Operation Nehemiah - Helping Rebuild the New Sudan

The Sudan Repatriation & Water Projects Receive a Major Grant

We are happy to announce that our Family Repatriation & Water Well Projects have been blessed by the Lord through the kindness of our friends at Provision Foundation. Their generous award of $128,500 provides about 18% of our overall annual budget. We are greatly encouraged by this! These funds will help us relocate displaced families from the refugee camps in Uganda to their homeland in Magwi County, New Sudan. We will now be able to purchase a heavy duty vehicle for transportation, water well drilling equipment capable of penetrating rock, and provide these families with the tools they need to establish stable homesteads in and around the area we are rebuilding. The Lord has opened the door for our President, William Levi, to travel to Southern Sudan from June 28th - July 28th. He will be working closely with our field staff to begin our next phase of development for Magwi County. They will begin implementing the family repatriation program, interviewing and selecting the first 20 chosen families for resettlement. They will also be receiving the relief container which was shipped from the States back in April. This shipment contains the Toyota truck that was donated last year, along with furnishings and other vital components for our Mission House near Corom. An adequate supply of clean water has been an ongoing challenge since we moved into Southern Sudan in 2004.

The rock penetrating Water Drill and a Terrameter will help us overcome the obstacles we have been dealing with in this effort. The team and will also be focusing on this project throughout the summer. After William returns to the States, International Project Coordinator, Robert Kirkman, will travel to Sudan in August to continue overseeing these projects.

We need $50,000 this summer to continue this work and maintain the U. S. office while they are overseas. These funds are needed to cover travel expenses, pay our Sudanese staff and provide logistical and global internet communication support.

Here is the fund breakdown:

1. Electrical wiring material for our mission house - $4000
2. Church and evangelistic outreach - $4,000
3. Medical Outreach - $4,000
4. Staff salary - $10,000
5. High speed Global Internet access project - $10,000
6. Traveling and logistic expenses - $ 10,000
7. Fuel and repair - $8 ,000

Operation Nehemiah’s Scholarship Fund - A Recipient’s Testimony

We want to share the testimony of a brilliant young man with you. He is Luka Benson, one of the recipients of Operation Nehemiah’s Scholarship Fund. ON has been sponsoring his education from elementary school through the University while he has been in exile in Uganda. He is now a third year medical technology student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. Here is his story in his words…

“I was born in a Christian family in 1980 in a small town - Nimule, South Sudan. My parents are Venecio and Rebecca Akwitto. We moved from Sudan to Uganda in 1988 when the civil war in Sudan intensified. We took refuge in a place called Bibia, 16 km away from Nimule.

In 1989 the war became more pronounced. Those who persisted to survive had to join us and later we lived in refugee camps.

I went to primary one school in 1990 in the camp and I lost my father when I was in primary four. Life became wild after that but my mother kept pushing on until I completed my primary seven examination in 1996.

The whole story changed after passing my examination because there was no hope of getting school fees to go to secondary school. I had to join school one month late after raising small money out of selling simsim (sesame) we harvested in the year (1997). It was not easy for me to complete that year because we had to sell the only three goats we had for the family to make sure I finished my senior one.

I had been praying throughout that period to our God. My prayer was for God to show me somebody who shall be responsible for my education because I knew I would not get money to begin senior two.

In 1998 God answered my prayer. That was the time I came to know Operation Nehemiah as a charitable organization that helps the needy. It has been a blessing to me for getting such an opportunity. Right from that time up to now all my education needs have been met by this organization. Therefore, I would like to express appreciation and thank all the Christian community of United States of America for their generous hearts and supportive care both spiritually, materially and financially to me and my people of South Sudan.”

Please pray for Luka Benson - we have selected him as one of the students to go for further medical studies in Israel this fall.

A tribute to Michael Greenan…

Many of you are aware of Nile Boat Project. This project was the directed by our dear brother in the Lord - Michael Greenan. Michael had a deep love for the people of Sudan. While traveling there in 2004, Michael was given a vision to provide a 40 passenger boat that would not only provide safe transport to returning refugees, but also expose them to the Gospel while en route. After much faithful prayer and labor, the “Jesus is Lord Transporter” was finally deployed in the waters of Nile with a mission to proclaim the Gospel to each and every passenger.

Michael was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in August, 2005. He fought the good fight for over 10 months, including three tedious brain surgeries.

In the midst of this severe trial, Michael’s love for the Lord and steadfast faith in the goodness of God never wavered. His bold proclamation that “JESUS IS LORD” was a witness to all who came into contact with him.
On MAY 1ST, 2006, Michael entered into the joy of his Lord surrounded by his family and the Body of Christ in Surprise, Arizona. His funeral was a beautiful testimony to what God can do with a life that is completely surrendered to Him. The message of Salvation was proclaimed to all who were present.

Michael leaves behind his faithful wife Lisa, and their three dear children: Luke (8) Beth (6) and Theo (3).
Michael was a close friend of William Levi for over 20 years, and will be greatly missed by all the Operation Nehemiah staff.

The Michael Greenan Memorial Fund has been set up for the purpose of building a church on the River Nile in the South Sudan - “Beth Israel on the Nile”. Anyone who is led may send a donation to Operation Nehemiah. Your gift will be matched by the Construction Testing Company, owned by Michael’s brother, Patrick Greenan.

Prayer requests

1. Pray for William Levi as he anticipates going on the next trip to South Sudan. Lift up his family in prayers as he leaves them here by themselves of 4 weeks.
2. Pray that that the repatriation program will be fully implemented
3. Pray for safe delivery of the water drilling equipment to its final destination to our compound in South Sudan.
4. Pray for our field staff as the area is still experiencing attacks from the Ugandan’s Lord Resistance army, a group of thugs targeting civilian population coming home from exile.
5. Pray for Lisa Greenan the widow of Michael Greenan as she adjusts and copes with the loss of her husband..
6. Pray for Operation Nehemiah to meets its fiscal budget obligation which stands at $698,000. Thank God, 33% of the money has been raised.
7. Pray for the word of God to take root in the hearts and lives of many Sudanese coming to Salvation in Jesus Christ.

In His Service,
William Levi, Founder and president