On the Move / New Trails on the Horizon

Greetings Everyone,

The adventure continues as we are following the Lord to the next place that we will be calling home. 

For those who did not hear, the Lueken clan, both from the American and African front, are in transition again. The owners of the B&B have a wonderful opportunity to take in their aging mother only if they move into the B&B. This will mean that the operations of Maplewood B&B have been temporarily suspended and four generations will live and work together! A lot of prayer has gone up by the owners before they told us in mid-July, so we are excited for them and confident that the Lord had a plan for us.

Indeed, the Lord has a plan & 2 months later, Jonathan, Joyce, Patience & the rest of my family have packed & moved to live with friends, who also do ministry work in Africa(Kenya). We are renting five rooms on the second floor (a kitchen, bathroom, sitting room/bedroom, & 2 other bedrooms, leaving one room as a guest room, so you can still come visit). We are 20 minutes north of the previous home in Otis, only a stone's throw off the Mass Turnpike at exit 2 in LEE.

Our little Patience is growing well and becoming a little chubby baby. Joyce is slowly adjusting and getting used to life here, except for the COLD, which will require the purchase of a musk ox hair coat for this coming winter!
I (Jonathan) have finished a five-week intensive course in International Public Health and had a three day in-class session and exam hosted at Mass General Hospital in Boston, the 7 - 9^th of September. Currently seeking the Lord for the next specific educational opportunity for me to walk through, before Joyce and I return to Africa next year, Lord willing.

International Medicine and Public Health Course through INMED

The grandparents & auntie are enjoying their grandchild &, though they will miss running the B&B, Mom & Dad are looking forward to traveling w/ us African Luekens this fall here in the USA! 

With Cousin Pastor Gabriel Nicholas Lagu from South Sudan visiting us at Maplewood

So, we are planning to be on the road again  mid-October to share about what God is doing in South Sudan. Our fall itinerary will not be as packed as past years due to consideration for my wife, the definition of a home body, who never travelled long distance until we got married. This trip we are targeting stops in PA, MN, and MO. Our peregrinations will begin 12 or 13th of October, as we synchronize the stops and connections along the way.

 In early Nov., after the fall trip to visit the Lueken clan and a few supporting churches, we are available to share locally here in New England and would love to connect with any of you who would like hear about the work that is continuing in S. Sudan and meet Joyce and Patience (who is currently impatiently crying).

Fall trip Itinerary. If your along the way we would love to say hi.

    I am so thankful for how God has provided for us and given us His grace for every moment before and after Joyce and I have arrived from Africa. Since arriving, the whole Lueken clan has experienced: some culture shock (for Joyce and I), a birth, starting Parenting 101, an intensive online course, and moving. There have been stresses and pressure through it all and to this day there still are challenges that we face, but our greatest comfort is that we are not alone. 

"For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ¹¹ You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many." 2 Cor. 1:8-11

For those who want to know what to pray for:

-Please continue to pray for the increased monthly support needed for our daily needs/food, rent, etc. for Joyce and I here in the USA, as well as my parents and sister. They have been a faithful support team and we could not do what we are doing in S. Sudan without them. Our current monthly support (for both families combined) is $775 and we now have an $1100 per month in rent to pay, in addition to food, travel, and other bills. God faithfully provides our daily manna despite the fact that the math doesn't add up. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider!

-Our upcoming travels in October for God to order our steps and for required car maintenance, and other various expenses that are incurred on the road.

-Wisdom for the next step in the medical education I receive here in the States for the next year. There are a couple specific options which I am seriously considering right now, including basic and intermediate EMT; and an opportunity for a short term, international hands-on, service experience and receiving a diploma in International Public Health. I will keep you updated to more developments as things become more clear.


Thank you for your prayers and support. Stay tuned for future updates and progress of our travels!

Rubanga kolu nito (God be with you)!

~Jonathan and Joyce Lueken  
New Phone #: 774-203-8308

Operation Nehemiah Missions www.operationsnehemiah.org Operation Nehemiah Rebuilding the Republic of South Sudan from Bottom up, One family,  and one village at a time, for Jesus

To Donate on the website scroll to the bottom - Choose option #2 

Then choose PayPal or Credit card 

Note: one time or recurring/monthly option.(Still working on getting that option fixed)

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to:
Operation Nehemiah PO Box 502, Otis, MA 01253 

Operation Nehemiah Missions - Headquarters: 

PO Box 563 Lanesborough, MA, 01267  413-770-4711