July 2016

KENYA

Pastor Patrick is tutoring two of his orphans.

Dear Mama & Bush Mission,

“… Abby (my orphan) began tutoring Emmanuel in English and Swahili, his weak subjects. We believe he will do better. Even Neriah (girl orphan) has a problem learning. She is slow in everything. I told John (my orphan) to

tutor her too. The problem is that we have no text books. If they do not perform well, I’ll find a private tutor.”

Blessings, Pastor Patrick

[Note: we sent extra money for books plus the normal support.]

The children in Rwanda will love the flip-flops, Mike and Kathy

USA. From the Mailbox

A letter from Sharon who home-schools her grandchildren and inspired one to sew.

Dear Bush Telegraph Friends & Charlotte,

“I told my granddaughter, Jocelyn, that I would teach her how to make dresses from pillowcases and send them to a mission … where they are needed. Would you let us know where these could be sent and be used by small girls? Thank you for your Bush Telegraph. We do remember you and the ministry in prayer.”

In Christ, Sharon

[Note: PTL! Jocelyn have the dresses to BTM for AFRICA.]

Rev. Stephen is the tall one on the left

SUDAN

Rev. Stephen tells sad stories of pastors known to our mission due to war.

Dear Fathers, Mothers, Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

“Many pastors you know were killed in the war; some died of heart attacks; and their children suffer.

* Rev Chany was killed in Bentiu, May 2014. He has … 4 girls and 2

boys. They’re at Kakuma Camp.
* Rev Peter Gatluak died in Juba Hospital. We suspect he was

poisoned. He left …2 sons and 2 daughters. They are at Juba Refugee

Camp since March 2015.
* Rev John Chol, former Moderator of the Church, died in July 2011 of

heart attack. He left 9 children: 4 are big; 5 are still young. He has 5

girls and 4 boys.
* Rev Gabriel Biel died of a sickness in 2009 and has 2 young

daughters and 1 young son.
* Assistance of Pastors and children in South Western Upper Nile

Presbytery in Leer. They are really suffering and need help as soon as

possible. Two other pastors also died in the war.
* The Leer pastors and church leaders need Sunday preaching clothes

[suits]. There are 27 pastors….”

Thank you and God bless you, Rev Stephen, Moderator SWUNP, Leer.

[Note: After praying we believed the greatest need was LEER. We struggled to send US dollars to Rev. Stephen for food. Due to inflation we could not send money the usual ways. A Sudanese Pound doesn’t go far now: $1 = 40 pounds. Today we received word that the money finally went through ‘bank-to-bank’. Now Rev. Stephen can proceed with the plan to buy food for LEER. Also, the prayer for 27 suits was answered through Marcia. In the history of our mission we’ve never been given so many suits. Thank you for praying and giving.]

“The Sudanese will raise their hands in prayer to God.”

[Psalm 68:31b]

Marcia, pastors in Leer, Sudan, say thank you for the suits

IDP's await food

Another 4th of July favorite was Grandma Power’s scrumptiously delicious fried chicken. “The recipe came from your Great Grandmother Sanders - her family arrived in a covered wagon - settled in Arizona before it was a state. She never wrote down any recipes - used a pinch of this, a blob of that.”

Why, this recipe has been around for over a hundred years! It probably dates back to the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. “… We hold these truths to be self-evident….” You learned the rest in school, right? Of course they’re talking about men, not chickens.

Grandma Sharon & Jocelyn, have been busy bees

Pastors Victor & Peter

America declares independence

Some of these pastors have lost their lives

Mama Josephine, Charlotte & Jackson

People cry day and night for food

July

2016

* Donna & Jack - clothes;

Zawadi, far right

RWANDA

Pastor Celestin, Director of Guardian Angel Ministries, had a successful trauma outreach.

Dear Bush & Mama,

       “Last month we provided trauma counseling in Kamonyi, southern province, where many gathered to remember their loved ones. Also we did Children Evangelism at the Refugee Camp…. The children entertained us with Christian songs. We used 6 local people who attended training two years ago…. Trauma Counseling Ministry will continue until July 7. Due to using counselors from Kamonyi … we managed to save money that helped the Children Ministry in the Refugee Camp so we shared bread, songs and prayers….

