From: "Rev. Robert Rahn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: CLIMB: FW: None Date: Friday, November 02, 2001 12:54 PM Subject: CLIMB: FW: None Sent: 01/03/1920 6:03 PM Received: 01/05/2001 10:32 AM From: Rev. Robert Rahn, rrahn@lhfmissions.org To: Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness, CLiMB@CAT41.org CC: 'CAT41Climb on Board', CLiMB@CAT41.org -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Mbugo Elisa Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 1:15 PM To: rrahn@lhfmissions.org Subject: Trip Report Co-workers, I am compelled once again to share the report received from Andrew after his trip to the Blue Nile State of Sudan. The need for this four wheel drive, in my estimation, seems more critical than ever. Dear Rev. Rahn, It is a pleasure to write again making my final stories out of the story one can tell from Blue Nile State. First of all, I want to start by praising God for the wonders he is doing extending his Ministry in this claimed Islamic land. God has been with us since when we started this Church and now we have increased in number of believers. Again more importantly to remember is the number added to ELCS Lutherans last month. My trip to the Blue Nile was to take place between the 28 and 31 of December 2000. But in the evening of December 27th, I received a phone call asking that I wait till I am told to move from my location. The reason was that, two of the congregation on the list of visit have security problems in the sorrounding. This call and delay made good number of people to go away immediately to seek their petty jobs in the farms. The other important reason to mention and pray about is that, my failure to visit these people since July 2000, has led to the death of 21 people without baptism. I feel guilty for not saving their souls, for not giving them the sacrament of grace, baptism to take away their sins before going to the Lord. This was simply because, the roads are so bad that my car can not pass through. It requires a four wheel driving to get out of holes and mud. I am sorry for those who have lost their lives without receiving baptism. Again two families could not wait but have to walk to the Catholic Church to receive baptism as it looked like ELCS was joking with stories that, Rev. Elisa will be coming to baptize those prepared. But God has set December the 28th for my departure and we went with my wife and three daughters who helped at the service as sunday schools. In one service, they could not as it required a going on donkey cart and rescuing through security zones. Their presence gave me a lot of encourangeement special the good songs presented by my daughters and my wife talking to many women on the compound. The first work started the same evening as candidates were presented for examinations and sorting out the list of those who want to confess their sins about 38 people. Then in the morning, we went to Disa and moved on the Cart to the destination where 29 people were baptized out these number 17 children are orphans living just with people who are even helpless. Their main problem is water, and thanks to LCMS World relief for donating funds to dig wells in the area. It is likely that, we shall make more appeals for digging more wells in different parts of the region. Of course, no education and health services at all. It is only the sunday school classes started by ELCS which is serving as a school, but with facilities. After finishing this work and coming out from the security zones and getting into safe areas, we proceeded the same day into another major service to baptize 81 people. We have to hire a car to bring another congregation to one place because of the same security reasons paying the equivalent of $125.00. The service ended at5:00 pm after having served confirmantion and Holy communion. Eight people were confirmed and 11 people confessed their sins. The total people baptized were 110, 8 confirmed, and 49 confessed their sins. Among these group were two Muslims families who have now been disowned by the community. Very unfortunately, they arejoining a helpless community. They need blankets, beds as all that they owned has been taken away. The families makes about 7 people coming from muslim background and we praise God for them and their determination despite fo the challenges. Finally, we returned on December 31 and made a stop over in Singer to talk to another congregation. The 550 driving made me exhausted and the heavy work of baptizing 110 people. Of course area has plenty of mosquitos. It seems, upon my arrival two hundred mosquitos were allocated to take care of me. I arrived Khartoum sick with malaria. Taking medicines the whole night, and got up earlier in the morning to go for new year prayers to administer the service with Holy communion. Being the only pastor, I have to do it. Then I returned and continued treatment in bed. Now I am alright. With this I have another work to be done among the Nuba, Nuer and Dinka congregations in Kakuma in Kenya next week. As I conclude this message, I will disappear from public and will only re-appear on January 10th at the LHF office with Rev. Dr. Simojoki Nairobi. I need rest. The brothers who have stayed in Sudan, Dr. Pekka and Quirk have seem how I am working. Pray for me and the whole CHurch in Sudan. Once again, thanks for all the support given to assist ELCS and her mission in Sudan. Thanks to all those assisting these Church. We need your help. WE ARE HELPLESS. WE KNOW GOD AND WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT HIM, BUT WE CAN NOT BE OF ANY HELP TO OURSELVES DUE TO WAR AND OTHER CONDITIONS. God bless. Andrew Mbugo Elisa _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. + + + Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness + + + The CLIMB e-letter brings you unedited, uncut reports directly from the mission field, whether in South America, Africa, Europe, inner-city, rural, or collegiate America, or military installations and battle sites around the world. It is our contention that those who truly hold to the ~Book of Concord~ as the pure exposition of Holy Scripture and the true confession of the Christian faith are also the most zealous supporters of the preaching of the Gospel in every corner of the world and, as such, ought to be kept thoroughly informed of how those endeavors are faring and shown how they may be rightly carried out without the destruction of orthodox doctrine and practice that some within the pale of Lutheranism now advocate. 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