South Sudan Church History: God himself set us free from the grip of Isl...

Operation Nehemiah blessing of Water - Borongole & Beth Israel farmland,...

Water is life. Jesus declared himself to be  the true Living Water, promising that  who ever drinks of Him  will never thirst again.

Perhaps nowhere else on earth is the essential nature of water more valued than in Africa, where available water is scarce and often contaminated with dangerous pathogens. 

Hand pumped, shallow wells dot the landscape throughout South Sudan, with a single well often supplying the daily needs of hundreds of families. Women often travel miles on foot to reach these wells, where they will wait for hours in line to fill their five gallon jugs, one at a time. Tragically, this very water they labor for is the source of  a host of deadly diseases and incalculable suffering, with 25% of infants dying before they reach their first birthday as a result of these water borne pathogens.

Operation Nehemiah seeks to bring the thirst quenching power of Jesus Christ  to the people of South Sudan through the preaching of the Gospel  and the provision of safe , accessible solar powered wells.

In 2013, we facilitated the drilling of our first  220 ft deep well at  our mission base in Borongole, Eastern Equatoria State that now supports the needs  of over 2,000 people living in and around the mission. The solar pump fills a large holding tank, where the water  is then dispersed to five faucets located around the community. 

Since this  water is sanitary  and free of pathogens, there has been  a drastic reduction in the incidence of water-borne illness and deaths in the surrounding villages. 

A precious  added benefit of the well is that the women are now able to spend more time with thier families as a result of the powerful water pressure that fills their five gallon jugs in less than three minutes.

A process that used to take hours to compete is now reduced to minutes, which is changing the dynamics of family life, one household at a time.

Joyce Levi, wife of our country director Timothy Levi has this to say:   "Thanks be to  God for the solar well!  It has reduced tension and  bickering among women at the pump who were competing to get water so that they can go home to their families. Nowadays people  are more friendly to one another because they are not so stressed out waiting for their turn to get water".

 Perina said:  "  The technology that Operation Nehemiah employed to establish this efficient source of water to serve the community  demonstrates the power of God to provide for his people through the local church without the need for relying on UN handouts".    

      

In addition to the mission base well, we were also able to drill a second solar operated well in our Beth Israel Farm, five miles east of our mission base to make drip irrigation during the lenghy dry season a reality.

Our goal is to help facillitate the drilling of clean, solar  wells throughout the region to serve local churches as they reach thier communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beth Israel organic Agricultural Initiative, Eastern Equatoria State South Sudan

Shalom! On behalf of Operation Nehemiah and my family, I would like to express my appreciation to you and your family for standing with us and pushing us through this challenging task in rebuilding the South Sudan for Jesus Christ. Thank you for considering sowing additional funding into the agricultural development.

I want to thank God for answering our prayers in getting the tractor and the implements which are much needed for farming at the Beth Israel farmland in South Sudan. God provided exceedingly beyond our expectation.

The farm attachments were purchased, transported and put to work in the field at the Beth Israel Farm.

We have a professional tractor driver plowing the field and training three other men to learn to operate the tractor so that they can make the most out of the capital invested in this equipment to expand God’s work in the South Sudan. Along with that comes spiritual discipline, faithfulness and commitment in the use of these equipments for the Glory of God.

Our most pressing need in this area has been addressed by the Grace of God with caught up with The rainy season in the South Sudan, and timing is of the essence The tractor has been put to work immediately , breaking the ground and beginning to plant . There are those who report on hunger and famine in the South Sudan, telling the world that over 3 million will die of starvation this year. Operation Nehemiah is taking action to stop famine by empowering South Sudanese men to work with their own hands and sustain their families. That is the solution to stoping hunger, not a UN handout.

Our goal is to reduce dependence upon imported food and U.N. feeding programs by encouraging the local farmers in entrepreneurial organic farming, producing both healthy food and a stable local economy, thus raising the overall standard of living.

To this end, we are currently engaged in opening 1,000 acres of nutrient dense crops with the help of indigenous nationals, who directly oversee the entire process from seed to market. In addition to this, there are local farmers who want to hire this tractor to till their own farmlands and their effort will help us maintain the tractor. This is what sustainability is all about.. Our vision in operation Nehemiah is to support & disciple local men and women to understand God’s will for their lives, their families. We encourage them to estblish an environment of sustainability.

