I am back in the states and sitting down to write an update after two months of not having an internet connection or reliable electricity. I apologize for not being able to give a live update on the ground, but am thankful for my family who relayed my phone updates to you all. I apologize for the length of this post which happens with summarizing a very full two months. I hope in the coming weeks to share the African Adventures from this past trip and the many awesome things that God did.
This trip was so blessed in so many ways! Our mission team (the Levi's and myself) feel this trip to have been the most fruitful and ordered trip to date in South Sudan. Relationships were built and strengthened with our ground team and the community in amazing ways!
Surveying of Gordon Mountain, Borongole mission station, and the extensive Beth Israel Farmland was completed, with the help and expertise of Surveyor Brian Mackay. Beautiful landscapes were observed and boundaries demarcated for land that will support and bless many people, today and years to come.
The Levi family and myself had frequent opportunities to preach and share God's word on the radio. Nehemiah Trumpet Call 97.3 has been a blessing to surrounding community and beyond to the Madi Corridor, both in South Sudan and Northern Uganda. We find our phone lines ringing off the hook and hear reports of lives being changed by Jesus Christ, as well as educated and encouraged to live spiritually and physically healthier lives.
Much of my time was spent with a hoe in hand and my feet in the rich fertile soil which is capable of growing so much food. The rainy season was delayed this year, but in faith we planted many crops, which are now being watered by the tropical rains of East Africa. I personally had a hand in planting: Corn, ground nuts(peanuts), yams, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, green peppers, carrots, banana, mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and different varieties of local legumes. With faithful tending from our ground team, by God's grace the village of Borongole will be amply supplied with food for the table and to sell to the surrounding community. This year a storefront is being run in our village by one of William's nephews and is the perfect place to sell the locally grown produce come harvest time.
With the brick production, you may have heard that a contract is about to be signed with a local school which we will be supplying 47,000 blocks to complete the project. Our block making team will be fully employed and the men given ample opportunity to help support their families. Our prayer is that this project will draw more contracts, which will enable this initiative to be a continuing means of self sustainability and a revolving economy.
The Beth Israel Messianic Congregation's Sister Church in Derito is now under a strong and water proof church building. For quite a few years the church has met in a dilapidated, leaky tent, but now is doing the finishing touches on a safe and dry meeting place.
Our Health Worker, Teban Moses, is going back to finish his next phase of medical training and on returning will have the skills needed to minister to the physical needs of the people. Rapid result malaria tests just arrived there and are one of many supplies to outfit the field clinic.
This missions trip the Drip Irrigation System was NOT able to be purchased and sent over. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we just had enough time with the tasks that were before us and the rains are now there. This year the hope is for me to bring the drip irrigation as the rainy season turns into the dry (this fall). I also will be looking to get some agricultural training and hands on experience this summer which will equip me to be fully a part of the cultivation in Borongole throughout the year. There is training for farming in the third world which is called FARMING GOD'S WAY and the techniques taught have very exciting and fruitful implications for future agriculture in Africa. I hope to attend this training in late June. Please pray for God's timing and provision for this very important training and initiative.
Focused research and study of the local flora will also be a part of my return to South Sudan.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support which were so vital to our mission these past two months!
I am free to share about the things that God did March through May as well as the future work that needs to be done in South Sudan. I and my family, are available to share in person about my African Adventures in South Sudan at your home among friends, or at your church or another venue. I am up to traveling and would love to arrange something. Just LET US KNOW.
Rubanga Cola nito (God be with you)!
~Jonathan Lueken with Operation Nehemiah 774-254-4336
Operation Nehemiah (East office) 86 E. Bacon St. Plainville, MA 02762
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