy drinks! : } We received the Team (which actually combined members from 3 different churches) on April 28th after their long couple of days of flying and too little sleep. They were able to recoup a bit of that sleep on Monday afternoon–just in time for Jacob’s “boot camp” style ministry schedule!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were long, jostling days in the Metu Mountains with a good bit of walking, including the particularly treacherous climb back up the hill from Oku and Lea which Grayson (the Team Leader) affectionately named, “Oh No” Mountain! Last year, he seriously struggled to make the climb. This year, he trained hard and, if I’m not mistaken, was the first one up the hill! Who knew that preparation for a cross-cultural ministry trip required many trips to the gym?!

In each of the church plants that the team visited, each one shared some encouraging message from the word of God and took time to interact with adults and children alike. During debrief it was evident that one of the most impactful realities for the team members was the difficulty of the lives of the villagers in these very remote places. Equally, they recognized the strenuous and complex nature of the pastors’ work, not only spiritually but physically. Who knew that to be a Pastor in the Metu Mountains would require a good pair of hiking boots?

On Friday, Charles came to pick us up with his van and we headed to Yumbe for a couple of days. On Saturday, we went to Lodenga again as it is our aim to make our brothers and sisters in Christ there know they are supported and loved. This visit focused on the youth and children. Robert, Tiffany, Grayson and Esmeralda took on the youngest of the children. For the older ones, there were rotating stations where team members would encourage them spiritually, allow for Q & A and a hearty and hot (not heated) game of football (soccer). Who knew…well, actually, we ALL know how easy it is to connect to youth through sports. What was a joy to me was to see all the ladies out there, dresses and all–barefoot–getting in on the action and the fun.

After lunch and a bit of rest (this was especially appreciated by Jessup and Zach, who played football nonstop–in the heat–for several hours), we headed to a market location for our usual one-on-one interactions, a open air gospel message of Good News from Jacob and Charles and then the Jesus Film after dark. The last time we did this, Jacob and Charles got rained off the top of the Land Cruiser and we had to forego showing the Film. This time, we got started timely and were able to finish it just as raindrops started randomly falling. Thankfully, we loaded up before the rain fell heavily.

On Sunday, we headed back to Lodenga from the hotel. Our brother, Vinton, preached during the service–a great encouragement to all of us. After service we ate lunch with Charles and his family at his home and then headed back to RAU knowing that it would leave the Team a few hours to get some rest and pack before their departure on Monday morning. Who knew a week could go by so quickly?

Well, Jacob and I do, actually!

In our last debriefing on Sunday evening, we enjoyed a lively, thoughtful and productive conversation recognizing the most important truths about ourselves and the people we serve (and hope to serve): 1) each one bears the image of God; 2) everyone has something important to contribute to their own lives and the lives of people in their communities; 3) while all suffering matters, our greatest need is spiritual; and 4) poverty is more than physical and involves also spiritual, social, psychological scarcity and so our efforts must be holistic. (For insightful reading on these matters please read “Helping Without Hurting“, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, and “Helping Without Hurting in Short Term Missions” by the same authors.) Each member of the Team loved others well! I could see the appreciation in the eyes and gestures of the people with whom they interacted. They were a grand blessing in so many ways!

Following the departure of the HCF Team, Jacob and I looked forward to a slower pace before the visits of our final two teams. BUT! It has been less frenetic, yet certainly not with a measure of busyness!. As I write this, it’s just a little over a week before the Rocky Point Baptist Church Stephenville Texas (RPBC) Team arrives followed by the Forest Hills Maryland Presbyterian (PCA) Church (FHPC)Team 3 days later. Please pray for their safe and uneventful travels back and forth. Pray for Jacob’s and my strength and endurance for these busy but significant times. The RPBC teaching team will hold a retreat module for church leaders focusing on Hermeneutics (“the art and science of biblical interpretation”) and the FHPC teaching team will go through the book of Romans!! There will be some gospel “side hustles” going on too–the ladies from RPBC and I will do a 2-day teaching on Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. Jacob will take some of the young men into the Metu Mountains. A ministry trip to Yumbe will also be included in the RPBC and FHPC visit.

Not very long after our friends have departed, Jacob and I will be making our way south to Entebbe for our yearly trip to the States! While in Entebbe, we will travel into Kampala to pick up our Permanent (5-year) Resident permits. Since we have lived in Uganda now for nearly 12 years we could apply for these residence visa’s. This is a huge answer to prayer as we were unsure as to the logistics of entering back into the Uganda next October! We were hoping for at least a 10-year permit, but as was explained to us, they start with 5 year residence, then just a review and 10 year residence, then just a review Life Residence! Jacob joking said he will be just mere 84 years old when Lord willing we get permeant residency! However, I think we might be on to a better life by then (if you know what I mean : ) )

Please be in prayer for us in these coming months of activity and travel. Both Jacob and I are “feeling our age” and nothing is as easy as it used to be! Ha! Who knew getting old would require so much strength of will and perseverance? Well, all the people that have gotten old before us, I guess!