       “In June we had two big trauma counseling outreaches. In Ruhango, a large new Genocide Memorial site … we had many unexpected cases come due to thousands of bodies exhumed recently. At the same time we went to Kibuye and Bisesero near the Congo border…. This new Genocide Memorial site is … under the control of UNESCO. We appreciate your help for our ministry to express God’s love to suffering, traumatized people….”

       “Let us … pray for one another so that God will give us victory…. This year touched more lives than in the past. I experienced the commitment of friends that was amazing. Your help impacts people’s lives for Christ.”

In Christ I trust, Pastor Celestin

Ouida, thank you for giving of your time to help

"Thank you Sherry and Lanny for witnessing bracelets."

Prayer ~N~ Praise

Report

SUDAN

Pastor Sunlight shares some disturbing news about the situation in Torit.

Dear Bush Mission & Mama,

       “Greetings from Torit, South Sudan, in Jesus’ Name…. It has been hard to connect since I arrived…. I’m helped by Jill of Africa Inland Mission … who let me access my emails. The school construction stopped due to the price of renting a tractor. It’s beyond our budget as they asked 20,000 pounds for just one week ($20,221: 40 pounds = $1 US dollar due to inflation).

       “The doctor said that Pastor Victor's wife was very sick and needed surgery but she delivered a baby son well. God responded to our prayers…. We will have a teachers meeting … on Sunday after church with the whole Angaim community. I need your prayers for wisdom and understanding.

       “Prices in the market are getting worse. People are starving and some killed their children so they would not see them starve. One woman came to Angaim Village and left her two children because she feared she would kill them. They are ours forever. Pray for these starving people.

       “Food is a challenge here. Government teachers and their employees have not been paid for three months which resulted in a strike at some government offices including education. We have a poor government. People are crying day and night for lack of food and services in our country.”

Thankfully, Pastor Sunlight

[Note: we are looking for a secure way to send money to Sunlight.]

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

Facebook

UGANDA

Jackson, Mama Josephine’s eldest orphan, has a successful academic school year.

Dear Bush & Mama,

       “I send greetings in the name of Jesus Christ and hope this finds you well. I thank you who … enabled me to come to the end of Term 3 at my university… and to thank you for the support … to me and the family…. The school closed May 13th and reopened on June 6th. We … reported back on June 5th for Term 1 of academic year 2016-2017. I was home with Mama Josephine during my break to help with household chores….

       “The school organized competitions: 1) Soccer. Bukalasa College visited our college and we won 3-2 goals; 2) Volleyball. We won 12-8 points. At the end of the competition we were No 1.

       “I passed with good grades as I was among 25 students who got Second Class Upper; 56 got Second Class Lower; 45 got a Pass; and the remaining 30 each got one subject out of 156 students who sat for exams.

My health at college … had few challenges which God helped me overcome 1st Cor 10:6-13 and Eph 6:10-18 are verses that encourage and strengthen me. Thank you for … financial support…. May God bless you.”

Yours Faithfully, Jackson

[Note: special thanks to Jackson’s sponsor who covers 100%

of his school fees.]

* George - infant formula;

Janet's sewing group crocheted the tops of little dresses

Orphans of pastors

Basket material is called 'raphia'

CONGO

Mama Zawadi of CAAP, our partner, shares their plan for the leftover food boxes.

Dear Mama & Bush Brothers & Sisters,

“We are left with 1,040 boxes of food … from the 1st container. We are planning to distribute to new Internally Displaced People in Buabo, Masisi, where currently there is war and killing going on. Thus many people are fleeing from villages; leaving behind possessions; properties and lands; just to save their lives. We plan to distribute this food to 70 households which will make a total of619 people. One household will get about 14 boxes of food each. We will let you know as soon as this is done….”

Thankfully, Mama Zawadi

Abby the tutor

The family: PTL, all 36 children are in school today

USA BITS-N-PIECES

* “D Day” (Departure Day) is fast approaching! I’m packing - well, at least the suitcases & duffel bags are out. We’re taking everything from suits to flip flops to Chicken Soup for the Soul (the book). Please pray for strength; wisdom; & sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. We’ll arrive at Mayfield Guest House in Nairobi, Kenya, in time for a fried chicken Sunday dinner, just like Grandma Power used to make – well, almost.

