A Home Provided and crying out for God's Mercy; Update from Jon and Joyce

"Grace, mercy, & peace will be with us, from God the Father & from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth & love." 2 John 1:3.

 I hope you are all feeling God's presence and clinging to Him in this time of uncertainty. We are holding onto the Lord and have seen both blessings and challenges in the last several months. We have some very big blessings in our life to share with you so you can rejoice with us and also pray for us.

    Our family activity level is rising everyday as Patience is becoming more verbally eloquent and Benaiah is crawling faster than an African lizard chasing a beetle! The kids love to be outside and Joyce has greatly appreciated the warmer weather, though dreading the looming approach of winter. Planting, Going to Farmer’s Markets, barefoot running (Jonathan’s crazy pastime), and taking walks has occupied a good part of our summer. Here in the Berkshires we have begun to enjoy fresh apples and a tinge of color in the foliage.

Hiking with "Baba".

Benaiah loves fresh Corn!

Family hike on Mahanna Cobble.

Harvesting Asobi(Black-eyed Pea Greens)

          

  

Our first big praise report is the provision of housing!

From the bottom of our hearts we want to thank the dear friends who let us stay in their home for a whole year before we found this place! You will always be family “Papa” and “Grandma”.  

In the beginning of July, we were able to move into a small cottage in Lenoxdale, MA. We are renting from the lady who was the midwife for our son Benaiah and it really has been a mutual blessing to be here. In addition to affordable housing in a beautiful little town, Joyce is getting one-on-one mentorship in midwifery, which has been the desire of her heart. It has been a great joy to have our own space as a family, with a beautiful piece of land for the children to play on.

Our New Home!

A woodstove to keep Joyce warm.

Our Living room and Dining Room

Joyce has just finished a Doula/birth assistant workshop and after some required study and attending some births, she will be certified as a Doula to help mothers before, during, and after childbirth. A big thank you to all those who helped with driving Joyce and taking care of the kids! This is the beginning of our vision for Joyce to help mothers in South Sudan and East Africa and for us to work together in public health education that will save lives by preventing many disease and complications in the community we will be serving. We are excited for Joyce’s opportunity to learn from our midwife and for more educational and practical opportunities to equip her for our return to Africa.

 

Joyce's Doula Training

The Birth Circle in our backyard.

Another very big praise we have is concerning Joyce’s citizenship process. We have been waiting for an interview to be scheduled for Joyce’s citizenship test and the date has finally been set. This is a great miracle, as we only applied back in the spring and some applicants who applied in 2019 still haven’t been scheduled. The day is October 6^th and we greatly appreciate your prayers as Joyce tries to find time, between taking care of the kids, to study and prepare. Once Joyce is a citizen, we would be able to freely move in and out of the USA without any fear of being blocked entrance.

 

 Our hearts desire is to travel to Africa in late fall or early winter 2020/2021. We are yearning for a reunion with Joyce’s family and asking God to make a way. There is a list of things that need to come together such as Joyce‘s citizenship, Passports, Yellow Fever Vaccines, and open borders. We know God has the perfect timing for our trip and are taking the steps that we can, trusting that He will take care of the rest.

Bath Time!

 

Patience the acrobat!

"We love Mama!"

From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all those who have and are supporting us, whether it is through prayer or by giving. God has been generous in many creative ways to supply our daily needs and the ability to help Joyce’s family in Africa. For those who are supporting us or who might consider supporting financially, please know that we are putting the funds we receive towards:

 -Communications with our family in South Sudan/Uganda

-Preparations for our upcoming trip to Africa

-Helping Joyce’s family with any pressing needs that arise.

 

We have been busy in the last several months and I have not had a chance to send an update (I had a fully composed blog post deleted on me a month ago, Technology is great when it works!). Even though there has been a lack of posting on our end, we are always grateful for your prayer and support that we receive. Thank you for partnering with us as we follow God’s trail back to East Africa and pray that we can be a light of the Gospel to our family and people there.

