Highlights of 2017: Merry Christmas and prosperous 2018

The Adoration of the Shepherds,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Dear Co-laborer’s in the Great Commission,

Shalom to you. We are wishing you a blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2018.

As December moves forward, many Christians will be thinking about the miracle of the coming of the Messiah. On behalf of Operation Nehemiah Missions and my family, Hannah and I want to thank you and your family for standing with us through your prayers and financial contribution in 2017. We are praying and hoping that in God’s providence 2018 will be also a year of tremendous blessing for all of us.

Our field staff in South Sudan

Reflecting on 2017, we could not be thankful enough to God on your account. This year, as it concludes has been a year of tremendous blessing and encouragement on many fronts. At the beginning of the year, here in the USA we witnessed unprecedented transfer of power of historic proportion never seen before. The unexpected candidate ascended to the presidency of the USA. Only God could have done it. The Washington establishment was shaken to its core. Mr. Trump was elected on November 8, 2016 to succeed President Obama. It was referendum on Obama's diabolical agenda for the country for 8 years. At the time, according to pundits, there was not any path for Trump to become the President of USA. But they were proven wrong. Praise God. We love the changes taking place in this country under President Trump.

In South Sudan, after 2016 National crisis, leading to displacement of ten of thousands of South Sudanese into exile, Operation Nehemiah Mission remained resolute. We rejected the idea of abandoning our work in the Country in favor of fleeing into exile. Even though 2 of our compounds were temporarily abandoned for 3 months, we managed to regain the momentum in the Spring of 2017 to restore those compounds.

To date, Operation Nehemiah Missions has restored all of its three compounds in South Sudan and launched the effort to strengthen the faith of those fled to Uganda by opening a church and drilling well.

High lights of 2017:

Praying for South Sduan

Mr. Trump was elected on November 8, 2016 to succeed President Obama. It was referendum on Obama's diabolical agenda for the country after 8 years. At the time, according to pundits, there was not any path for Trump to become the President of USA. But they were proven wrong. Praise God. We love the changes taking place in this country under President Trump.

President Trump Sworn in Jan 20, 2017

Levite baby Number 7. After 6 precious children, and 6 years of waiting on the Lord, we primarily thought the Lord has given us all that we pray for in having children. But with unexpected big surprise, this past July, we found out Hannah is expecting our 7th baby. Thank you for your prayers. The baby will be born in March- April 2017. At that point, our youngest will be 7.

The Levites family

In March 10- April 30. We returned to South Sudan and launched National Day of Prayers for repentance. The theme of the program, was based on 2 Chronicles 7: 14 and Isaiah 59
We witnessed the healing and forgiveness among South Sudan in the town of Nimule where there are 64 tribes living side by side in Nimule, a town of 100,000 people who primarily don’t get along.
March 31: Appointment of Isaac Tombe to be Operation Nehemiah Missions Assistant Country Director to Timothy Levi was divine answer to prayer. His appointment has changed the dynamics of the mission of Operation Nehemiah in South Sudan for the best. Based on this move for strong leadership in South Sudan to work alongside Timothy Levi, who was overwhelmed by the challenges of Keeping the focus of the mission in South Sudan while reminding those who had gone Uganda already , we were able to validate the presence and the vision of Operation Nehemiah in South Sudan and further more we, we were able to exhort our staff who had temporarily relocated to Uganda to reengage themselves in unity and prayers to press ahead with the work in South Sudan.
The return of our long term missionary to South Sudan Jonathan and Joyce Lueken and the Birth of their beautiful daughter Patience on July 8

