Serving the Persecuted Church in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa

Dear Mama Charlotte & Bush Mission,

“We greet you in the name of … Jesus…. Am grateful for the good works and support you give to us…. I received … Kenya Shillings [to repay what I borrowed]…. James had an accident. He went to school for holiday learning studies. While on the way home he was [hit] by a ‘boda-boda’ [motorbike]…. [The driver] ran away. A Good Samaritan helped locate James’ school. His teacher called me. We did not find the ‘boda-boda’. We thank God he is still alive. Pass our thanks to James’ sponsor [for their prayers]…. He is still undergoing treatment from Dr. Paul who X-rayed him … and says he will be well. He can stand on support but cannot walk. He is moving in a wheel chair.

“The 17 new orphans are not going to school due to lack of fees. I talked to some teachers to allow them to take exams and that is why their performance was poor. However, the two you paid fees for are in primary seven and performed well: Little Jackson [not to be confused with Big Jackson] and Zewena. So all 17 new orphans are at home since I’m unable to … pay school fees for them.

“Bulasio performed well … and has been given a vacancy at St. Janan Luwumu [High School] where he put his first choice. The School is Kampala. Bulasio got first place in his class and did very well. Little Jackson did well and was admitted to Busia Secondary School [High School]. Ziwena also did well … her choice is Dabani Girls Secondary School who called her to join. But due to no school fees, they are at home. We pray that if God can open a way they can attend. Even the younger [new] orphans are at home…. They need to join Senior One [9th grade]…. Pass our regards to the 14 sponsors and mission. We are grateful…. May our Lord bless you abundantly….”

Yours in His love and grace, Mama Josephine & Family.

CONGO. Letter and Report from Pastor Delphin.

KENYA. Letter from Pastor Patrick of Busia, with a special prayer request.

Mission Network News

January 2013

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“If we depend upon our own strength and wisdom, we would be without hope. Our hope is in You. We remember millions of Christians in these 50 countries on the World Watch List and lift them up to Your care. Thank you that Your Word is going forth even in the midst of severe oppression. We pray for Your justice, mercy and freedom to dispel the darkness of evil there. We pray for Christians who are imprisoned or questioned. Watch over them, Father, with Your peace and presence. Lift the eyes of Christians from hopelessness to the hope of Glory in You.”

In the name of Jesus, Amen. [Adapted from Open Doors]

Preparing for chilly weather and cold lost souls,

Charlotte

Hi Mami & Bush Mission,

“Greeting from the local churches of Angaim and Keberek [new church plant]. I am … on my way to Ethiopia … for the Annual Pastors’ Summit Conference. I request your help to process documents for the journey. May you help me with $100 US$? I am in Juba now…. The cost is 595 Sudanese Pounds ($135) for Birth Certificate, Ethiopian Visa, and Passport. … The family is … well. Pass my regards to fellow brethren.”

Regard, Pastor Sunlight.

Note: We sent money and he is now in Ethiopia. Pray that the Conference will be fruitful.

Dear Mom and Bush Friends,

“… Receive greetings from Loki [Kenyan/Sudan border] where we reached one hour ago from Sudan. We had bad times in Sudan but I give God the Glory for what He has done for us. For one month we were in Sudan searching for our … neighbor who was kidnapped and killed. His body was dumped in bushes near Torit [town].

“On December 4th … his wife came to my house and told me that she had not [heard] from her husband who was doing business in Sudan…. Someone called and told her [to] look for his body. We went there … and for one month we have moved from village to village. Yesterday we found him dead and his body [was] rotted. We could not carry him with us and buried him [there] ... since I were with his brother.

“… Later tonight we are travelling to Kitale, Kenya. Please pray that his family will be strengthened when they receive the sad report…. I … talked to my wife [Sylvia] and am happy to know they are well after not communicating for one month.”

God bless you, Pastor Walter

KENYA. News Flash – Somalia seeking Christian Recruits in Kenya!

“Somalia's al-Shabaab is seeking recruits from Christian tribes because the government doesn't look closely at them. If they recruit a ‘Christian,’ he gets into churches. With the increasing attacks in Kenya against churches, security measures are in force. When you are nervous about having new people in your church because they could be bombers, that affects how you reach out; that affects how you welcome visitors; that affects everything about how you conduct the service. The other side of that coin is a reckoning of your faith.” Pray for wisdom and boldness for believers in Kenya.

SOUTH SUDAN. Letter from John Kong, Program Coordinator in Unity State.

SOUTH SUDAN. RACIAL-RELIGIOUS GENOCIDE. Summary below was forwarded by Doris, a former missionary from Sudan. A longer, detailed Report is available upon request.

UGANDA. Letter from Peace Preschool, Tororo.

UGANDA. Letter from Mama Josephine of Busia. Note: we sponsor 14 of her orphans. While in Uganda I met the 17 new orphans she took in. At this time we are not able to sponsor them so pray God makes a way.

Dear Mama Charlotte & Bush Mission,

“Greetings in the name of Jesus. Please pray for upcoming elections in the nation of Kenya that there will be no bloodshed and tribal fighting – that peace shall reign and godly people be elected. This election will be held on 4 March 2013. Kenya also has a year of Jubilee this year to be celebrated on December 12th.”

Blessings, Pastor Patrick, Busia.

Prayer and Praise Report

January 2013

SOUTH SUDAN. Letter from Pastor Sunlight, one of two pastors selected to attend. What an honor!

Dear Mama Charlotte & Mission Partners,

      “Praise … Jesus for all the assistance to my ministry and family for … rent and … school fees. Please present our gratitude to the mission and prayer partners. Here is the Eden Church Ministry Report for 2012 [Note: he lists the names of church staff]. The Church contains 63 members; 18 went to South Kivu because of the war. [He gives the monthly offering for the church]. For 2012 we totaled $349 US$ in our giving.