 

 

The African Luekens

For those who wish to pray for us, our prayer needs are:

 

~Studying and preparation for Joyce’s citizenship test which is scheduled for October 6. We are at two weeks and counting!

 

~The Lord’s blessing on Joyce as she learns from a seasoned midwife and prepares to help mothers in S Sudan and East Africa.

 

~ The time needed to continue working through our Mentored Sonship Discipleship course, while juggling the daily activities of a busy family.

 

~For borders to be open and preparations completed for a late fall or early winter 2020/21 trip to visit Joyce’s family in South Sudan. We can’t wait to see all of our dear family there and trusting God will open the way in His timing.

 

~ Joyce’s cousin in the refugee camps who has a severe infection in his leg and has not received proper care from the medical facilities there, allowing the infection to spread. He has been dealing with this problem for years and has not received the proper diagnosis and treatment, even from the largest regional hospital. A very similar situation to what Joyce’s brother Lodu (AKA “Reggae”) went through. We are praying for healing, but also that God would speak to his heart and use the physical trials he is going through to draw him closer to Jesus.

 

~The Gospel of Jesus Christ to continue to spread into the hearts of Joyce’s family, her people in South Sudan, and those in the Refugee camps.

 

 

Rubanga Kolu Anyito (God be with you all)!

Jonathan, Joyce, Patience, and Benaiah

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: www.gofundme.com/jonathan-and-joyce-lueken-in-s-sudan

 

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken 

Roger and Pattty Lueken

PO Box 1611, 16 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Thankfulness for the birth of our Savior and an Immigration Milestone!

Ingoni (Hello)!

  Praying that you all had a joy-filled Christmas. We are blessed for the opportunity to focus on Christ's birth in this season. I also hope you had a blessed thanksgiving! We certainly had and have a lot to thank God for!

Patience at "Night at Bethlehem" with "Mary" and "Baby Jesus"

A lot of happenings here in our life and I wanted to give an update and share a praise report Below!

      Our little mighty man, Benaiah, is growing faster than a cheetah can run a 100 meters! He is 12 pounds 15 ounces and growing out of all his newborn clothes. He really is a sweet little guy and very contented. Besides getting the cough and cold that has been cycling through our family, he has been very healthy and we are all mostly recovered. Patience is getting more talkative every day and loves her little brother, (sometimes a little to enthusiastically). She loves helping Mama in the kitchen, shovelling snow around the house where we are staying, and going running with Baba (Dad in Madi).

A dapper little gentleman.

"Your not taking my picture, are you?"

"I love Benaiah a LOT!!" -Patience

    ~ Joyce and I have hearts full of gratitude as we announce that Joyce is now a permanent resident of the United States and has been issued her 10 year Green Card! ~
       The way that God got us to the appointment despite many obstacles (Sick kids, a detached front bumper, little sleep, etc.) was amazing. We were thankful for my mother being able to accompany us and help with the children. 
       What was even more amazing was the peace that Joyce had in going into her interview when we both were anxious about the outcome. The immigration officer only asked Joyce to come into the interview and after 10 minutes she was back out and approved! The inch-thick stack of additional paper documentation we brought was not even looked at! To celebrate we went to our favorite east African Restaurant in Waltham. (Highly recommend the "Taste of Karibu" to those in Eastern MA who would like to enjoy some authentic Chipaati and East African sauces!)
    The door is now opened for Joyce to begin filing for her American Citizenship in March of 2020 and it is very possible that she could be a USA citizen by the late fall or sooner! We are excited at the prospect of going back to Africa next fall and Joyce is excited about missing next year's winter!

Picnic in the hotel, the night before the immigration interview.

Coming out after a permanent residence granted!

  We want to also thank those who were so generous in the fundraiser started on our behalf in October. The result was that we were able to completely pay off the remaining tuition cost of the Sonship discipleship course we started last year. We had taken a break during chaotic circumstances of our lives this past summer, but are resuming and asking for God's grace to have the  needed time through this winter to study.

