In Honor of Joyce's Birthday

October 26 is a special day for my family. On that day in 1992, my wife was born in a refugee settlement in Uganda. I have had the great blessing of coming to know the caring heart that God has given my wife. I look forward to spending the rest of my life learning more about that beautiful heart. 

Instead of thinking on what she might want for herself, Joyce's focus on her birthday is on the welfare of her family in the refugee camps. Therefore, in honor of Joyce's Birthday, I (Jonathan) have a story and a plea for you.

 

Lueken Family at Lydia's Baby Sprinkle

Go back with me to 2005 in South Sudan, Africa. A fragile ceasefire agreement had just been acknowledged between south and north Sudan, but violent rebel groups were still roaming the countryside in Eastern Equatoria. Albert and Rozana Kenyi lived in a Ugandan refugee camp with 12 of their married and unmarried children for fifteen years. They had fled their beloved home in Loa, South Sudan, in the early '90s. Now they had to decide: Should they stay in the relative safety of Uganda? Or go back and rebuild from nothing to prepare the way for their large family to return? Albert and his wife decided to go, even though they knew that at any moment, they could both lose their lives at the hands of the LRA rebels.

I, for one, am thankful they did, as three years later, Gune Joyce and the rest of her siblings rejoined her parents in Loa. Little did a young man in New England know, that there was a quiet, hardworking, and carring young lady half way across the world who would one day be his wife and best friend.

Sadly, the nation of South Sudan did not stay peaceful, as ambitions of political leaders within the newly formed country split the country in down the middle. The year 2013 began almost a decade of bloodshed between brothers and sisters whose only difference was they were born in different tribes. In 2016, Loa and the surrounding regions were seeing innocent civillians killed in the conflict. This caused a mass exodus where once again Joyce's family had to leave their homes. Joyce and I were married in the middle of this flight in an almost abandoned village. Robbers, fire, and elephants would destroy the homes that my in-laws worked so hard to build.

L to R: Agalla(brother), Albert (father), Grace (sister), Rozana (mother) and Lueken's in front of Joyce's Parents scorched and cracked hut in Loa

This brings us to the heart burden that Joyce (and I) carry.

In November 2021, God enabled us to begin building a large home for Joyce's family in their small village of Ongorro, located in a corner of Loa. We designed the house with enough room to fit Joyce's parents and other family members who want to return to rebuild. By March of this year, our ground team had completed the walls and the roof. Since then, we have run out of the needed funds to continue the work and had to stop. The next steps are:

-Installing Doors and Windows

-Plastering (the finished cement coating on the interior and exterior walls)

-Casting and tiling the floors

-Transportation (The cost of bringing the men and supplies to the work site).

The total cost amounts to $10,000 dollars.

The house during the rainy season.

We really want to make this house livable so Joyce's parents and family can leave the refugee camps. There are food shortages and many other hardships for the South Sudanese in exile in Uganda. On top of that, there is a new outbreak of Ebola that is beginning to spread in Uganda. We are earnestly praying for Joyce's immediate and extended family, as well as everyone in Uganda right now! We have an urgency to begin construction by January 2023 once the rains stop. 

Please join us in prayer for God to meet these needs and that very soon Joyce’s family can return to their home in South Sudan. If you think of Joyce on her 30th birthday, please pray! And if you want to get something for her, please consider contributing towards this cause. Thank you!

Rubanga Kolu Nyito (God be with you)

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

Go Fund Me Link: https://gofund.me/fc015c03

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

Mail checks PAYABLE to Jonathan Lueken   PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

A Precious Treasure Delivered: An Exciting Update from Jon and Joyce

 In the words of Eugene Meltsner (from "Adventures in Odyssey"), Greetings and Salutations!

        I hope you are well! I have two things to share today. One is a very exciting announcement that you don’t want to miss and also an update on some exciting happening at the house in Loa, South Sudan. I will save the announcement for last!

Tiny Feet!

First, Joyce’s Father, Albert and Brother, Duku, arrived in Loa mid August to do work preparing the land around the house. With the help of some local men staying near Loa Mission, they have prepared fields for planting, and begun to clean the grasses around the house that could be a potential fire hazard come dry season and widespread wildfires. Many varieties of fruit and shade trees were also planted. The saplings that went into the ground included: mangos, guavas, avocado, jack fruit, and oranges (for food), as well as Nim (medicine and shade) and Tik trees (sustainable source of hardwood).

The house during the rainy season.

 One encouraging report we received is that no elephants have been seen since they arrived and it appears they have left the area. This will make Joyce’s village safer for those returning and Lord Willing, ensure that the newly planted tree will not be ripped out and destroyed by elephantine marauders.