While we are gone, our Ag Demonstration Farm will continue its good work. At the moment, our biggest focus is mango grafting/seedling production in addition to seedlings of many kinds–eucalyptus, orange, cocao, avocado, jackfruit and more! Mangoes are in full production mode now and so we have many interested vendors. The sales of these and seedlings help to offset the cost of production and labor but we are no where near full sustainability without subsidization.

We are also awaiting another batch of Africa Study Bibles (ASB) which are being printed (by Oasis) in India right now. Also on the way and due to arrive May 30th are 23,760 more Pew Bibles through ChristianBook International Outreach and Crossway International! Here’s to encouraging a reading culture with the Bestseller of all time!

In all these things–Team visits, ongoing, daily (and often mundane) work at RAU, trainings, literature distribution–we appreciate you, our prayer warriors, supporters, friends and partners more than you can know! Thank you for your interest and joy in hearing our stories and seeing our pictures! We love you all so much!

Carol and Jacob

Donation Information:https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

We are grateful to be Associate Missionaries with ABWE.

Video Interview: “What does it mean to be an Associate Missionary with ABWE?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIk9-mNdWk&t=12s

34,280 More Bibles To RAU

On April 18, 2025April 19, 2025 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Yes, you read that title correctly!

We are constantly amazed at the bountiful grace of God in His provision for getting His word, the Bible, to the nations and specifically to Uganda, South Sudan, and the Republic of (North) Sudan. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

The funding for the second container of Africa Study Bibles has been successfully finalized!

I’m excited to share an update about our mission to deliver Africa Study Bibles (ASB) to RAU. We received our first shipment of 6,100 ASB’s, which marks a significant milestone in our journey! The second shipment of 10,520 ASBs needed $82,685 in funding, a goal that seemed daunting at first. However, thanks to our generous donors, the remaining balance is now $0! Praise God, and thank you to everyone who has prayed and contributed to getting these 10,520 ASB’s to Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). We are also grateful for Oasis Publishing and Christianbook International Outreach for their partnership in this endeavor. They are currently being printed and will be shipped as soon as printing is complete! This means through God’s grace and the sacrificial love of His people, Reaching Africa’s Unreached, we will have received 16,620 Africa Study Bibles, which are primarily for church leaders! These leaders play a crucial role in guiding and mentoring their congregations, and with these resources, they will be better equipped to share the teachings and messages of the Bible. You can read more about the Africa Study Bible here: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/23040-africa-study-bibles-to-r-a-u/

RAU’s primary mission and vision is walking out our calling found in 2 Timothy 2:2, which emphasizes the importance of faithful teaching and mentorship. One of several means of accomplishing this is by placing Study Bibles and doctrinally sound Christian books into the hands of church leaders, empowering them in the first-tier fundamental truths of the Christian faith. RAU has on its campus four 40-foot covered shelved containers as a means of keeping these Bibles and books safe and available for distribution. By equipping leaders with solid theological resources, we ensure that the teachings of Christ are rooted deeply in biblical truths and can be shared accurately. Education in Uganda is conducted in English from the primary (elementary) level through university, which means that English is widely read and spoken across the nation, facilitating communication and the growth of spiritual knowledge. This linguistic advantage is also true among Sudanese we work with, though at a lesser level. To learn more about how we articulate and envision our mission, you can read RAU’s Mission Vision Statements here: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/ .

“The printed page is a missionary that can go anywhere and do so at minimum cost. It enters closed lands and reaches all strata of society. It does not grow weary. It needs no furlough. It lives longer than any missionary. It never gets ill. It penetrates through the mind to the heart and conscience. It has and is producing results everywhere. It has often lain dormant yet retained its life and bloomed years later.” Missionary Samuel Marinus Zwemer 1867– 1952

23,760 ESV Pew Bibles due to arrive, Lord willing May 30th

We were thankful to have received 20,000 ESV paperback pew Bibles in August 2024 from Christianbook International Outreach and Crossway International. By February 2025 they were distributed primarily to secondary students and church members who could read English. All secondary students must have an English Bible, but many in our community cannot afford one, emphasizing our opportunity to share God’s Word. We also used these Pew Bibles in our evangelistic efforts. Excitingly, another 23,760 are expected on May 30th from the same organizations. RAU is grateful for the chance to distribute these Bibles to Ugandans and Sudanese and will handle them as responsibly as the first shipment.

It is our conviction from our long-term experience in the field that it is unhealthy to give things, even Bibles, for free without something small coming from each one’s pocket. Everyone has something small that can be given. The principle being we spend on what we think is important. When giving/sending out bibles we gather names, contact numbers, and the church where they are members. Sadly, even after doing this, we have known and caught pastors and bishops getting Bibles from us and becoming hawkers of them, selling them to bookshops and to others at a high price.

We at RAU want to always work in partnership and not contribute to a dependency attitude. That is not to say there are special times/circumstances when the Bibles and books are given out freely. A great resource that has helped guide us in this is Helping Without Hurting in Africa. We have had two modules in RAU’s Hall of Tyrannus using this book with church leaders. They each received certificate from the Chalmers Institute. Pray that we have God’s wisdom in distributing the above resources for God’s glory, the strengthening and maturation of the church, and in our evangelistic efforts.