       “The Security situation around Goma remains difficult. Rebel positions are 3 km from town. Government soldiers are not far from these positions and this makes people worry. Many people are in refugee camps and most of them are women with infants who are separated from ... their children. Often ... women are raped by [rebels].
We need prayer daily for this to stop.

         “Regarding the ‘At Risk Women’s Fund’: Last year we ... assisted more than 25 women ... through counselling, training, health care, financial help.... Most are widows, unwed mothers, women whose husbands have been ... absent for ... more than 2 years. We organised them to do small business: selling vegetables, charcoal, sugar cane, tomatoes and flour. [He lists the names of the women]. Please pray for STELLA who is very ill at the moment. We need your ... prayers to fulfil this labour for the Glory of our Lord.”

In His Love, Pastor Delphin.

KENYA. Letter from Pastor Walter who journeyed to South Sudan and risked his own life to save his kidnapped friend.

NEW CONTAINER PROJECT. Letter from the Director

Dear Friends of the Persecuted Church,

“That’s right, it’s time! With all the conflict in South Sudan with the Arab-Muslim North (read SUDAN news below); children get caught in the middle. 17% of them have lost a parent. Thus poverty and malnutrition get in the way of their education. Horror stories are reaching us of critical food shortages in areas we serve. We must be obedient and answer this urgent need by beginning another Sudan Container Project – our 6th. Half will be food for the malnourished from our Heaven Sent Ministries partner. Relief Supplies are coming in daily, even without a formal announcement! We have wonderful exciting stories about compassionate friends who went the second mile to bring supplies. We’ll share those next time.”

OPEN DOOR’S WORLD WATCH LIST. The top 15 are: North Korea (#1), Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, Yemen, Eritrea, Syria, Sudan (#13), Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia.

“Dear Lord,

In the name of Jesus, Amen. [Adapted from Open Doors]

Preparing for chilly weather and cold lost souls,

Charlotte

“The ethnic cleansing of Sudan's 'new south' (Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile) is largely complete. Due to advances in technology, this war is 'worse than Darfur'. Displaced Africans (non-Arabs) unable to reach the massively over-populated refugee camps in South Sudan have retreated to remote caves. Having destroyed their food supply, the Arab-Islamist regime is blockading all humanitarian aid and using starvation as a weapon of mass destruction. These Africans are predominantly Christian. Christianity in the Nuba Mountains dates back nearly a century to when pioneer missionaries from Sudan United Mission Australia-New Zealand planted the first church there in 1914.” Please pray for the Lord to intervene in Sudan.

Dr Mukesh Kapila, the former UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan

USA MAILBOX. What one prayer partner did to raise awareness for the Persecuted Church.

Dear Charlotte,

“You told how people in ghettos and those who live on trash heaps … [and] refugee camps, have only a single meal each day. And that some have one meal every 2-3 days. Also they rarely have any meat to eat. My reaction is that I was deeply saddened to think about brothers and sisters who have barely anything to eat….

“So I determined to eat only one meal a day for 6 months and send the equivalent for the other meals to Bush Telegraph. This I did, eating only an evening meal and little meat for … 6 months. I realize that the one meal I ate was more than my poor brothers and sisters had, with a rich share of fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Still it made me appreciate being so blessed with the food I eat, and gave me an opportunity to share a portion with those who have so little. Thank you for connecting us with those brothers and sisters….”

Love in our Lord, Terry

BushTelegraphAfrica

Dear Mama & Bush Friends,

“The security in UNITY STATE is not good. There is war in Mayom County between the two governments: South Sudan and Arab-Muslim North Sudan. The road to our medical clinic in Mayendit is ok now. [Note: it was flooded when I was there]. The problem is fighting between Rumbek State and Unity State (where we have two offices). Please pray for the fighting in South Sudan.”

Regards, John Kong

Dear Mama & Bush Mission,

“We are so thankful for the money you sent…. The preschool is doing well and we teachers are also doing well in the Lord … thanks to you and your [mission]. The orphans with us are [better] as by now there is food but we request prayer in the following: Mattresses; Medicine; and Protection against serious sickness. Pastor John tries to take them for treatment but at times there is no money as he uses it for food and transport…. Pray for them to be healthy without sickness … [and for] 3 mattresses…. Vitafoam mattresses are 36,000 shillings ($14) each.”

Teacher Apophiah, Tororo Uganda.

Dear Friends of the Persecuted Church,

Mr. Weatherman warned us recently, “Temps in Phoenix will drop below freezing for four nights in a row for the first time in 25 years – GET PREPARED!” I can almost hear my friends in Minnesota chuckling! “Why, that’s nothing!” Anyway, Michelle and I got out every spare blanket and sheet in our cozy mobile home to cover water pipes, plants and trees.

Local refugee kitties hang out on our doorstep. I worried about them. We feed these abandoned furry friends. I went a little crazy and bought a few supplies at Lowes; built an insulated kitty house; and placed it in our storage shed. Success! The shelter was packed with warm happy smiling cats (yes, they smile). I joked with a friend and said, “This house is your mission dollars at work!” Seriously, I assure you that supplies were bought with my own money.

The Big Freeze reminded me that life and faith is all about preparation – or planning ahead. God promised in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We pray that 2013 will be brim full with fresh new possibilities for you and your loved ones.

YOUR faithful prayers help us to plan ahead – to prepare for how God is going to bring hope and a future to our beloved brothers in 2013. Last year was a year of transition and expansion as we experienced the Lord's rich blessings, plans and provision. The 2012 Praise-N-Prayer Reports reflected that – because of YOU.