Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Leaving for Africa on December 8th!!!

Greetings and giving thanks for all that God is doing! Many reasons to PRAISE our God and to PRAY to see Him provide as the countdown begins.

PRAISE God with us for:

Everywhere that I have had the opportunity to share, the face of little Wani would come to mind. You may remember the little boy whose family couldn't afford to get his illness diagnosed. He was treated for malaria, but my little friend died a few days later from Yellow Fever.... a curable disease. The goal for my family's previous trip was to raise the funds for re-opening and equipping of our free medical clinic. I am praising God that the entire $5000 was provided to reopen our MEDICAL CLINIC with needed medicines & supplies. 
The money has been sent to our ground team and they are so excited to once again give FREE medical care to our village and the surrounding community. Our Field Director in South Sudan, TImothy Levi wrote:
"now after learning that, you have managed to raise funds amounting to $5000 for clearing out people tears in doubt or worries health wise, we are all delighted for that because making this health department operational or functional shall provide enough strength  and hope for many, MAY THE GLORY BE TO LORD."


The ministry has just received a donation of a complete DENTAL OFFICE to be shipped over in the spring of 2015. This can be set up in the village and a dentist from another area could come periodically to serve the people until someone in the village can be trained in dentistry.

As Assistant Coordinator for Sustainable Development, my primary focus will be to help to BUILD A FARMHOUSE at the Beth Israel Farmland

William Levi shares about The Beth Israel Farmhouse Project : 

"The time has finally come to build a home & storage warehouse in the Beth Israel farmland beginning in the later part of 2014! Our vision is to be able to accommodate both our family & an additional 3 - 4 families, including missionaries, visitors, & the families of our ground staff to allow for full time engagement in farm operations. Please keep this exciting development in prayer.

I will be leaving for South Sudan with my eldest daughter, Abijah, & Jonathan Lueken on Dec. 8th for 10 days. Mr. Lueken will be staying in the field for six months. The scope of this shorter trip is to hold a two day leadership training with the church & to begin construction of the Beth Israel farmhouse. Hannah & five of our children will not be joining us this time because of the short duration of this trip.  We plan to travel back as a family in March 2015 for 2-3 months.
Needs:
Funds stand at  $40,000.00  and $46,000  more needed to complete the farmhouse. To donate to  online, visit www.operationsnehemiah.org.
Thank you for standing with as  we rebuild the wall in the Republic of South Sudan.  
May God bless you in His service. William Levi"

For more detailed information about the Farmhouse go to this link: http://www.operationsnehemiah.org/#!on-matching-fund-drive/c19uv


I will be working alongside my adopted brothers to build the farmhouse, which is 5 miles on a bush road from the village. Thus far we have had to trek by foot, tractor, or other vehicle back and forth each day because there is no housing there on the farm, thus the need for the farmhouse. I recently spoke with a seasoned traveller to Africa. He suggested I get a Paratrooper Folding Bike that I could take on the plane and a jungle hammock with mosquito netting & rain protection. This hammock would be my housing during the construction away from the village, so I could stay overnight out in the bush for a longer time.

So far, God has provided enough for Jon my round trip airfare, immunizations, some of the needed food & supplies, but there are some things that we are still praying in. 

PRAY for provision of:

~ Additional food & supplies & travel expenses. $500 needed for a 6 month stay 
DEC. 8 to May 28, 2015

~Funds needed for the extra checked bags on the plane that are filled with donations of clothing, sewing, school & first aid supplies. PRAY for the $400 needed for extra bag fees, or better, yet, for favor with the authorities that they wave the fee.

~ A Hennesey Deep Jungle Asym HAMMOCK (with mosquito netting & extra thick bottom that does not allow mosquito’s to bite through the bottom of the hammock)

~ A Montague Paratrooper Pro Folding Bike - that I can take on the plane. Someone suggested that I contact Montague Biles in Boston, asking if they would discount  or donate a bike if we give pictures and report back of its usefulness in South Sudan. Regular price $945. Pray they call us back. 