The particular tasks outlined above will be finished by the end of the month and Joyce’s brother and father will return to Joyce’s mother in the refugee camps. They and we are waiting for God to provide the needed funds so we can resume construction on the house and make it inhabitable. The next construction steps are:

-Installing Doors and Windows

-Plastering (the finished cement coating on the interior and exterior walls)

-Casting and tiling the floors

-Transportation (The cost of bringing the men and supplies to the work site).

Please join us in prayer for God to meet these needs and that very soon Joyce’s family can return to their home in South Sudan!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now for a special announcement (for those who haven’t heard it by word of mouth)!

I have been reflecting on how the most precious gifts are often the ones we wait for. The specific gift I have been thanking God for is one the Joyce and I waited 9 months for.

Taking a walk during early morning Labor

The birth space

The Midwife team preparing in early labor.

For those who solved my picture puzzle (previous post), you know that we were expecting our third child in August. Well, the baby decided that waiting for the due date was too long, so she came 3 days early! Lydia Mae Juwa (Juh-WA) Lueken was born on August 7^th at 9:50 AM after only 7 hours of labor. She entered the world at 6 lbs. 9oz and 20 inches long and made her presence known!

Lydia striking a dramatic pose 

Patience and Benaiah are so excited to see their new sister.

Joyce was given the desire of her heart to give birth in a home birth setting. I was able to directly assist the midwives and Joyce, catch the baby and cut the cord.  A huge thanks to Nurse Midwife Janet and our dear friend, Joyce’s midwifery mentor, and our children’s adopted Auntie, Sushilla for making this possible! 

Sweet Dreams!

Joyce is recovering well and Lydia is eating, sleeping, (and pooping) like a pro, and gaining weight like someone who wants to go places! Thank you to everyone who has brought meals or already sent gifts our way! We are so blessed! I have wanted to send out a personal thank you, but have been kept busy being a full-time meal planner, cook, dish washer, babysitter, Stroller chauffeur driver, and baby comforter.

Going birdwatching is a great way to give Mama some peace and quiet.

Baba and Lydia

Thank you for celebrating with us and enjoy the pictures!

"I love my Newborn sister!"

Big brother holding little sissy!

Patience gets a fussy Lydia back to sleep.

 

"Thanks Big Sis!"

Please pray for:

-Joyce’s quick recovery and extra Grace for the transition of taking care of two toddlers AND an infant. The regular household tasks, feeding Baby, and jointly homeschooling Patience will be a juggle.

-The continued healthy growth of Lydia and for Patience and Benaiah’s adjustment to having a new (and fragile) sibling.

-God’s protection and blessing as Joyce’s Father and Brother finish up the land preparation and return to check on their families in the Ugandan refugee camps.

-God’s Provision for continuing the construction of the house: ~Doors and windows ~Plastering the walls ~Casting and tiling the floors ~Transportation of building materials and the men doing the work ~Plumbing (lesser priority)

-Peace in Nimule, where there has been major tribal conflict and retaliatory killings that have fluctuated back and forth this whole year.

-True peace brought to the lives of all South Sudanese, both in and outside the country, that would be established through the gospel touching men, women, and children’s hearts!

 

Hi Everybody!

God bless you and keep you!

Jonathan, Joyce, Patience, Benaiah, and Lydia

Picture Puzzle; Discover the Hidden Message

 

Solve the picture puzzle and leave a comment or send me an email if you have figured out the hidden message!

Rubanga Kolu Nyito (God be with you)

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

 jonlueken@gmail.com  

A Step Closer: The Journey from Exile to Home

 Greetings to you!

     Joyce and I want to thank all of you who have supported us in prayer and in other ways! You are such a blessing and we thank God for you partnering with us!

Exciting progress! Read on...

     I know many of us have been directing our attention and prayers towards Ukraine in this time and I strongly believe we need to continue to do so. As I have been praying for God's will in this warring conflict, my mind also goes to South Sudan and the peace of the gospel that is needed in men's hearts. 

South Sudan(a little different situation from the Ukraine)  went  through fifty plus years of war against a larger and stronger Northern Sudan. Very shortly after they gained independence, the country was split asunder by tribalism and hatred amongst each other. Though things are much more stable in South Sudan now than they have been, there is still that violent anger that breaks out between tribes, as bitterness from years past still seeps to the surface.

 My prayer is that Ukrainians, Russians, and South Sudanese alike will come to know the Love of God and learn to love others in the way Christ intended. I also pray that those who are causing harm and doing wrong would be stopped and convicted for their disregard of the lives of others. 

Ajjugo(little boy) is happy to be in Loa with His Baba (Dad), Mama, and Abi (Grandfather)

   I wanted to give you an update on some of the exciting things happening in Loa. Right now Joyce's Father, Albert Kenyi, and her brother Agalla David, along with his wife and youngest child are staying in Loa. They are sleeping in the Loa health center, currently under renovation, until we can get a roof, windows, and doors on the house that is being constructed for Joyce's parents.