South Sudan and Uganda have been receiving excessive rains that have continued two months longer then normal. This has caused a lot of problems with storing crops for the coming dry season and many of their harvested stable crops have rotted because of excess moisture. Many families, including Joyce's parents in the refugee camps, have lost their entire sesame harvest(A staple protein that is added to many of their sauces), among other crops. Pray for God's help and provision for these coming months of drought and no rain that will not end until March.

The Lueken Family together on Christmas day

Brothers and Sisters out for a walk.... and Patience 

Please pray for:

-Us, that God would make this winter a time for us to be grounded in God's Word and as a family. We hope for some times of productive study in God's word and through our Sonship course in these coming months. We need the Lord to build us up as a family, that He will use our weakness and His strength for His Glory, here and in Africa.

-God's provision and timing for housing that would allow us to continue save for a return to Africa and also be our own space. We are very thankful for where we are now and for the dear friends who are now family, and know this is where the Lord has us for the winter.

-Blessings on the preparations and study Joyce needs to make this winter in filing for her US citizenship in March and taking her civics test in summer or fall of 2020. Also the provision of the fee that the whole process entails.

-Increased Monthly support  for us as we look forward to a trip to Africa next year and hoping to help Joyce's family as God provides. We pray that God would not only provide for Joyce's family in their physical needs and the ability to return to South Sudan, but revive and wash them in the Gospel of Grace which will transform their lives.

-The people of South Sudan, those within the country and without, that they would see God's Faithfulness in their lives and be drawn to their Savior and to the Gospel, especially in this season of focusing on Christ's birth.

-An extra measure of Grace for the many families in Uganda and South Sudan who lost needed crops in the unseasonably excessive rains this year.

Patience and Uncle Josh

We cannot thank you enough for your continued prayer and support. Our prayer for you is that Jesus would bless you with more of Himself! Christ the savior was born, died, and rose again on our behalf, the ultimate Christmas gift!

Merry Christmas!

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken

With Patience and Benaiah! 

Phone #: 774-203-8308

 

Three ways to conitnue to financially support us

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

 Mail checks payable to Jonathan and Joyce Lueken   

PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary Go Fund Me link for those who don't have PayPal:

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/jonathan-and-joyce-lueken-in-s-sudan

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken 

Roger and Pattty Lueken

PO Box 1611, 16 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262

A long overdue update, a Due date, and a Birth!

It has been a long while and the adventure of our lives continues! It's been quite a busy time and I admit that I have not had time to catch my breath and sit down to write a blog post. Joyce and I are still in search of housing, but very thankful for friends-become-family that have opened their home to us and have become unofficially adopted grandparents for Patience.

Patience playing with some Animal Friends

On another adventure!

Starting in November, For anyone in the New England or NY/PA area, we are looking for opportunities to travel on the weekends to share about the calling God is leading us into as He prepares us to return to Africa. I would be available to come share and preach on request at your church, small group, or in your home. Please let us know if you are interested!

    We had to put the house search on a temporary hold to focus on getting ready for the birth of our second child. The due date of October 11th was rapidly approaching and we rushed to get everything in order. Considering Patience's birth (@ 41 weeks and 43 hour labor) we expected Joyce to be a little late with this child and the labor to be gradual and slow, but that was not the case!
   I got home late on Friday finding Joyce had mild contractions since 5pm that were fairly consistent. Needless to say, I packed my hospital bags (Joyce had hers packed) before trying to get some rest, while recording contraction through the night. Early AM, I called our midwife to come help Joyce labor. I told her that there was plenty time for her to come out and didn't think we needed to head to the hospital yet. Boy, was I wrong!
    Shortly after I hung up the phone with our midwife, Joyce began to have jackhammer contractions at 3 minutes apart and her water broke! It was time to call for an ambulance, which arrived to transport us with a paramedic escort, lights and sirens.
      Our midwife met us at the hospital and within 20 minutes our baby boy arrived! Joyce pushed the baby out like a navy seal pushes out push ups! I was able to catch the baby (I didn't drop him!) and I cut the cord. Joyce did have to get some stitches for a minor tear, and all seemed well, but then there were unforeseen complications for Joyce & we spent 5 days in the hospital. Perhaps God knew that we needed the quiet & the rest. We were the only patients in the maternity ward for the first 3 days and the nursing staff were very attentive.

