Looking to Our True Source of Safety in the year 2018

Hello Everyone,

    I pray that you all had a blessed Christmas and a bringing in the new year of 2018! It has been a busy couple of months and I apologize for the period of silence, but I will be posting a new year update soon. 

     As I have been reflecting on this new year, I came across a poem by Paul David Tripp which talks about our safety in Christ. It speaks of our True Confidence in the face of personal, political, national, or international uncertainty. I hope you are encouraged as I was.

May the Lord richly bless you with being safe in His arms wherever He leads you!
Rubanga kolu anyito (God be with you),

Jonathan and Joyce and Patience

"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling.." (v.5)

I am safe,
not because I have no trouble,
or because I never experience danger.
I am safe,
not because people affirm me,
or my plans always work out.

I am safe,
not because I am immune from disease,
or free of the potential for poverty.
I am safe
not because I am protected from disappointment,
or separated from this fallen world.
I am safe,
not because I am wise or strong.
I am safe,
not because I deserve comfort
or have earned my ease.
I am safe,
not because of money
or power,
or position,
or intellect,
or who I know,
or where I live.

I am safe because of the glorious mystery of grace.
I am safe because of the presence of boundless love.
I am safe because of
divine mercy,
divine wisdom,
divine power,
divine grace.
I am safe,
not because I never face danger,
but because you are  with me in it.
You have not given me a ticket out of danger.
You have not promised me a life of ease.
You have chosen to place me in a fallen world.
I am safe  because you have given me
the one thing
that is the only thing
that will ever keep me safe.
You have given me
You.
I am safe from my evil heart
and this shattered world,
not because I can escape them both,
but because in the middle of
temptation and trial,
danger and disappointment
sickness and want,
You give me everything
I need to  fight temptation
and avoid defeat
and to point others to the safety
that can only be found in You.
So, I will wake up tomorrow
and face the anxiety of not knowing,
the fear of my own weakness,
and the reality of the fall.
I will live with
faith,
courage,
perseverance,
and hope.
And when danger comes,
and it will,
I will whisper to my weakening heart,
"Emmanuel is your shelter,
You are safe."

Devotional on Psalm 27 by Paul David Tripp

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

The Gift of Water on Gordon Mountain

Ingoni  mozi ((hello my friend)! 


   My heart is full of joy and thankfulness at this moment. Certainly, there is so much I can thank God for on a daily basis, Salvation through Christ Jesus and His Grace being top of the list. Today, however, I have specific answer to prayer which I would like to share with all of you!



   Since Aug - Sept of last year, myself and 6 other men have been living and working on Gordon Mountain, the location of our gospel radio station and Operation Nehemiah mission compound. Our great privilege and responsibility: to preach the gospel through the airwaves on a daily basis to South Sudan and Northern Uganda.



    The seven of us were also being encouraged as we encouraged others, studying, gathering for regular prayer, and group bible study.

    Life on Gordon Mt. required a Spartan lifestyle to a certain extent. It was beans for lunch and supper with a carbohydrate choice of either rice or posho(maize flour boiled bread). Next days menu: Repeat.

      The water used for washing, cooking, and bathing came directly from our next door neighbor, the Nile River. Drinking water was pumped at a borehole, two to three miles away and transported by motorcycle (two 20 liter jerry cans at a time) or car when available.

  

Gordon Mt. food staple

Dish Washing

The human washing machine

The limited water made plans for building residences for our families to stay with us very difficult. For a long time, there were seven of us with our nearest neighbors being the baboons.

One of our baboon friends, watching the sunrise.

While all that is changing now! Since April, a deep well had been dug at the base of Gordon and now it has been piped up to our compound where our staff are now enjoying fresh, clean water! This will pave the way for residences to be built and giving staff families the ability to live together on Gordon Mountain.

Please see William Levi's update below and at the bottom of his update, a few finishing touches needed to finalize this project!

https://www.operationsnehemiah.org/single-post/2017/08/14/ONMI-News-Brief--Water-gushing-out-in-the-Mission-compound-on-Gordon-Mt

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. PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com Mail checks to: Operation Nehemiah PO Box 502, Otis, MA 01253  Contact us if there is any problem. Operation Nehemiah Missions - Headquarters:  PO Box 563 Lanesborough, MA, 01267  413-770-471

Announcing a Patience Delivery!

Ma'i anyi ra! (I welcome all of you)

    I am writing again after a long pause and thank all those who have been patiently waiting for a word from me (and of course pictures)! I have been a bit distracted from posting for obvious reasons, but finally have the opportunity to officially introduce the newest member of the Jonathan and Joyce Lueken family.