The Lueken family

April 14. Appointment of 12 men) from Opari village headed by Steward Orule ( native South Sudanese men who refused to flee into refugee camps) to take over the two abandoned compounds of the ministry Borongole Mission headquarters and Beth Israel Farm land in April was a tremendous break through.
April 26. The drilling of water at the base of Gordon Mountain to supply water to our staff located 2800ft high on our mission compound was a tremendous break through, answer to prayer and incredible feat of engineering.
April 10. Establishing relationship with the 20 Members of Pastor Forum of Nimule, a grouping of various pastors from different churches to come together to pray for the nation and network by preaching the Gospel in the town of Nimule to bring people to repentance and Salvation.
Operation Nehemiah missions’ food production in 2017 has surpassed food production any time in the previous years combine. All this effort was achieved in the time of war and uncertainty in South Sudan.
Unity and cooperation among our ground leadership staff residing in the four mission compounds in Borongole, Beth Israel Farm, Gordon and Bibia has been very impressive. The adversity brought resolve and reshaping of our vision to strengthen the rebuilding effort in South Sudan.
November 8- November 30 the Historic Wedding of Isaac Tombe and formerly Katherine Saunders was truly answer to prayer. The construction of Isaac and Katherine Home on Gordon mountain mission was encouraging.

The Tombes family

The return of our pastoral leadership from Ugandan exile to South Sudan was truly answer to prayers.
The relocation of the office of the Governor of Imatong State from the State capital, Torit to Pageri county to deal with the national Crisis, restore order, bring healing encourage people to return from exile to clean around their homes was a clear sign of what the Lord has done on the path to restore South Sudan.
Construction of a beautiful Congregation Building in Bibia now holding over 700 people of people of which majority of them, are new believers.
The historic reconciliation meeting between the Governor of Imatong State and rebel Commanders on Nehemiah Trumpet Call 97.3 FM on December 9 was truly the best moment to end the year on good note.
Today December 21, The agreement on the cession of hostility between the warring parties in the Republic of South Sudan and South Sudan Government will be finally signed in the African new building in Ethiopia. This ia big Christmas gift to the people of South Sudan.

All in all, We are truly thankful to God on your account for standing with us. We could not do it on our own strength without the Lord but together with your effort, we can make a different in the life of many believers in South Sudan for the Glory of God.

Prayer needs:

Can you help us today complete this year successfully.? The current need to close the year end stands as follows $29,500 : We received $12,500 towards this support and now we are just down to $16,000 .

We are now ready to restore solar well both in Beth Israel farmland and Borongole Mission headquarters.

What do we have to do to achieve that?

We had the two wells drilled in 2013 and they were in operational state before the war broke out in 2016. Several solar panels were stolen since people fled the compound in July 2016. Water tanks were destroyed during the short window of staff absence in 2016, Pipe lines and outdoor facets are already established. Solar pumps are already in the wells both in Borongole and as well as in Beth Israel farm.
Currently staff are drinking water from two shallow boreholes one in the Beth Israel farm and the other in the Borongole Mission compound. The condition of the wells is deplorable. The water coming out is brown and dirty.
What we need are the followings: Solar panels and water tanks. Solar panels - $3000
Two 5000-liter tank - $ 3000.00
Plumbing and installation cost- $1,000
Fourth quarter 2017 mission budget balance- $10,000

Total: $17,000

You can place your tax deductible contribution on Line here at www.operationsnehemiah.org.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New year.

The Angel Gabriel told Daniel:

“Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.” (Daniel 9:25)

This verse gives us the key to the timing of the coming of the Messiah.

Yeshua, the Anointed One, fulfilled this timing perfectly when He was born of a virgin (almah in Hebrew, see Isaiah 7:14) and mikvahed (baptized) by His cousin Johanna the Immerser (John the Baptist).

Daniel wrote this prophecy in Babylonian exile in the sixth century BC while also studying prophecies already recorded by other Hebrew prophets like Jeremiah. (Daniel 9:2)

Just like Daniel, when we study prophecy in the Scriptures, we can learn a great many important facts about the Messiah, such as who the Messiah is, when He would come, the season for His return, and what He will do when He comes again.

Prophecies: Yeshua would live a sinless life, die on a Roman execution stake, be raised from the dead, ascend into heaven, and sit at the right hand of God: (Psalm 22:16; Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10–11; Psalm 68:18; Psalm 110:1)

In His grace

William Levi,

Founder & Overseer

Operation Nehemiah Missions

PO Box 563

Lanesborough, MA 01237