Serving the Persecuted Church in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa
CONTAINER UPDATE
Praise be to God! Our 40 ft container arrived safely in Juba, South Sudan! Pictured here being off-loaded by the crane. It's now en route to the final destination, Leer, Western Upper Blue Nile., to be distributed to about a dozen different parts of our ministry. More details will be forthcoming. Thank you for YOUR donations and prayers which made this Container possible.
Last by not least......
This was one of dozens of Bibles
Dear Father,
At times we feel overwhelmed by the darkness in the world — in the USA and in nations where persecution is strongest. Thank You for the promise that Christ has been victorious over evil and His light will not be overcome. Therefore, we pray with boldness for Your church in Kenya, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan, South Africa and Rwanda where we minister. We pray for our fellow Christians in these places. Grant them godly wisdom and compassion; safety and peace of heart; boldness and discernment as they move through terror that we cannot imagine. May they be powerful witnesses to those around them, even their enemies. Thank You for those who minister to their needs. Refresh them when they are tired.
[adapted from Open Doors]
In the name of Jesus who overcomes darkness for all eternity, Amen.
Serving the Overcomer,
Charlotte John in Naples Italy with the USS Nimitz in the background
The USS Nimitz pulling in to Pearl Harbor Hawaii.
Lisa is the ‘unsung hero’ who carried the torch for Bush Telegraph website and Facebook while I’ve been in Africa. Check it out at www.bushtelegraphafrica.com.
We’re so happy to have her back in Phoenix working at a local hospital while John’s at sea.
Granddaughter Katie attends a Christian high school in San Diego and doing well. She loves to act and sing in local plays. Nate continues his home-school program and quite the budding athlete – whatever sport is in season. And Mom Delena keeps everyone – even Dad - headed in the right direction.
Michelle is back in the classroom and does a good job keeping mom posted on news from back home. But during the summer she was a caregiver with Visiting Angels. FAMILY NEWS
John, Naval officer and Trauma/ER nurse practitioner, and his sweet wife Lisa, are on the move from Guam! He’s been assigned to the USS Nimitz, the lead ship in her class and part of our nuclear powered aircraft carriers. This ship has a proud and distinguished history in the service of America and the crew prides herself on being ready to rapidly respond to any world crisis.
USA Mailbox
Excerpts of letters from prayer partner and retired pastor, Wayne and Dot of Kansas. I wish we had room to print the wisdom God has taught them through this journey. Please pray!
Dear Friends,
“The last four months for my wife, Dot, have been especially difficult, but gradually with God’s blessing, she is healing [from complications of hip surgery]. All this time I was her caretaker and loving it…. But I felt increasingly tired and … contacted my doctor…. Blood test results showed I have Leukemia, rapid onset….
[recent update] I had my best report on Monday…. After my blood was tested … my platelets had moved up from 45 to 85 – looking good so far. I will begin a new round of chemo next week and then we will see if what we’re doing is moving us in the right direction. I remain weak and sleep lots, but enjoy it!”
In Christ’s Renewing Love, Wayne and DotThe 'prayer women' in front of the bombed-out Bible School
SOUTH SUDAN. My arrival at dirt airstrip at the mission compound in Leer
SOUTH SUDAN
Letter from Hillary, a pastor/partner, writes from Juba.
[Note: We haven’t heard from Hillary for a while as he was studying in Uganda the past two years. He’s now back home in South Sudan. A few years ago we sent his church a 40 ft. container which they used to feed and clothe countless widows, orphans and vulnerable peoples. It also encouraged the church leaders to move ahead with building plans.]
Dear Bush Mission & Mama,
“Our church construction is going well. We just completed … the windows. The next stage is electricity, plastering and tiles. It has already taken … $200,000. All these contributions came from members in the church. It is the first time in the history of our church in South Sudan that we constructed a big church using our local resources. We give thanks to our Living God. We wish you to attend the official opening when completed. Convey my dear greetings to the mission. We appreciated your idea that we should mold our own bricks and it worked well.”
God be with you, Pastor Hillary LukuduSOUTH SUDAN
Letter from partner Pastor John Chuol of Leer.
Dear Mama Charlotte,
“… Western Upper Nile Bible School class will start in late September 2013. We have been in some preparation concerning the welcoming of new [students] this year. We expect at least 30 to start…. The invitation was to [churches] sharing the same doctrine as the Bible School … and evangelical churches….
Yours faithfully in Christ,
Pastor John Chuol, Principal, Bible School, Leer.Mama Josephine & some orphans & I
UGANDA
2nd letter from Mama Josephine, Busia.