Wayne and Nancy Reigel from Kentucky were with us 5 weeks

From Carol: “We met Wayne and Nancy Reigel “by chance” at the airport in Arua Uganda in 2019 and immediately hit it off. A sweet move of Providence. Sweeter still, we found out that they live in Louisville, KY where we traveled once a year to meet some other dear friends. Wayne and Nancy had, to that point, been traveling to Sudan (which eventually became South Sudan) since 2009 for short term ministry trips. Their goal was the same as ours—to see others come to know and love Jesus and then grow deeply in their faith while also faithfully calling others to believe. Due to COVID-19 as well as other circumstances, they were not able to return to Uganda/South Sudan—until 2025!

“This year, Wayne and Nancy came specifically to visit us—for more than a few days or a week. They spent 5 weeks with us (minus a day) and every single one of those days and weeks turned out to be fruitful for RAU and for Jacob and me, personally. Wayne, a retired pilot and wonderful mechanic and all around handy-man, woke up early and worked late, fixing stubborn machinery and finding creative ways to expertly repair things that were broken or inefficient. Wayne: 1000—unfixables: 0 (batting a 1000)!!! I have never met anyone else who matches Jacob in his work ethic. Those guys are two hat-wearing, go-get-em, work machines. I told some of our co-workers that “Jacob has found his twin”—and they heartily agreed! Nancy worked tirelessly behind the scenes organizing resources, cleaning apartments, cooking and learning new recipes to satisfy hungry tastebuds. We all especially loved the bread which she learned to make (using the limited pots and pans available). Almost every evening, we shared a meal together with them, enjoyed deep and laughter-filled conversations and often watched an episode of “Dispatches from the Front” which gave us a window into the work of Christ in building His church around the world, or a short video on the life of some great Christian. What a blessing.

“During their visit, we had several outreaches—into the Metu Mountains—where Wayne preached (at Ijujo Baptist Church and Arapi/Gbari Community Church). He and Nancy also gave words of encouragement to several other churches deep in valley villages (Oyo and Duku). We took them to Yumbe where we worshiped with the believers in a rural area and where both Jacob and Wayne either preached or gave a message of encouragement to eager listeners. In the evening, Wayne and Nancy experienced and were able to participate in an open air on Market Day in a nearby village. Jacob’s top-of-Land Cruiser preaching was cut only a little short by heavy rain, but it did shut down the plan to show the Jesus Film which is always well attended. There were some sweet moments of connection with the many children and adults huddled inside a shelter as the rain poured down. Though the rain disorganized the roads a bit, it was no match for the Land Cruiser! On another visit to Yumbe some days later, Wayne and Jacob joined our friend, Charles, to talk over plans to work more closely with him and other believers to strengthen the church which has been unsettled by opposition.

“There was a tangible empty space left by their departure. What has filled up that space a little is expectation of their plan to be back next year for TWO months! (March and April) AND they hope to be able to make that a yearly part of their “retirement” plans! Jacob and I seem to be “running into” more couples who, rather than be put on the shelf in their “winter season”, are choosing to use their training and wisdom to build up the Church and serve Christ will all their energy. Wayne and Nancy are one of the answers to our many prayers for others to come under the yoke and bear the load with us.”

Grafted Mango Harvest in Progress

Currently, we are in the full swing of mango season. Many of RAU’s grafted mangoes are heading as far south as Kampala and as far north as Juba, along with many places in between. Also, many seedlings, e.g., grafted mangoes, avocado, jackfruit, orange, tangerine, eucalyptus, and umbrella, were all potted by our RAU staff. R.A.U. is working to equip pastors and their congregations through agricultural development strategies. R.A.U.’s 25.5-acre compound serves as a demo plot for numerous agricultural projects. We have also been bringing members of the community to RAU for both day and multi-day training in agriculture, business planning, and entrepreneurship. You can read more and see many pictures at RAU’s mercy ministry page: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/agriculture-project/

2 Timothy 2:2 being walked out in the Bidibidi Refugee Resettlement Camp

Joshua Abraham with students in the Bidibidi refugee resettlement camp. Here he is with one of two groups for the 2025 year. He took two groups through in 2023 and one in 2024. Their first book study was *Nine Marks of a Healthy Church* by Mark Dever. They will be using their Africa Study Bible throughout the year. Graduations are held in December. In the video below is more information on how Joshua is walking out 2 Timothy 2:2 in the Bidibidi refugee camp.

Upcoming ministry events we request prayer for:

April 28-30: A team from Canada led by friend Arnold Reimer. We will spend most of our time in the Metu Mountains looking at boreholes (water wells) they have helped RAU put in.
April 28 – May 5: Ministry team from supporting church Hill Country Fellowship, Burnet, Texas. Their focus of ministry will be in the Metu Mountains, Moyo Sub-County, and Yumbe District, bringing encouragement to churches and children’s ministry. The team will also participate in evangelism at a Yumbe market center.
May 23-June 4th: Ministry team from supporting church Rocky Point Baptist, Stephenville, Texas. They will lead a Monday-Friday module on hermeneutics in RAU Hall of Tyrannus using Robert Plummer’s book 40 Questions on Biblical Interpretation (Second Edition). The ladies will hold training for women in the local church on the biblical view of suffering. The single young men will help in the module and be involved in evangelism in the Metu Mountains. The team will also participate in evangelism at a Yumbe market center.
June 8-17: Ministry team from supporting church Forest Hill Presbyterian (PCA). They will a lead a Monday-Saturday module on Romans in RAU Hall of Tyrannus using Tim Keller’s Two Volume Romans For You. Youth will be involved with ministering the gospel in schools. A couple days will also be spent ministering in Metu Mountain churches.