        Our hearts are full of thanks to God for Patience Rozana Lueken, 6lbs 13oz & 19 in, born at 1:05 PM on Sat. July 8. This day was the anniversary of the recent out break of civil war in So. Sudan last year, that contributed to all the delays & obstacles in getting Joyce here, that were overcome by God's mighty hand. Also, being the day before South Sudan Independence day.

       Our little Patience is a bundle of joy with a bunch of black hair reminiscent of my infant days (as can be seen by the photos). Her current favorite pastimes are eating, sleeping, and listening to music. :) Abi and Ada (grandpa and grandma) are thoroughly enjoying their new granddaughter, as well as Auntie Em.

           We are very thankful for the wonderful support team who stayed with us through it all, Hannah & Abijah Levi & Katherine Saunders,

 

and especially for our wonderfully caring and encouraging midwife, Shivani Lash!
        

      Another amazing blessing was for Joyce's Green Card to arrive the day that Patience was born! In 2 months time Joyce received her visa & became a legal permanent resident, on the day she delivered our baby (who is a US citizen).

  Joyce has been resting and recuperating from a long labor (43 hours), some tearing at delivery, and mild Anemia. She is still struggling with low energy and headaches so please continue to pray for full recovery. The good news is that she is slowly getting her energy back and even was able to get up and make some Lidi (African porridge.

    I have been doing a lot of cooking and helping Joyce take care of Patience the last two weeks. It has been a crash course in South Sudanese cooking as there are a lot of African dishes which Joyce prefers. My cooking repertoire has grown from beans and posho(boiled maze bread) to cabbage, greens, liver, fish, chicken, and porridge.
     It is a privilege to serve the woman who so often nursed me back to health through my various bouts of Malaria and Typhoid in Africa.  I am so blessed by the two very sweet gifts God has given me, my wife and daughter!

For those who have been asking about what they can get or what the baby needs: God has already abundantly provided (through many of you) more clothes and baby things than we could have imagined. Patience is very well outfitted in the clothes department and probably has an outfit for every day of the month! This abundance is wonderful, but will have to be paired down when we head back to Africa (by the end of 2018). If anyone has a desire to help out and give something, monetary gifts would be the most useful in meeting the current and changing needs exactly where they are, as Patience grows.

There is a lot ahead of us for which we greatly appreciate your prayers:

-I will be starting an online International Public Health intensive course through INMED (http://www.inmed.us/courses-info/hybrid-courses/international-public-health/) on July 31st and thanking our mighty God for already providing the complete tuition fee and  the money to buy a laptop computer for the course and Joyce and I's family use! Please pray for wisdom as I begin this challenging course (with the help of Joyce) and be able to balance my family time with the demands of medical studies.

-The Lueken clan is in transition again (not just Joyce and I, but my father, mother and sister)! We found out that the owners of Maplewood B&B (my families current residence) have the wonderful opportunity to take in their aging mother, but only if they move into the B&B so that 4 generations can live & work together! A lot of prayer has gone into this by the owners and we also feel this is from the  Lord and are excited for them.
     This means that the operations of Maplewood B&B will be temporarily suspended & WE AS A FAMILY WILL BE MOVING ON BY EARLY SEPTEMBER. This was new information to us, but it certainly did not take God by surprise! Joyce and I are confident that God has a good plan for us and my family as the past record of God's faithfulness testifies.
"I have been young, &now am old,  I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread." Ps 37:25: 
 Please pray for God's leading and direction for our next residence within the next six weeks. The journey on God's trail continues and we look ahead to where He will lead us next. 

    -Transportation for Joyce and I has been something we have been praying for. God has blessed us and my parents with two donated vehicle, but all these and our current vehicles need multiple repairs and some of which are very costly. Pray for God's provision so that these vehicles can be in good working condition for the upcoming travelling and ministry sharing with all of you, that will commence this fall (once my course is completed in early Sept).

    -Continued prayers for an increase in Joyce and I's monthly support. The increase of living expenses in the USA (10 times that of Africa) and taking care of a newborn and nursing mother is raising the amount of needed funds on a monthly basis. Please join us in prayer as we look to the Lord to provide all we need to do His work!
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

    We are so thankful for the many prayers and encouragement that is sent our way. We will continue to update you on what the Lord is doing in South Sudan and in our own lives

 Rubanga kike anyi kiza  i grasia to! (May God give all of you His Mercy and Grace)

His Servants,
Jonathan and Joyce and Patience Lueken
Our 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: The recurring monthly option is being worked on and will be functional shortly.

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