Walking 2018 with our Lord Jesus

Anjo kinya udi si (Happy New Year)!

We are not usually this fancy, but this was a gift photo shoot from new friends in OH

I am blessed to be able to greet you in the year of Our Lord, 2018! So many blessings, challenges, lessons, and experiences of God’s Grace and Faithfulness in this past year. Joyce and I are free to come and share about God’s past and present faithfulness, as well as the more that we are praying for in this new year. If you are locally in the New England area, please let us know if you want us to come to your church, bible study, or even a small group of interested people gathered at your home. As Joyce is experiencing winter cold for the first time, any opportunity to share in the deep south sometime this winter may be a welcome respite😊. 

To see a review of the blessings at Operation Nehemiah Missions, check out Williams update here: https://www.operationsnehemiah.org/single-post/2017/12/21/Highlights-of-2017-Merry-Christmas-and-prosperous-2108 .

              My family and I personally have seen God’s mighty hand work on our behalf in 2017 and much to thank God for: 

Arriving in the USA on June 6, 2017 with warm greetings

~A miraculous intervention in my wife’s visa process so that we were able to fly to the USA on June 6^th, the first day of Joyce’s 37^th week of pregnancy.

Our dear midwife, Shivani

~A Godsent Midwife who donated her time and selfless care to Joyce through the last month of the pregnancy and the birth. We love and miss you Shivani!

Patience at 3 weeks

Patience at 4 months (she now is 6 1/2 months, 16 lbs. and 26 inches)

~One of our greatest gifts, Patience Rozana Lueken, born 6 lbs. 13 oz. and 19 3/4 inches om July 8^th, 2017. She is a joy and also greatly being used by the Lord to teach us, her parents, the real meaning of her name. 😊 Patience is a precocious and verbal little girl who loves teething on carrots, making Razzberries, and has a fascination with her newfound ability to shake her head no (we are working on teaching her to nod yes).

~I (Jonathan) completed an intensive online course in International Public Health through INMED, August to September. I learned a lot about supporting general body and community health, as well as disease prevention. These are all things I hope to bring back to S. Sudan and teach there.

~God’s Grace in our transition from Maplewood B&B in Otis to staying with and renting from dear friends in Lee, MA, who also do ministry work in East Africa. We moved 2 months after Patience was born and God directed us to our new home within a week of finding out we had to relocate.

Our family in front of the Grand Canyon of the East

~Few weeks after being in our new home, The African Luekens trio (with my Dad and Mom) set out on a 3 week, 10 state, 4,200 mile trip to visit family and friends. We were greatly blessed and encouraged as we had opportunity to see my Dad’s family, share, meet new friends (through Candle in the Window Hospitality Network), and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. Stops included PA, IL, MN, MO, KY, and OH. Thanks to all who opened their homes and hearts to us!

First snow. "Somehow good, but scary!" -Joyce

As we enter another year we greatly appreciate your prayers. Some of the specific prayer needs that you can lift up:

-Pray for the Church of Christ in S. Sudan and for the S. Sudanese people scattered throughout Uganda, to truly grasp the Gospel and for it to transform their lives from the inside out.

-Joyce and I are continuing to seek the Lord in raising our monthly support in order to help us with the more expensive cost of living here in the USA and the constant need in South Sudan as well..

-Through the winter, my wife and I want to take an online course in wholistic nutrition (Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome) to better equip us to help our own family and the South Sudanese in preventing disease and strengthening the immune system.
We are looking at a medical missions equipping course this April in Kansas city, MO, (https://inmedevents.org/event/2018hhc/) that we hope to both attend, Please pray for the needed resources for us to go. 

-I have discovered an Intensive Wilderness EMT Course and Geo Medic (third world medicine) course taught by SOLO Schools in Conway, NH, which I hope to take in May and then August. Appreciate your prayers for the tuition cost (food, board, and certifications included in the tuition fee).

-God’s Guidance as we try to use our time wisely in sharing and building relationships with all of you, our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, here in the USA until we head back to Africa by the end of the year.

- Nile Beth Israel Congregation working among the refugees in Uganda, which is asking God to provide more seating for the congregation that is rapidly growing.

Nile Beth Israel Messianic Congregation, Bibia, Uganda

There is much to thank God for in this past year, especially the many trials and challenges that He was faithful to bring us through and the spiritual growth that came through it all. In the words of a worship song by Matt Redman:

 “Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did you leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful”

Rubanga Kolu Anyito! (God be with you all)

Jonathan, Joyce, and Patience

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  (we get 96.8% of your donation through PayPal)

 Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah   c/o Herring   23 Tyringham Rd. Lee MA 01238

Operation Nehemiah Missions - Headquarters: 

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

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