Special Prayer Need

Please continue to pray that we would soon be granted our Permanent Resident permits. We are able to apply for this status because of the length of time we have been living in Uganda. The application was made in December 2024, but this is a special process requiring a special committee to sit and review the application, and it’s taking longer than we expected. Currently, we are renewing tourist visas at our nearby border checkpoint with South Sudan every 3 months until we, Lord willing, receive 10-year permanent permits.

One of the main ministry tools is being able to show the “Jesus Film” in the local language from atop the Land Cruiser after our open-air preaching in Yumbe Aringa market centers. Our projector has spoiled. A friend has found a high-quality laser projector for $3000 and a team in May the Rocky Point Baptist team could bring it to us. If any of you would be willing to contribute to it, it would be much appreciated. Just go to our donor page and write in the note: “Laser Projector.” Thank you!

Let me end with this, “…What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes….” (James 4:14). With my gray hair increasing and with more aches and pains each day I realize more and more my “mist” is a lot thinner these days! When I think on this and also the fact that I must give an account of my life in Christ to my maker and redeemer ( 2 Cor. 5:10), and that His great love is given to me each and every moment, my choices for this day and my limited days (Ps. 39:4) are much much easier. May it be so with you as well!

Gratefully,

Jacob and Carol Lee

Donation Information:https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

Carol and I are grateful to be Associate Missionaries with ABWE.

Video Interview: “What does it mean to be an Associate Missionary with ABWE?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIk9-mNdWk&t=12s

Update Via New Videos

On February 28, 2025March 17, 2025 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

March 5, 2025 Africa Study Bible Update

Great news from our end! I’m thrilled to share an update about our determined mission to deliver 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) to RAU. As may know, we’ve received our first shipment of 6,100 ASBs! The second shipment of 10,520 ASBs had a funding requirement of $82,685. Thanks to generous donations the remaining balance for this second of three shipments is down to $18,247.19! Praise the Lord for His provision! Let’s keep our hearts united in prayer, steadfast in belief, and joyfully anticipate the arrival of these Bibles by faith.Would you consider joining us in this noble endeavor to eliminate this balance completely? For more information about how to give please us here:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

———————————-

A Update Via Videos: What Has Been Happening at Reaching Africa’s Unreached.

Before I share the videos, let me provide a quick update on our trip to Entebbe for Carol’s appointment with the heart specialist. We left on Monday, Feb. 24th; she had her appointment on the 25th, and we returned to RAU on the 26th.

Here is an update from Carol in her own words on her cardiology consult:

“Thanks to all of you for your prayers and concern and expressed love! I was able to see a cardiologist in a very nicely run private Catholic hospital in Entebbe. I was out of there in about 2 hours—a little less.

Basically, I have some “benign” ectopic beats (premature ventricular contractions) most often caused by excessive caffeine (which I don’t do) or lack of good sleep (likely a contributing factor) or other stresses like dehydration or electrolyte imbalances or…(likely contributing factors). An occasional one is typically not noticed, but I was having them so often that I was feeling symptomatic.

I had an ECG—EKG—done and it confirmed what my handy-dandy little ECG machine recorded. The doctor was not concerned and reported the ectopic beats as not worrisome, but put me on a small dose of beta-blocker for two months (as a measure for symptom management) after which I will be reviewed. If all is well or nothing else develops, he expects to leave me off of the medication.

It was a reassuring experience and outcome and great to know that I am in some very capable hands here in Uganda. It’s too bad we live so far away. On the other hand, this little get away has been a de-stressor and very enjoyable.”

One: Flying by Reaching Africa’s Unreached

On our return flight to Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU) from Kajjansi via MAF to Moyo’s grass strip (after Carol’s appointment), we were able to see RAU from above, a breathtaking view that reminded us of the mission we’re on. As we passed around RAU, I was reminded of the many who sacrificed in helping us get this piece of Ugandan bush, just a couple of kilometers from South Sudan. Clearing began in 2013 when Carol and I moved here. It has been transformed into a place to walk out 2 Timothy 2:2 through Bible training modules designed to equip church leaders. We have been enabled by God’s grace to establish a distribution center for Study Bibles, Bibles, and Christian literature, ensuring that the church leaders and churches have access to essential materials for spiritual growth. Additionally, through God and His loving people, we are using this transformed bush as a demonstration farm for churches and the community for economic empowerment, illustrating sustainable agricultural practices, especially in all aspects of grafted mangoes, and by providing hands-on training.

