Six Weeks of Sojourning (and counting...)

Patience Takes the wheel!

Merriam-Webster defines Sojourn as: a period of time when you stay in a place as a traveler or guest. That would describe our nomadic movements in the last several weeks quite accurately & we could go by the title "sojourners". On September 15th, Joyce, Patience, and I, along with my parents jumped into our van and set off on an epic adventure! All our belongings were in storage and our home became a red Honda Odyssey AND the hearts and homes that would welcome us during our traverse.

Friends of many years in VA

"Hanging out in Free Onion!"

Former Neighbors and good friends relocated from the Berkshires!

Two Jonathans' reconnect after three years!

Enjoying fellowship in TN

    We were blessed to fellowship with friends and family across Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee as we steadily peregrinated southwards. Growing up, it was not unheard of for the Lueken clan to travel 11+ hours in a day, but in order to preserve my wife's sanity and not provoke my daughter to the extreme opposite of her name we decided to break up the travel into manageable, 2-5 hour sections. It was more bearable for my wife (who had never traveled farther than 5 hours away from her home before she met me) and a lot more pleasurable way of seeing the beautiful country that is the USA. During our trip Patience made a lot of friends!

Just over the border of North Carolina!

Buddies!

Eating green beans and watching bunnies

    The first goal  in the journey was for Joyce and I to attend a Community Health Evangelism (CHE) Course in Marion, NC  from Sept. 23-28.  Equip International graciously accommodated us in a 3 bedroom living quarters that enabled my father and mother to watch Patience, while Joyce and I attended classes throughout the week. 

Group activity

Role play: I was a four year old asking food from a drunk father

   

Student Discussion

  Each day was started with a time of worship and morning devotions that was encouraging and challenging at the same time. The daily lessons were very participatory and required great amounts of student involvement/input. The instructors would often lead us to find our own answers to questions asked. In a very hands on way we learned:

-How to build a relationship with a community;
-Help them  to identify their own problems and needs within the community;
-Point them to the 1st and foremost solution that targets their hearts; a need for a Savior and discovering the grace found through the Lord Jesus Christ.
-Encourage community and individual ownership of the wholistic interventions and solutions to spiritual, physical, emotional, and social health.
-Encourage evangelism and the planting of Churches
-Train them so they can train other communities and villages.

Patience making new friends

Dinner buddies

CHE class of September 2018

    The relationships built with other students (who are also involved in missions and Christian ministry work domestically and internationally) would have been worth the price of tuition alone. Fellowship over meals, chatting between classes, and time together after the daily sessions was encouraging and revitalizing. I even got to do a workout with a professional wrestler who is going to the mission field!
      Joyce and I are really excited to implement this training as soon as we get back to Africa!

Visiting with Donald and Ruth Fonseca, former missionaries to South Sudan and East Africa in the 1950's.

     We were blessed by the highlight of visiting former missionaries to South Sudan and East Africa, Donald and Ruth Fonseca in TN. They worked with Joyce's Great Grandfather in Opari, S. Sudan from 1957 to 1963 and had a lot of stories. At 86, he is still full of energy and can still speak the language! They both still speak fondly of their time in Africa and what Don calls "going to Madi University", by learning about the people, language, and culture.  

Gospel-centered discussion, prayer, and laughter.

    The return trip included more visiting of friends and we also had a blessed time of talking to and praying with Paul Washer and the African coordinator at Heart Cry Missionary Society in VA. We reached New England on October 15th, a month after starting our travels. 

Patience Learning from her Mama 

     We have continued to visit friends and family in the New England area, including attending an EMT conference and a wedding. Currently Joyce and I are searching for a home in the Berkshires/Western MA area(though we are willing to go anywhere He would lead us) and my parents are also looking for housing that would be separate from us, but hopefully close by. We will keep you updated and eagerly await to share the praise report of God's provision as it comes!

    Until we have a permanent address we will be receiving personal and ministry mail 
C/O 86 E Bacon Street, Plainville, MA, 02762
    

Hiking Sharps Ridge in Knoxville, TN

    Thank you for your prayers for:

   ~ God's plan for housing for Joyce and I and for my parents. I hope to begin training to work with the Lee EMS and ambulance service as soon as we have a place to stay in the area.

   ~ Grace for Joyce as she has a hard time travelling and both of  us are getting tired of the frequent nomadic movements.

   ~ God's direction for Joyce and I concerning His timing for us going back to S. Sudan.

   ~ Encouragement for Joyce's family as they live with the reality of Lodu's passing and that they would encounter more of God's Grace and Love every day.

    ~ Understanding of God's grace and Salvation for the leaders and people of S. Sudan, as the peace agreement has been signed and hope of people returning to their homes with hearts transformed by the Gospel.

Rubanga kolu nyito (God be with you)!

~Jonathan and Joyce and Patience Lueken 
 Phone #: 774-203-8308
Temporary Address: 86 E Bacon St, Plainville, MA, 02762