Our Little man!

Born with a head of hair like Patience

I am happy to announce the arrival of Benaiah Anjovule Albert Lueken at 7lbs, 1 oz. and 19 in. @ 6:27 AM on October 12th.

-Benaiah means "the Lord builds" and was one of David's Mighty men. Read of what God made this once outcast and rebel to become and do in 2 Samuel 23:20-23 , and 1 Chronicles 11:22-25.

-Anjovule is the Madi word for "Joy comes after" and is in honor of Joyce's brother, Lodu "Reggae" Kenyi, who passed away Oct. 3, 2018, after a severe and longstanding illness. We miss you, Lodu!

-Albert is to honor Joyce's father, Benaiah and Patience's Grandfather in Africa.

~If friends and family in the area would like to come see Joyce and the baby please call us or send an email and we will give you our temporary address and arrange a time that would be good for a visit~

Patience meets her brother.

I Love Mama!

     Joyce and I would like to publicly praise and thank God for His hand of protection over Joyce and Benaiah. Our little boy has a head of black hair and is a vigorous sucker of anything placed in his mouth. Patience was very excited to meet her little brother and wanted to "pick Benaiah up", but we decided, after watching her drop her baby doll on its head, that we would wait awhile on that.

    We also want to thank those who God used to help us in this journey. Sushilla has been such a supportive midwife and great blessing to us. She has poured all she knows into Joyce, since she knows Joyce wants to be a midwife. Our dear friends Brian and Lucy, whom we live with,  have helped us so much with Patience and been a great support to Joyce when I have been away from the house and during the early AM labor. Mom and Dad continue to be wonderful grandparents and loving parents to both of us, helping wherever they can. The EMT's and Paramedics of Otis ambulance and Southern Berkshire ambulance did their jobs well and gave me confidence that if the baby came while on the road, he would have a warm delivery place. The Doctors, Midwives, nurses and staff of Fairview Hospital have been wonderfully caring and providing all our needs while we have been here.
God is good and truly gently leads those who have young (Isaiah 40:11).

Baba (Madi for Dad) after receiving Benaiah.

Da'da(Grandma) and  Benaiah

A'bi(Grandpa) and Patience saying Hello!

Please continue to pray for us:

-A complete recovery of Joyce strength and healing for the stitches and her whole body as she struggles with anemia & post delivery complications. Also for Benaiah to stay healthy and well, even with Patience and I fighting colds.

-God's timing, guidance, and provision for housing and a place of our own that He has for us.

-The time and ability to resume and finish the Sonship course, an in-depth study of God's Word, that is pivotal for preparing us for future ministry to Africa as we really want to put sufficient time into our studies to get full steeped in the Gospel. We are a quarter of the way through the course and have paid part of the tuition. We are asking God to help Joyce and I balance taking care of the physical needs of our family with the spiritual growth we desire in our relationship with the Lord and any future ministry He has for us.

-Continue to pray for Joyce's family that they would all be drawn to the love of Jesus and a close relationship with Him.

-The provision and timing for our desire to take a trip to Africa next year, once Benaiah is older, to visit Joyce's family and our dear friends in Uganda and S. Sudan.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support which is greatly appreciated! We will keep you posted as the adventure continues!

God bless you all!

(Rubanga koco tutu anya ru ga!)

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken

With Patience and Benaiah! 

Phone #: 774-203-8308

Three ways to conitnue to financially support us

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

 Mail checks payable to Jonathan and Joyce Lueken   

PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary Go Fund Me link for those who dont have PayPal:

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/jonathan-and-joyce-lueken-in-s-sudan

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken 

Roger and Pattty Lueken

PO Box 1611, 16 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262

The Excitement Never ends and a Special Announcement!

    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!

God bless you all!

(Rubanga koco tutu anya ru ga!)