Two: “Readers are Leaders; Leaders are Readers”

We are overflowing with joy! A remarkable shipment of 196 boxes filled with various biblically sound Christian books arrived at Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). Once again, we are grateful to our steadfast partner, Christianbook International Outreach, for their unwavering support in delivering doctrinally sound Christian literature to RAU. Our mission is rooted in 2 Timothy 2:2, as we strive to walk alongside our dear Ugandan and Sudanese brothers and sisters in Christ. Offering biblically sound Christian books and Study Bibles is just one of the incredible ways we embrace this calling! We humbly ask for your continued prayers for Reaching Africa’s Unreached. Thank you from the depths of our hearts!

“The printed page is a missionary that can go anywhere and do so at minimum cost. It enters closed lands and reaches all strata of society. It does not grow weary. It needs no furlough. It lives longer than any missionary. It never gets ill. It penetrates through the mind to the heart and conscience. It has and is producing results everywhere. It has often lain dormant yet retained its life and bloomed years later.” Missionary Samuel Marinus Zwemer ( 1867– 1952).

Three: Economic Empowerment through Grafted Mangoes in NW Uganda

Take a walk with me through Reaching Africa’s Unreached Grafted Mango Orchard located in Uganda, just a couple of kilometers from the South Sudan border. The current MAJOR focus agriculturally of Reaching Africa’s Unreached in showing Christ’s love is to promote and teach how to grow and care for grafted mangoes, to serve as a means of economic empowerment for the church and community. We are dedicated to offering comprehensive training in grafting techniques, ensuring individuals and families have the necessary skills to cultivate these trees successfully. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of proper care for the mangoes throughout their growth cycle, utilizing RAU’s 25.5 acres as a demonstration site where hands-on learning and practical engagement can occur. This initiative not only aims to enhance agricultural knowledge but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among participants, reinforcing the values of stewardship and love for one another as we cultivate both the land and relationships.

Four: Tree Removal Part One and Two

Most missionary work often boils down to the relentless grind of “plodding” through mundane tasks to keep the wheels turning. One of my goals? Handing over a campus that’s not just functional but “well-oiloed” in terms of maintenance issues. Take the video above, for instance, as a prime exhibit of that tedious plodding. One of the beautiful truths which came out of the Reformation is that all work aiming for God’s glory is “spiritual“. These two video follows the one showcasing the reception of over 6,000+ Africa Study Bibles? Such sequencing is no mere coincidence :-). The application in the second video that comes to mind is: This is how the Body of Christ should work together to get the gospel out to the nations! Thank you to our many support us in ALL the work God has call us to do here along the Uganda/South Sudan border!

Five: Africa Study Bibles Arriving

Latest Update:

The long-awaited first installment of over 6,100 of the 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) has finally arrived, and we are joyful! Great news from our end! The second shipment of 10,520 ASBs had a funding requirement of $82,685. Thanks to generous donations the remaining balance for this second of three shipments is down to $23,880! Praise the Lord for His provision! Please keep praying as we anticipate the arrival of these Bibles by faith. Would you consider joining us in this noble endeavor to eliminate this balance completely?

Discover more about the ASB here: https://reachingafricasunreached.org/20040-africa-study-bibles-to-r-a-u/

Will you join us in prayer and consider how you can help us secure the additional funds for the second shipment of Africa Study Bibles? Information on how you can give is here:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

Many more short videos which date back to 2013 may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@jacoblee2082/videos

Points for prayer for upcoming events:

1). Prayer for Carol’s continual health–mine too please. We both are “feeling” our age.

2) Rejoicing for the funds that came in replace Duku’s borehole (water well) with new stainless steel pipes.

3) Pray for a team of seven Mississippi Baptist church leaders led by David Williams who will be with us March 6th to 13th for ministry. Both in the Metu Mountains and Yumbe district, they will be teaching on “What Is the Gospel?” using Greg Gilbert’s book as the outline.

4) Please pray for God to touch people’s hearts to give for the remaining $23,880 for the second of three shipments of 10,520 Africa Study Bibles (ASB). Please consider helping bring this second load of ASBs to RAU.

5) On March 14th, dear friends Wayne and Nancy Reigel, who are our agemates, will join us for about a month. Carol and I look forward to spending time with them in ministry and fellowship.

6) Please pray that we would soon be granted our Permanent Resident permits. We are able to apply for this status because of the length of time we have been living in Uganda. The application was made in December 2024, but this is a special process requiring a special committee to sit and review the application, and it’s taking longer than we expected. Currently, we are renewing tourist visas at our nearby border checkpoint with South Sudan every 3 months until we can receive the other permits.

And lastly, Carol and I are GREATLY rejoicing over our 10th grandchild, Silas Henri Lee, born on February 4th.

Praise the Lord!

What we do now in the Lord and for Him will have an eternal impact for His praise and honor; all else is fleeting!

May God’s blessing in and through Christ Jesus flow to you and your family throughout 2025! We are very thankful for your prayers, encouragement and sacrificial gifts which keep us pushing forward for the glory and fame of our King and Savior Jesus!

RAU Donation page information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

Gratefully,

Jacob and Carol Lee

RAU Mission and Vision Statements:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/

RAU Blog posts full of Carol’s pictures:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/

RAU Mercy Ministry Page:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/agriculture-project/

RAU”s YouTube Video Page:

https://www.youtube.com/@jacoblee2082/videos

RAU Donation page information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations

Carol and I are grateful to be Associate Missionaries with ABWE.