South

Sudan needs Godly men who can raise up godly family and have entrepreneurial vision to create jobs and sustainability for their family and the next generation. I’m grateful to God for faitfhul Christian donors who understand this vision and together lifting our arms to implement this vision. Little by little, slowly but surely, the community in the South Sudan is catching up to the vision.

Prayer Need: Pray for the continous establishment of a skilled and transparent indigenous Field Management Team with a shared long term vision and commitment. The success of our mission lies on the breakthrough in training the indigenous pastors for leadership and raising up godly men to spiritually and physically lead their families.

Our vision is to equip and empower the indigenous Christians to manage and account for the investment which God has entrusted to them with and through the benevolent gifts of the fellow Christians abroad. Our goal is to build trust and faithfulness with the leadership on the ground to deal with UN incursion and the remaining element of Islamic encroachment .

Putting the face to the problem and finding a solution to the problem: One family and one village at a time Last year, Jan 2011, we ran story on a young couple with seven children struggling to meet end meet. As the story goes... "One Christian family from the local church in Borongole recently found themselves confronted with the same question that thousands of their fellow South Sudanese families are asking : Does the Bible really contain the solution to our problems? Alfred and Esther Anduga have seven beautiful children. The Andugas have confessed Christ and were baptized this past winter. They recently paid a visit to Pastor Michael Levi and I, presenting us with a series of concerns. They explained that when they were in the refugee camp in Uganda, the U.N. workers there told them that they have too many children. They were told that having many children and a lack of education is the source of their poverty. For many years their sole source of income was brewing liquor. By God's grace, they are now back in New Sudan and have inherited hundreds of acres of ancestral land . However, they lack the skills to live off this land and daily life is still rife with the pressure to provide. Esther was worn out, angry, and discouraged. She was convinced that her husband had deceived her into having children, and ruined her future . She believed that life was better back in the camps. She did not see any hope in her husband's ability to provide for the family or for the children to have a brighter tomorrow. Although Alfred was bringing the family to church and had prohibited her from brewing and selling beer, they had no income. She was considering abandoning the family and wanted to know what the church could do to help them save their marriage and get on their feet. After listening to this couple, we were compelled to respond. James 2: 14- 25 tells us "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do'". Where are the Andugas today: We have been following up progress in the lives of this couple. Alfred and Esther have both spirituallly grown and grounded in the word of God. They are faithful and loyal couple, hardworking and wonderful parents to their seven Children. The couple are actively involved in a local church and a local body. Today Alfred is an elder in his local church. We see stability in their lives. They are standing on their feet. They have a lot to give back to God and to the community.

Operation Nehemiah is training him as one of the three men to operate the tractor to plow the church's farmland and in turn he can also plow his own land so that he can raise enough food to feed his own family without the need to depend on UN handout. Esther is right behind him working together to fulfill God's plan for their lives.

The ( Nehemiah Trumpet Call Gospel Shortwave 11.950 MHZ ) is still an outstanding project to be sponsored. The short wave Gospel Network ( Nehemiah Trumpet Call Gospel Shortwave 11.950 MHZ) will cover all of South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia and virtually all of East and northern Africa 1. Cost of the transmitter and antenna is $36,000. This is a gracious reduction of cost from Energy -Onix, down from the original cost of $62,000. One of their engineers was in the South Sudan back in the 90s at the height of the war. He understood the importance of this radio station for the people of the South Sudan as it is now an independent country. First installation cost to start building of the equipment by Energy - Onix is $9,000. We have already paid this in January 2012. Payment should have been done in four (1/4) installment or pay in half (1/2) $18,000 as the fund become available.