[Note: when I arrived she had been ill for some weeks and feared the worst. The local hospital did not have the equipment to get an accurate diagnosis. I took her to a mission hospital in Tororo [town] where the doctor diagnosed a badly inflamed muscle in her right lower back, easily treatable. She now has peace of mind.]
Dear Bush Mission & Mama Charlotte,
“We arrived back home safely from Tororo at 9:00 pm. I appreciate you taking me to the mission hospital for scans, x-rays and treatment. I know now that I will live on well. May Almighty God bless you abundantly.”
Yours in Christ, Mama JosephineUGANDA... Pray for Brian’s return!UGANDA
Letter from Mama Josephine of Busia.
Dear Mama Charlotte & Bush Mission,
“We thank Mama for visiting and having a good time with us. Thank you for your prayers, encouraging us, all gifts and school fees. The children are doing well and have reported back to school. Pastor Henry was with us for prayer on the day schools opened for both Kenya and Uganda, encouraging children…. I paid all the school fees for children and with the balance … paid the water bill…. I attached receipts and school reports. Some reports are not ready yet because teachers in Uganda are on strike. They will soon start when government answers their queries.
“We are praying for our little 6-year old Brian [stolen from our home in July]. Pastor Henry committed 3 days of prayer and fasting … and encouraged us. He said that God will protect Brian and help find him; that one day we meet him. The children are thankful for all their support and sponsors. Thank you for your prayers.”
Yours in Christ, Mama Josephine and family
[Note: The teacher’s strike has ended and we are awaiting the final reports] CONGO
Letter from Interpreter Daniel of CODIC in Goma.
Good Morning Bush Mission & Mother Charlotte,
“I am … the young interpreter you found at CODIC mission in Goma. I have joyfully received the Bible you sent me through Joseph, our Vice President and say thank you very much…. May God bless you.”
DanielTumuabudu, Interpreter
[This was but one of dozens of Bibles given out to church leaders and Christians, thanks to YOU.]CONGO
Letter from a new ministry partner, CODIC and Congolese Joseph of Goma.
Dear Bush Mission,
After the bowl of porridge, these vulnerable children of Goma received toothbrushes sent by Bush Telegraph. They all say thank you.
Joseph CONGO
Letter from Pastor Delphin of Eden Church, Goma –he’s begun a new outreach
Dear Bush Mission,
Thank you for the October incentive. Some will be used for rent, some for school fees and some for porridge this Sunday. We will buy 50 cups ($20); 50 lb maize flour ($15); 10 lb sugar ($10); and fire wood ($5). Each Sunday we feed vulnerable (street) children by giving them a cup of porridge after Sunday School. Thank you so much for the assistance.
In Him, Pastor Delphin.Prayer-N-Praise
Report
Dear Friends of the Persecuted Church,
Juba, South Sudan.
One Sunday last month found me sitting next to Malakal of our Sudanese staff. I was the only ‘mazungu’ (white person) among several hundred Sudanese parishioners and appreciated the friendly usher who took time to greet me. He asked, in English, “Would you like to sit up front?”
Hopefully I replied, “So you have someone up front who will translate into English?”
“No one is there … you’d be alone.”
I politely thanked him, “I’ll stay where I am, thanks.” What was he thinking? Why would I do that? I turned to Malakal next to me and whispered, “Will you please translate what pastor just said?”
The text was Luke 3:37-46 and Matthew 25:31-46 so I wanted to follow as best I could. Malakal leaned over, “The cow jumped over the moon….” At least, that’s what it SOUNDED like. It’s the accent. Finally I gave up, determined more than ever to learn Nuer.
The mission field is full of challenges – big and small - but nothing that compares to what our Persecuted Brothers go through.
To quote Kirsten Powers of the Daily:
Beast, “I’ve had enough of the ‘deafening silence’ on the persecution of Christians, especially from American Christians. Christians in the Middle East and Africa are being slaughtered, tortured, raped, kidnapped, beheaded, and forced to flee the birthplace of Christianity. One would think this horror might be consuming the pulpits and pews of American churches. Not so.”
Case in point: last month in Nairobi, Kenya, Somali-based al-Qaeda al-Shabab militants attacked Westgate Mall, a favorite shopping center for Westerners. According to eyewitnesses, terrorists said “if you are Muslim you are on the safer side, but if you are Hindu or Christian you will be killed.” Hundreds were massacred or injured: the official final tally has not been released.
The good news is that YOU appreciate our brother’s plight. If YOU and I keep the issue of the persecuted church ‘alive and well’, it will continue to yield fruit. Through your prayers we are making a difference on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters in Africa.
Hebrews 13:3 “Remember those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body.”