Video Interview: “What does it mean to be an Associate Missionary with ABWE?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIk9-mNdWk&t=12s

New Year Beginnings at Reaching Africa’s Unreached

On February 7, 2025February 21, 2025 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

Life is not merely a fleeting vacation but an exhilarating short-term mission trip, filled with purpose and endless possibilities in and for Jesus!

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

We thank God for the ministry opportunities He has given us in early 2025. Let me start with the latest ministry events and go back to the beginning of the new year.

The long-awaited first installment of over 6,120 of the 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) has finally arrived, and our hearts are overflowing with joy! We give all praise to God for this remarkable milestone! To date, we’ve raised an astounding $200,000. Our generous supporters through Oasis International, the publisher, have blessed us with $50,000, and the incredible donors from ChristianBook International Outreach have matched that gift with another $50,000, while RAU, through its beloved donors, has stepped in with an extraordinary $100,000! Despite the shifts in pricing since we first sought the Lord’s guidance to ignite hearts for these essential study Bibles, our mission remains unwavering. We are looking to God and HIS people to raise an additional $127,000 needed to bring all 23,040 copies to RAU. Because of the large donations from Oasis and ChristianBook International Outreach, the total for RAU is $227,000 with $100,000 already raised. This means the price for one Africa Study Bible for RAU donors is an incredible $9.85 for an Africa Study Bible. This includes all the shipping by container and ground transport to RAU! The primary recipients of this ASB will be church leaders who are well versed in English. If God blesses us with more dollars than needed for the ASBs, we commit to use the excess funds for local language Bibles or “Following Jesus: African Journey through the Book of Luke”. Discover more about the ASB here.

Will you join us in prayer and consider how you can help us secure the additional funds??? Please feel free to pass this on to your friends and churches who may be interested in helping.

February 13,2025 Update

Great news from our end! I’m thrilled to share an update about our determined mission to deliver 23,040 Africa Study Bibles (ASB) to RAU. As may know, we’ve received our first shipment of 6,120 ASBs! The second shipment of 10,520 ASBs had a funding requirement of $82,685. Thanks to generous donations the remaining balance for this second of three shipments is down to $23,880! Praise the Lord for His provision! Let’s keep our hearts united in prayer, steadfast in belief, and joyfully anticipate the arrival of these Bibles by faith.
Would you consider joining us in this noble endeavor to eliminate this balance completely?

Donation Information–> https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

January 2024 and January 2025

On a related note, we are grateful to share that the 20,000 ESV paperback pew Bibles provided by Christianbook International Outreach (CIO) this past August have been successfully distributed. These precious Bibles have primarily reached students and church members who are proficient in English. As we’ve noted in previous newsletters, education in Uganda, from primary to university level, is conducted in English. Sadly, many in our community cannot afford a Bible, which highlights the incredible opportunity we have to share the Word of God. Furthermore, we are very grateful that CIO has committed to sending another 20,000 ESV paperback pew Bibles! What a wonderful blessing—thank you, CIO, and thank you, Jehovah!

Students with ESV Pew Bibles

All the French Bibles that Christianbook-International Outreach (CIO) generously sent us have finally arrived in the Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for church leaders and members. We are incredibly grateful. This is one of the boxes below. It reveals the challenging journey these Bibles endured! They are now in the hands of our Congolese brother and friend, who trained alongside us at RAU and is currently serving in Northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. We give thanks to God for Samuel Misengile, who truly embodies 2 Timothy 2:2 in the DRC, and we are thankful for the support from CIO!

French Bibles for the Democratic Republic of Congo

On January 27th, we welcomed Steve Chew and Claude Durepo from Valley Bible Church Pleasanton California through MAF. They started their journey back to California from RAU on January 31st. The 28th-30th were filled with ministry. Claude and Steve were an encouragement to Carol and me as well as to our Aringa and Ma’di brothers and sisters in Christ.

Steve and Claude from Valley Bible Church

Monday, the 27th, we gave them a tour of the RAU campus and demo farm, shared about RAU’s primary vision and mission, and had refreshing fellowship over a meal that Carol had cooked. We first met Steve and Claude in 2022 when we visited Valley Bible Church (VBC), so it was great to catch up. Both Steve and Claude are on the VBC mission committee and came with the expressed purpose of seeing on the ground what RAU is doing, and then going back to VBC to give a report on how they can pray for RAU and us, and explore possible ways of support. Carol and I are so very grateful for cross-cultural, mission-minded churches like VBC!

With some of the Lodenga Church of Uganda members on a very hot Wednesday

We had an impactful day in Yumbe on Wednesday the 28th, actively ministering in a rural church located in Lodenga, Yumbe District, alongside our Aringa brothers and sisters in Christ. The church is notably surrounded by fervent Muslims. Several elder members recounted the remarkable story of how their church was founded during the era of Idi Amin, who originated from the nearby district. They candidly shared the many struggles and persecution they have faced over the years. Interestingly, prior to our arrival, the local Muslims had learned about our visit and convened a meeting right at the boundary of the church. I approached them with Charles, Carol, Steve, and Claude, greeting them in a warm local manner, engaging in conversation, and distributed our dual language gospel tracts. Carol has a special ability to connect with the women and she did with these women!