We are behind the payment. Currently we will need $27,000 to catch up with what we have to come up with so far. Energy –Onix has began working on the project already. We hope by the end of August this project should be completed. 2. Engineer Jamie La bedia will come in person to install the unit in the South Sudan as soon as the equipment is complete 3. Power sources - 3KW Wind power The 3000-watt Whisper 500 turbine will deliver in excess of 500 KWH per month in a 12 mph wind. This machine has a 14-foot (4.26m) rotor diameter providing 175 sq. ft. of swept area. This model has been redesigned, incorporating a stronger, larger yaw shaft, new blade stabilizer straps and a third spindle bearing for increased reliability. Cost - $8,500.00 4. Registration cost with the Government of the South Sudan - $5, 500.00 5. Labor - $3000 Total: $53,000 Amount raised - $9,000 Amount to be raised: $44,000. All contributions to Operation Nehemiah are tax deductible. Thank you for standing with us and encouraging us to press on. I will let you know more regarding the layout of the plan for this year in term of planting and what lies ahead. God bless God bless Shalom! In His grace William Levi, President Operation Nehemiah Missions International, Inc. P. O. Box 563 Lanesborough, MA 01237 www.operationsnehemiah.org Phone: 413-841-1116

God bless Shalom! In His grace William Levi, President Operation Nehemiah Missions International, Inc. P. O. Box 563 Lanesborough, MA 01237 www.operationsnehemiah.org Phone: 413-841-1116

March 2012 report depicts the Beth Israel farmland food security in East...

Operation Nehemiah Mission - 1st Quarter 2009, Missions Report

Operation Nehemiah Missions, PO Box 2 Cheshire, MA 01225, Phone: 888-774-1431/
413-354-5128. Email: levifamily1@verizon.net, http://www.operationsnehemiah.org/nehemiah.org/
Dear Friend,
Shalom! Hannah and I want to thank you for your love and prayers for us at the birth of our second son , Yehudah Azariah Robert Levi. We are truly enjoying getting to know him, as he is a sweet and contented little boy with an easy going disposition. His birth went very well and Hannah’s recovery is progressing as we had hoped. Yehudah’s siblings are always eager to hold him and rejoice at his every smile and coo! We are blessed and thankful to God, the author of all life, for gifting us with this precious new little one.

Mission Update: My father in law Robert Kirkman lef, returned from South Sudan along with his daughter Chavaleh at the end of February . They spent two weeks in the field bringing spiritual and medical support to the community there. Here is an encouraging report from them that was written while they were still on the ground:

Congregation youngsters in Opari, welcomes our missionary with song and danceIt is now 4:45 PM on Sunday. We had a beautiful 4 hour long church service here in Borongole. The outpouring of God's love was remarkable. Lots of singing, greetings and prayer.

Pastor Michael Levi (r) of the Beth Israel Messianic

Congregation gave a powerful message on God's love from 1 John 2. The joy was infectious. The church is really thriving here. The best part of the trip so far is that Pastor Michael is taking us to greet members of each of the satellite congregation each day. I have been able to greet each church and bring some encouragement from the word...so far God has given me the appropriate scriptures without me even knowing the specific spiritual condition of each church beforehand.
Figure 2 Robert Kirkman, visiting Operation Nehemiah Banana plantation

Figure 3 Chavaleh Rose Kirkman visits the family who named their daughter after herI am so happy that Chava is here. I think she found out what a blessing she is to the people here when one of the church leaders stood up this morning and said that he is naming his newborn daughter (born yesterday morning) "Chavaleh Rose"...you can imagine the tears in her eyes. We are going to visit the family tonight.
Next to the Church and food production, the clinic is the most important ministry for the day to day needs of the people here.

I think I have said what a good spiritual leader Pastor Michael Levi is...each day he proves that in a new way.. WHAT SABBATH DAY THIS IS! It is good to finally have email to communicate. Greet for me families back home and others at churches that support and Pray for Operation Nehemiah... We will see you soon...’’

Pastor Michael Levi, Left, planted seven new congregations in 2008.

Church renovation: The roof project has been completed. The doors, windows and upper wall portion of the supporting beams have also been completed. This renovation project was made possible through a generous grant from Samaritan’s Purse Ministries based in Boone, N.C. And other supports came from Hope Church in Lenox, MA and Grace Fellowship in Latham, NY.

The renovated building will house the rapidly growing congregation and provide a stable place to conduct church life and community outreach. The people (our brothers and sisters) are now worshipping inside the church. We are grateful to all of you for helping us fulfill Nehemiah 3 in restoring the church of Christ and the families in the South Sudan. We are actually witnessing the reminiscence of the historic restoration of Jerusalem’s walls mentioned in Nehemiah 3. In this case, like in the day of Nehemiah we are restoring the church and the family in the South Sudan.. Future needs: This church still lacks funds to complete the windows, doors and plastering from inside so you can pray about God’s provision for additional $3000. Despite of lack of windows and doors, the roof is on and that gives joy to all of our hearts. We will take one day at a time. We also have some church buildings that require renovation. So I ‘m putting all of these needs in prayers before God.