* Luz arrives in Phoenix next week to begin our journey to Africa. Her hubby Kurtis who has MS fell last week and broke his toes. How worrisome for Luz to leave him at this time. Please pray for peace of mind. We praise God for friends and family who will help him out in her absence.

* Special Time With Friends: Chuck & Tammy; Laura; Marcia; Joe & Pastor Bill; Lunch Bunch & Sundays with many others.

* Ouida - spent hours removing tags; taped flip flops for packing; & gave me an alarm clock in case I oversleep;

* Janet & Crochet Circle - little dresses with crocheted tops;

Neriah is being tutored too

TANZANIA/SOUTH SUDAN

Remember Pastor Peter when we helped support his advanced studies?

Dear Bush Mission & Mama,

“I returned to Tanzania to complete the year I have left at Mount Meru University…. I took my family back home to South Sudan. My support from the other mission was cut off last year, 2015. See letter attached. When I returned to school I had no sponsor…. Christians … contributed … so I could complete my studies…. You have … helped my children and wife with school fees …. God … can open doors of blessing….”

Thank you, Pastor Peter

[Note: We paid his school term]

       You know ‘the rest of the story’. America won that conflict and gained independence. Today God continues to shower us with blessings. In fact, each time I return home from Africa I am full of GRATITUDE. I cannot take freedom and material blessings for granted. I’ve seen firsthand what life without them is like.

       For example, when I’m served chicken stew in Africa (meat is a luxury) I often wonder if they were raised on bullets – tough critters. That’s when I miss Grandma Power’s fried chicken. GRATITUDE causes me to react if I see a friend throwing away so much as a chicken carcass. There it is again. Chicken. I say to my friend, “Wait! That will make good soup!” She looks at me peculiarly but I’m used to it.

       Friends, Africa changed me. Missions changed me. Independence Day changed me. God changed me. Forever. Thank you for your love, encouragement and prayers. They allows us to CHANGE Africa for Jesus; to be GRATEFUL to Him ‘from whom all blessings flow’ as together we bring HOPE through JESUS CHRIST.

Pastor Peter, wife Beatrice and children

George's infant baby formula will save lives

* Carol & Gloria - blankets, camera;

* Sherry & Lanny - 500 witness bead bracelets;

My wonderful Condo neighbors

Spending time with friends

The Constitutional Congress

School construction is on hold

Kurtis' foot surgery was a success!

CONGO

Pastor Delphin shares an update on Women at Risk and his older children’s education needs.

Dear Mama & Bush telegraph

“Tomorrow we begin making baskets. The ‘Women At Risk’ are happy to begin the activity even with small quantity of materials. They needed 10 units of material for all women in training but we have only five units. For the other 5 units we need $64. We are at the end of the school year…. I am in need of money for the second phase of the National Exam at Kashebere Center. …. Nita, Menci and Joseph are my children who are going…. The cost of the exams, transportation and accommodation total $360. My family and I are most grateful for your assistance. We need your prayers … when we face difficult moments.”

In Him, Pastor Delphin

[Note: we sent money for basket materials and the exams.]

Cheryl with her grand-babies

WATERMELON & FRIED CHICKEN

Grandpa Power taught me how to test a watermelon to see if it was ripe by July 4th. “Tap it with your knuckles ... the deeper the sound, the riper the melon,” he would say.

56 men, our forefathers, signed the Declaration. They paid a great price and suffered horrible losses. I learned some interesting facts about them:

* 27 of these men had degrees from seminaries.

* Rev. John Witherspoon oversaw the printing of the Bible by Congress in 1782.

* Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress, was responsible for the first translation of the

Bible in America and published the Thompson Bible.

* Benjamin Rush founded the first Bible Society, the Philadelphia Bible Society.

* The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence started 121 Bible Societies in 8 years.

* Francis Hawkins printed the first hymnbook in America.

* It’s said that during the drafting of the Declaration, John Adams sat next to Benjamin

Rush who leaned over and asked, ''John do you think we can really win this conflict?''

Adams replied, ''Yes, if we repent of our sins and rely on God.'' Oh, for Godly leaders today!

John the tutor

Meet Laura, mission Prayer Chairman; Email Secretary of Bush Tel-E-Gram and Prayer-N-Praise Reports

God provides in mysterious ways.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b

Happy 4th of July! Gratefully Changing Africa One Soul at a Time,

Two children given away to Angaim Village forever