After a short and friendly exchange, two Muslim Clerics from foreign countries arrived as we were ending conversations to head back to our own meeting. There was a tangible difference in mood. Carol extended her hand to greet them, as is the common practice among all Aringa (even with Aringa Muslim men), but the greeting was not received. Instead, the foreigners used this opportunity to explain that men should only greet men and women greet only women. It was almost as if “the Pharisees” had arrived.

An earlier date at a Muslim friend’s home in Yumbe town.

We then returned to the Lodenga church for our meeting, where Steve and Claude offered heartfelt words of encouragement. I had the privilege of sharing insights from 1 Peter 3:13-18, all while the loudspeakers from our Muslim neighbors sounded in our ears. Afterward, we enjoyed a lovely meal with our church family. Following the meal, we made our way to the home of our dear friend and co-worker, Onduga Charles, an Aringa, who generously shared more about the rich history of the Aringa church—its growth, the challenges they’ve faced, and the inspiring vision he and RAU have for its future. Together, we are united in prayer and purpose, striving to lift the Aringa out of the “unreached category” through dedicated gospel proclamation and the walking out of 2 Timothy 2:2 more and more on the ground, long-term in Yumbe District! This is my new nickname for Charles, my Aringa Macedonian man.

Upon returning home from Yumbe, my Macedonia man, shared a stirring report he received from one of the church elders of Lodenga! He shared how, after our departure, the two foreign “Muslim clerics” approached the church after encircling the church while reciting incantations. With brashness, they demanded that church leaders and the Christians there to convert to Islam, threatening to do everything in their power to extinguish the church’s presence if they did not! The church elder has reported this to the Yumbe police. After fervent prayer and counsel with Charles and the courageous elders of Lodenga, we “concluded” (see Acts 16:10) to return to Lodenga in the upcoming weekend. The Spirit has stirred the hearts of five other local churches to unite with us! We will delve into Scripture, exploring what the Word says to those enduring persecution and suffering for their faith and also study Jesus story of the unforgiving servant. As evening falls, I will preach from the roof of my Land Cruiser, my beloved pulpit, in a nearby football (soccer) field! When it is dark, we’ll share the Jesus film in Aringa, spreading the light of Jesus through the book of Luke. Then, on Sunday morning, we will lift our voices in jubilant worship with the six churches and hear the Word proclaimed. I will be bringing Bibles and Christian literature to strengthen the churches. Please fervently pray for us during this pivotal time, for what Satan has intended for evil, God has transformed into a powerful gathering of His church in praise and worship!

With news from home on the 29th, I woke up to this: my brother and sister found my second youngest brother Jeff dead at his home. He seemed to have died while taking a nap…beside him was an open Bible. I have now lost my two of my three brothers and mom while living in Uganda. I am grateful that all three were believers. I take great comfort in that.

Later in the morning on the 29th, we entered the northern section of the nearby remote area of the Metu Mountains with Steve and Claude, along with Pastor Henry and Tiondi, who are RAU co-workers. After meeting and picking up our Metu Mountain coordinator, Pastor Tobious, we visited three church plants. These churches were planted in conjunction with Aya Baptist Church from 2016-2017. Then, on the 30th, we visited four separate churches in the southern section of the Metu Mountains. Both days involved walking beyond where the Land Cruiser could go. The 30th had us going into the pristine Oku/Lea valley. The climb back up the hills is very, very steep and rugged. It is getting harder and harder for these 69-plus-year-old legs to make that walk–“but God” continues to give the strength. These hills really put the Land Cruiser to the test as well. Without it, it would be difficult to get to these locations.

Video of the Land Crusier on a Metu Mountain road: https://www.facebook.com/steve.chew.33/videos/1110044827468776

Pray for the Land Crusier to keep us going with the gospel. You gifts help us keep this gospel machine going!

Steve and Claude offered words of encouragement and shared insights from the Bible in each Metu Mountain church we visited. I also shared short messages from the Word of God in each church. One of RAU’s core convictions is that we are here to work alongside local churches in our evangelism, church planting, and discipleship, never in isolation from them.

We have witnessed numerous new births and baptisms. Despite being asked on many occasions, I abstain from performing baptisms. I firmly believe that this public confession of faith should take place within the context of the local church’s vibrant life. However, I do have the privilege of preaching at water banks, which is a significant opportunity.

Shortly after the Lord birthed the Cinyi Community Church deep in the remote Metu Mountains 9 years ago, I went to see where the Cinyi community members were getting their water. It was important as there were so many health issues, especially among the children. When I saw where they were getting the water, I even wondered why there were not more illnesses.

Soon thereafter, the Lord opened a way for us to find water and drill a well. Since then, they have had clean water, and they have maintained the borehole. The health of the community changed drastically, and the door was opened more for Gospel proclamation. However, when I visited the church in December 2024, the elders informed me that the pipes were pulled, and many holes were found. They were told it was because of the iron in the water. The many times I drank from it, I could taste it but did not think much of it. So they were back at the hole collecting water…

Praise God for the loving donors who gave to RAU. Stainless steel pipes have now been installed and Cinyi church and community started enjoying clean water on News Years Day! Steve and Claude were able to drink from it! By God’s grace through his loving people RAU has put in 25 boreholes( water wells) in places lacking clean water.