Making the Brick "Oven" with Joyce's Father supervising (2nd to Right).

Agalla, with his son Ajjugo, pumping water

       The purpose of staying there is preparing for and supervising the next stages of construction.  Under their supervision a group of men just made and burned 10,000 bricks! These bricks will be used for finishing touches on the house and other buildings that will be needed, such as a latrine, outdoor kitchen, and housing for other members of Joyce's family. Very thankful for our coordinating team that is working so hard to keep the work going, since we are unable to be there at this time.

    One of the great praise reports was of the help received by a garrison of government soldiers. When the small contingency of Joyce's family arrived in Loa, they were contacted by the commander of a nearby barracks with the offer of some food stuffs to add to the supplies they had brought. Another concern that Joyce and I had was for my brother-in-law with his wife and young son since they had no vehicle in the case of an emergency. That same commander reached out later and said that if they need transport to Nimule for an emergency then he would give them a ride. Truly an unexpected blessing!

1 of 2 dump truck loads of timber for the roof.

Inspecting the finished roof frame. L to R: Albert Kenyi, Agalla 

The roofing work is now underway! Our engineer and his work crew are done building the timber framing of the roof.  Albert Kenyi(my father-in-law), who worked his whole life as a master carpenter, has a lot of knowledge and was able to advise the engineers in setting the height of the roof! They will treat all the boards with motor oil (to protect from termites) and then put on the metal sheets starting next week.

Albert sits on the water holding tank, that will have a cover and a tap at the bottom.

 They are also in the process of building a closed water tank which will be attached to a rain water catchment system off the roof, using gutters. This rain harvesting will be a great blessing to the whole family when they return and save many trips to the borehole.

We are asking God for his provision for the coming phases of work so we can keep the momentum going and the work crew won't run out of work. The next steps are doors, windows, and plumbing, followed by plastering (the fine coating of cement over the brick walls on the exterior and interior).

Back in the Berkshires, Baba (Dad) and Patience go on a winter hike!

Please Pray for:

~God to direct and guide us as we desire to return to serve long term in South Sudan. 

~God's protection on the work crew and those of Joyce's family who are in Loa as part of the coordinating team. Also for Joyce's mother who is in the refugee camp, waiting to join her husband in Loa as soon as the house is inhabitable.

~Comfort for Joyce and her family, who just lost a very dear aunt from a chronic disease. Lucy was a widow and left behind 8 children, most of whom are young . She was buried in Loa at Joyce's family home. Please pray that God would raise up someone to love and raise these children.

~God's provision for the continuation of the work after the roofing: Windows, doors, plumbing, and cement plastering, etc..

 ~For Peace and God's will to be done in the Ukraine and that the mighty hand of God would be seen! 

~That the anger and the tribalism in South Sudan and elsewhere would be conquered by the love of Christ.

Making a tortoise out of Legos for science class. Benaiah has his "angry tortoise" face on.

Rubanga Kolu Nyito (God be with you)

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

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

Mail checks PAYABLE to Jonathan Lueken   PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary GoFundMe link for those who don't have Paypal:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jon-and-joyce-2021-trip-to-south-sudan?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Life in South Sudan: Episode 1; Driving in Juba

 It is now February 2022! Who would have thought time could pass by so quickly? 

Over the next couple months, I will be posting short videos from our most recent trip to South Sudan (February to April 2021). Each video posted will highlight an aspect of life in South Sudan and what we experienced while living there for two months. I will be posting them weekly to biweekly and hope you enjoy these short "snapshots" into life in South Sudan.

 Episode 1: Driving in Juba

Juba is the capital of South Sudan and is a small, but wild city! It has a population of 403, 212 people(as of August 2020) and is 52 square miles. There are no trees for miles surrounding the city because of the populations almost exclusive use of firewood. The lack of trees makes Juba a dry and very hot city, with very little rain.

We landed there February 14th, 2021 in the Juba International Airport. We then had to walk down stairs from the airplane and then a quarter mile on the open airstrip in 108 F degrees to get to the small metal building called "the terminal"! 

One of the more exciting elements of Juba life is driving. Juba is a two and a half hour drive away from the southerly border town of Nimule. The video below was taken at a time when traffic was not bad. However, if you observe some of the driving techniques employed and then translate that to a jammed roadway full of cars and motorcycles, I think you will get the idea!

An update on the work progress of the house in Loa, South Sudan for Joyce's parents will soon be forthcoming!

God bless!

Jonathan and Joyce

Phone #: 774-203-8308

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

Mail checks PAYABLE to Jonathan Lueken   PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary GoFundMe link for those who don't have Paypal:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jon-and-joyce-2021-trip-to-south-sudan?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1