A Bend in the Trail: Adventures in South Sudan, Africa: June 2019

I apologize for the radio silence on the blog/update front. Perhaps some have wondered what has happened to Jon and Joyce any ways? I assure you that we are live and kicking, only there has been a LOT going on which has had us quite preoccupied. Among the busyness of life we have been experiencing, there is a special announcement which I will be sharing below, saving the BEST for last!

Patience wants you to know something!

God has been directing us to get out this summer and share about some of the hopes, prayers, and desire we have for going back to Africa. In the next couple months, we are specifically looking for contacts locally in the Northeast(MA, NH, RI, CT, VT, NY, PA, and ME). If you have a Church, small group, or if you would want us to share with friends in your home, we would love to come! Even if we have visited before, it would be great to reconnect and catch up. Please contact us if you have any interest.

We have been quite busy on several fronts:

By God's Grace, on May 16th we were able to send in Joyce application for getting her 10 year Green Card. We had gotten word on the 10th of June that our file was sent back due to one missing page that was overlooked in stuffing the envelope. The immigration non-profit that is assisting us sent it back out priority. We were praying that the application would be received even though Joyce's current Green card expired on June 6th.
Praise God for receiving her legal travel document on my birthday (June 20th)! This will open the possibility of us making a trip to Africa from July to August! God's will be done.

June 6th also marked the two year anniversary of Joyce's arrival into the USA. Now Patience is about to reach her second birthday in less than a month (July 8th)! Where has the time gone?

Weeding before we plant Asobi (Black-eyed Peas) and Mula (Okra) in the old goat pen.

Joyce and I have been aware that the room we have been renting was going to be occupied the month of July for Airbnb guests and had planned on living in another part of the farm house.

Due to unexpected circumstances we had to leave the room we have been renting last week and will not be able to stay on the same property in Stockbridge, so once again Joyce and I (Just us, not my parents) are in need of housing. Since then we have had several housing offers, but most out-of-state and are asking for the Lord to direct us. God has provided us a place to stay whenever we are in Eastern MA, but we are hoping to stay in the Berkshires, as we have a very supportive home church and a lot of connections. However, we are willing to go and stay wherever the Lord would direct us.

Currently we are temporarily staying in one of the rooms that will be airbnb rental this summer, just long enough for us to pack the rest of our things and find another place to live. Greatly appreciate you prayers at this time.

My parents are still at the same address & can receive our mail, as our address has NOT changed at this time

Memorial Day on Mount Greylock

Now for the BIG News! If you looked at our family picture at the top of this post, you can count ... 1... 2... 3.... and 4????!! Many have heard the news via word of mouth, but this is the official announcement!

You heard it correctly, Patience's new sibling is on the way with a due date of October 14th! We are very excited and Joyce is already 23 weeks pregnant. More than half way there and we are asking the Lord to direct us and provide for a landing for this new blessing. God showed Joseph and Mary a place for His Son to be born, and we know He will do the same for us. I wouldn't mind if Joyce's place of delivery is discovered a little earlier then Mary and Joseph discovered the stable, but every detail is in God's hand.

There is so much going on right now that we are in need of and so thankful for your prayers. I am asking the Lord to help me be better about giving regular updates and keep you abreast of what is going on in the African Lueken's lives.

Reunion with my brother from another mother, after 10 years!

Please Pray for:

-With so much that we are waiting on and processing through right now, Joyce and I are overwhelmed and are really struggling. The last few weeks have been especially challenging and we are crying out for an extra measure of God's grace.

-A place that we can call home in the USA and if God wills, in the Berkshires. This is our third unanticipated move in two years and and has been very hard on Joyce. My desire is for Joyce to have a quiet place that we can call home and she can show the hospitality that she is so good at. We hope to have a home base where we can study, rest from, and travel out of.

-God's hand of health on Joyce and the new baby that is growing inside her! For Joyce that she would have the rest and nutrients her body needs through the stress and rest of the pregnancy. Wisdom for where we should have the baby (home, hospital, etc.) and provision and being directed by the Lord to the right midwife. We miss our dear Shivani, who was such a blessed help for the coming of Patience!

-Preparations and provision for a trip to Africa this summer. We are asking for God's confirming this is His plan. There are MANY details that would need to fall into place. We need a passport and a travel vaccine for Patience, clothes/miscellaneous supplies for travel, various travel expenses while in Africa, and airfare.

-Our Sonship course as we are five sessions into the course and continuing, though we are taking a few weeks off (It is self-paced) to seek the Lord in this time of major transition. We are learning a lot and hope to really focus on the remaining lessons, once we ride through some of the current waves of adventure that are before us. God has provided for almost half the tuition cost and praying, believing He will provide the remainder.

-Continued direction for Who God would have us be connected to when we go back to minister in Africa and the type of work that He wants us to focus on.
We continue to lift up Joyce's family in the refugee camps and pray for God's transformation in their lives and our hope that they will be able to return to South Sudan soon. We are asking God
for how He would enable us to go over, as it is in our heart to reach out and help.

-The Gospel taking heart in the people of South Sudan and their leaders. Prince of Peace come!