Carol has been working very hard with Caesar translating ABWE’s Good Soil “Story of Hope” into Ma’di. “The Message of Hope” has already been translated into Aringa. Madi and Aringa are the two main language groups we work with. There are many other language groups that we work with, but Ma’di and Aringa are the ones we work with the most. Please pray for her and Caesar.

I had the opportunity in January to teach at two youth conferences. One was in Yumbe town at Pilgrim Church with Aringa youth, and the other in a smaller church in our nearby Fodia with Ma’di youth. In Yumbe, I had the morning and afternoon in one of their five days. In Fodia, I had one session two days later. Each attendee in both conferences received an ESV Pew Bible and The Epic Story of the Bible by Greg Gilbert. In addition, in Yumbe, they received Good Soil/ABWE Message of Hope in Aringa and English, and dual language Aringa-English tracts. What a joy to be with these young Aringa and Ma’di who are on fire for Jesus!

Through your heartfelt prayers, generous gifts, and unwavering monthly support, we wholeheartedly pledge to be faithful stewards of your incredible generosity. We especially appreciate every bit of increased monthly support! My (Jacob’s) transformative first journey to our current home took place in March 2007, and Carol’s and my permanent relocation in July 2013 marked the beginning of our journey as cross-cultural gospel workers. As long-term, on-the-ground missionaries, we have witnessed the Lord open countless doors, revealing the numerous possibilities for spreading love and hope.

A special note: A friend and pastor is requesting we sell one of our RAU older bodas (motorcycles) to him. We can replace the one we sell with a new boda for around $1,200. We use a boda to acquire things locally instead of taking the Land Cruiser. If anyone would like to give towards this we would be grateful.

Special Prayer Request: We are in the process of obtaining a 10-work permit or, if God wills, a permanent residence status. The latter is what we are hoping for. We can make this kind of application because of the number of years we have been working in Uganda.

A final note. Most missionary work often boils down to the relentless grind of “plodding” through mundane tasks to keep the wheels turning. One of Carol’s and my goals? Handing over a campus that’s not just functional but smoothly functioning in terms of maintenance issues. Take this video, for instance, a prime exhibit of that tedious plodding. One of the beautiful truths which came out of the Reformation is that all work done for God’s glory is “spiritual”.
Isn’t it interesting that this video follows the one showcasing the reception of over 6,000+ Africa Study Bibles and other ministry endeavors? Such sequencing is no mere coincidence.

Thank you to our supporters for coming alongside us !

What we do now in the Lord and for Him will have an eternal impact for His praise and honor; all else is fleeting!

RAU Donation page information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

Gratefully,

Jacob and Carol Lee

RAU Mission and Vision Statements:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/

RAU Blog posts full of Carol’s pictures:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/

RAU Mercy Ministry Page:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/agriculture-project/

RAU”s YouTube Video Page:

https://www.youtube.com/@jacoblee2082/videos

RAU Donation page information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations

Carol and I are grateful to be Associate Missionaries with ABWE.

Video Interview: “What does it mean to be an Associate Missionary with ABWE?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NIk9-mNdWk&t=12s

May God’s Blessings Flow to You in 2025

On December 28, 2024December 29, 2024 By Jacob LeeIn Uncategorized

I know that you likely receive many requests for donations at this time of year, as do I. If you are considering making an end-of-year gift, I would be deeply grateful if you would prayerfully consider Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU).

Continuing in 2025, we remain committed, by God’s grace, to our core mission: training faithful Ugandan and Sudanese church leaders at RAU’s Hall of Tyrannus, who will then teach others in their local churches. We will continue to equip church leaders with resources like the AFRICA STUDY BIBLE and other biblically sound books, and, by God’s grace, we will continue to provide pew bibles to church members, students, and new believers.

We will also, by God’s grace, continue our evangelism and church planting in partnership with local churches, reaching out to least-reached areas like the Metu Mountains and unreached people groups (like the nearby Aringa), and Sudanese in the refugee resettlement camps and in South Sudan.

Additionally, we hope to partner with Jinja Ugandan, “Hope Smiles”, to establish a larger dental clinic in 2025, provide grafted mango empowerment, and bring clean water to rural areas that are difficult to access and often overlooked.

Through your prayers, end-of-year gifts, and monthly support, we pledge to be faithful stewards of your generosity. My (Jacob’s) first trip to where we live now was in March 2007. Carol’s and my permanent move was July 2013. As long-term, on-the-ground missionaries, we have seen the Lord open many doors.

What we do now in the Lord and for Him will have an eternal impact for His praise and honor; all else is fleeting!

May God’s blessing in and through Christ Jesus flow to you and your family in 2025! We are very thankful for your prayers, encouragement and sacrificial gifts which keep us pushing forward for the glory and fame of our King and Savior Jesus!

RAU Donation page information:

https://reachingafricasunreached.org/donations/

Gratefully,

Jacob and Carol Lee