~ I  am also finishing an audio recording for THE BIBLE OR THE AXE, the story of William Levi's escape from  Sudan. Not sure how many Cd’s will need to be purchased for each copy of the book, but hope to share it with others. Such as, elderly folks who cannot read, for family’s to listen to, and to air on Nehemiah Trumpet Call Radio Station in Borongole, South Sudan!


Thank you for sending me off with your prayerful support. I could not be there without it. Please pray for those in the village of Borongole as well, who are hard at work to rebuild their nation and sharing the Lord's bounty with those around them.

After I leave for Africa, my family is available to come to your home, church, small group, homeschool or Christian school to share pictures and tell of the work and the needs over in South Sudan.  

Rubanga kola nito! (God be with you)

Jonathan Lueken

"Operation Nehemiah Mission focuses on the Great Commission in the South Sudan sharing the Hope of Salvation in Jesus the Messiah for the redemption of mankind from their sin. It focuses on rebuilding the Family, the Church and Community from the ashes of war. This is done through establishing genuine long term indigenous leadership among the South Sudanese nationals & pastors through family discipleship and sustainable living. Our objective is to reduce the resources coming from USA and other countries by increasing the resources within the country. Our success will be measured by communicating the biblical framework of the family and the church.  Along with that comes the local pastoral leadership, in conducting workshops on the sufficiency of scripture; Christ centered worship, and biblical peacemaking and a work ethic to deal with physical need of their flock in society. We encourage men, women and children to play their proper roles in the home, church  and community by working with their own hands. New believers are exhorted to make their calling and election sure, putting on the new life and identity in Christ. ” For more  information on Operation Nehemiah please visit our main website at www.operationsnehemiah.org    


Friday, November 7, 2014

Heading Home to Africa!! A praise report and prayer needs.

Ingoni!(Hello)

   I am very excited to share with you a great blessing I received not too long ago. Some of you may have heard already if you have been on Facebook, but for the rest here it goes…
     
     Initially, I was quoted $650 for a one way ticket which is a good deal, but that deal fell through over the weekend. The travel agent called me on Tuesday to let me know the the one way ticket had gone up to $1100! This was a lot more than I usually pay. I was beginning to agonize over losing a good airfare, when the agent said she would look into the cost of a round trip ticket. To my surprise and great joy, it was the exact same price, $1100, for a round trip ticket! (my cheapest two way ticket to date had been $1250.)

    On Tuesday I was able to purchase my airfare for my 6 month trip to Africa! God is so good and I will be heading across the Atlantic December 8th! I am so excited to see my African family again and work alongside them. 




   My main tasks will be:

 ~Building the Beth Israel Farm house, enabling William Levi's family to have a permanent home in the farmland when they make their yearly trip in February. The building will be large enough to accommodate additional families who want to visit, as well as, storage for the equipment, and produce for our farming operations. Currently, there is no housing or storage on the farm which is 5 miles from the village.

~Working along side the people as they cultivate and farm during the rainy season beginning in late March.

~Continue to preach on the radio as often as I am available.

~Live with and do life with my adopted family and the people of Borongole, South Sudan.     

Newly-plowed Corn field,  May 2014 

August Harvest 2014


Prayer appreciated:

~ for arrangements for the upcoming trip and all that has to be done on the ground to be ready for our arrival.

~ for the provision of immunizations, additional food, medicines, & many other supplies needed for my trip.

 ~I (Jon) hope to get my South Sudanese permanent residency while over there and prayer for wisdom to navigate the red tape, bribes, and governmental corruption would be much much appreciated!

~ for the means to get thru cheaply all the material donations to the people of S. Sudan as we check into the airlines on Dec. 8th.

~ for increased monthly support, for me on the ground in Africa and my family here in the states. Thankful for $505 committed monthly support thus far for our family.

~ for the $4500 more needed for the medical clinic to be reopened & supplied.

~A computer & hard drive that can handle programs needed to keep track of donations and other necessary systems to help our Plainville office with paperwork, as right now we are doing everything by hand.

~ for peace in S. Sudan's civil conflict because the Prince of Peace has come to reign in people's hearts!!

Rubanga kola nito (God be with you)!
~Jonathan Lueken with Operation Nehemiah  774-254-4336

NEW Operation Nehemiah Missions website being updates www.operationsnehemiah.org

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