Operation Nehemiah - Helping Rebuild the New Sudan

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 just returned from South Sudan along with his daughter Chavaleh . 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:

“Dear William & Hannah,
It 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 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.

I 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…”

Church renovation: The roof project has been almost 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. The renovated building will house the rapidly growing congregation and provide a stable place to conduct church life and community outreach.

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:
Operation Nehemiah’s agricultural program has received a $15,000 grant from an anonymous donor to open another 100 acres of land for diverse planting.

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. 3 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