The final phase of the Nehemiah Trumpet Call Gospel radio
Figure 6 NTC 97.3 FM

The Nehemiah trumpet Call Gospel Radio Project is now entering its final stages. Last year VCY America helped Operation Nehemiah with $44,000 to complete the three remaining stages of the cosntruction of the Radio Tower project. The fund covers completion of a studio facility on to top of Gordon Gordon Mountain in Nimule, South Sudan to house the STL studio and a transmitter equipment.

Stage 1: Part of the fund, $8,239 is for the construction of the Fence around 40x40 m of the Tower on Gordon Mt, plus the repair of the white truck and gas money. Please see the BOQ for the Fence project on stage 1 of the construction for the breakdown.

Engineer David Firth has been assigined to carry out the construction of this project along with Joseph Levi, Operation Nehemiah's field director on the ground. WE sepent $8,839 for the fence project. This Fund is provided by Vic Eliason, of VCY America who has adopted Operation Nehemiah Missions. People who will be working on the project including Engineer David Firth and Joseph Levi. The fence project has been completed in March 2009 and now we have move to the second stage of the project.

Stage 2: $12,056 for the construction of the facility to house the equipment on Gordon Hill. Please see the BOQ of this project in stage 2 of the construction for the breakdown. - This Fund is provided by Vic Eliason, of VCY America who has adopted Operation Nehemiah Missions.

The building facility has just been finished this month

Stage 3: The fund for solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, solar obstruction lights and batteries in the amount of $20, 900 has been kept and used here in the USA to purchase these equipment. To date we have pruchased all the 3.63 KW solar panels, 4 ( 6v) 740 Amp hours batteries, (2) 5KVA inverters ( 6) 60 AMP Hours charge controllers, and 2 solar obstruction light obstruction lights with 3-5 years life time before we can replace the solar batteries on the tower. All of these asset have been shipped in the medical container leaving for Borongole South Sudan has finally arrived ready to be mounted.
Figure 8 22 solar modules- 165 w/panel
The final phase of the Nehemiah Trumpet Call 97.3 FM Gospel radio project. The security fence, studio, and solar power installation is currently underway.
We were able to obtain a total of 3630 watt solar panels from Canada with financial support from VCY America. The radio station is now 100% solar powered and we are free from dependence on expensive fuel. Praise the Lord!

Agricultural Development in Beth Israel Ako: Grant for Matchable gift. Operation Nehemiah’s agricultural program has received a $15,000 grant from an anonymous donor to open 100 acres of land for diverse planting. The $15,000 grant is Matchable dollar for dollar. Any one interest to help us match this money can call to let us know to you can send a donation for that purpose.

A gift of this size enables us to further realize our vision of creating a Christ centered traditional family approach to farming, with food production being once again a viable source of income for parents and children working together. Our hope is to see a stable and thriving community that is self sufficient and Creative for the Glory of God.

We have been meditating on the following scripture and ask that you pray for us with this in mind:
“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers.

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years; to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and revering him.” Deuteronomy 8

Operation Nehemiah is preparing to load another 40ft relief container bound for South Sudan. I would like to express my deep appreciation to Universal Aide Society of Canada for donating the funds to purchase the container, to Hope Church in Lenox, MA for providing the space to keep it over the next few weeks and donors who helped us transport the container from NJ to MA.
Donations of the following items will be received by appointment only beginning on 3/ 8/09. For the sake of keeping the church grounds neat, I request that there be no random dropping of goods in the church or by the container side without prior notification.


“Then they said, "Let us arise and build." (A)So they put their hands to the good work.” Nehemiah 2:18
All donations tax deductible. Thank you for your faithful and generous support.

In His service,

William Levi, President

Area man sending $21M in medical supplies to Sudan - North Adams Transcript

Area man sending $21M in medical supplies to Sudan - North Adams Transcript

Operation Nehemiah - Sudanese Missions Organization, Rebuilding the Sudan

Operation Nehemiah - Sudanese Missions Organization, Rebuilding the Sudan