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken

With Patience  

Phone #: 774-203-8308

Three ways to conitnue to financially support us

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

 Mail checks payable to Jonathan and Joyce Lueken   

PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary Go Fund Me link for those who dont have PayPal:

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/jonathan-and-joyce-lueken-in-s-sudan

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken 

Roger and Pattty Lueken

PO Box 1611, 16 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262

 

Our Sonship Journey

     As Spring in New England is here, Joyce and I are wanting to begin travelling again to share about the how the Lord is beginning to direct us.

We would love to come share at any churches or small groups, locally in New England & beyond! Please let us know if you have any interest, so

we could see how we could come your way this spring and early summer.

Ready for prayer and fellowship at church

   Joyce and I have finished our first two lessons of the mentored Sonship course through Serge.
https://serge.org/
   We have been blessed and also challenged to honestly look at ourselves. I have seen how prone I am to act like a spiritual "orphan" before God, forgetting the overwhelming love that God has for me, the very reason He sent His Son to this earth! This is one lesson among many that we are learning about ourselves and about the grace of Jesus Christ.
     We are looking forward to the work that God will do in our hearts through this period of spiritual discipleship over the next eight months & beyond.

  Lift us up in your prayers, as we are in the middle of processing Immigration papers to get the two year condition removed from Joyce's Green card and be granted permanent residency. This will pave the way for citizenship in a few years and for the three of us to go back to Africa to visit Joyce's family in South Sudan and Uganda this summer. We are asking God for His timing and provision for the desire of our hearts: that Joyce's family can meet Patience and we can return to Africa for the first time in two years!

Ready to run a St. Patrick's Day Road race

Auntie Emma and Anna joined Patience & Joyce in cheering for Ian and I
at a very cold St. Patrick's Day 10K.

 We have been very busy with various studies and trying to  get outside when the weather is warm enough for Joyce. The highlights of March have been: anticipating the growing season, enjoying a St. Patrick's Day Road race in Holyoke, and having a wonderful and refreshing time with dear friends in Vermont.

Sharing a meal with dear friends!

Dad's "big" catch

Early Morning Snowshoeing Adventure

Patience's favorite books are lion & horse books
& she got to see horses up close 

    Patience is growing at a rapid rate, along with her vocabulary and song repertoire. She dances continually and loves to watch the birds  at the feeders outside our kitchen. "Mama Cardinal flew away?", she often asks. Her little voice is often heard singing at high volumes: "Strongr than dahkness, New ma-ma-morn" (His mercy is More) and "Dibby dibby Dum!" (If I were a Rich Man). She is a joy every day and often makes me crack a smile when I begin to get down.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

~The spiritual work to be done in our hearts as we learn more about the love, grace, and mercy of God through the Gospel during our mentorship program.  Lately I have been really struggling and clinging to the Lord. I, personally, have had my eyes opened to false beliefs I held  about the Gospel and I'm realizing my own utter weakness apart from Christ's intervention.

~God's provision for the tuition cost needed for our Sonship course. We hope to put a small initial payment in April and trust God will provide for the rest in the coming months.

~God's favor as we submit Joyce's immigration paper work this week, to remove the two year condition on her Green Card in order to get permanent residency.

~Increased monthly support to prepare us for a return to Africa in Summe or Fall 2019 and to meet our continued monthly expenses here in the US.

~God's direction and guidance for our long term vision to live and work in Africa.

~Joyce's Family and the other South Sudanese refugees, that they might return to their homes soon and that stability would come, not through looking to political figures and negotiations, but through the peace breathing truths of the Gospel transforming people's hearts and lives.

~God's healing and wisdom as my Dad & now myself (Jonathan) are dealing with some chronic sleep issues that have been quite debilitating with my busy schedule.  Also, energy and continued stamina for Joyce as she goes about the daily tasks of cooking and chasing little miss Patience around.

Practicing her music skills

God bless you all!

(Rubanga koco tutu anya ru ga!)

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken

With Patience

Phone #: 774-203-8308

Three ways to conitnue to financially support us

PayPal jonlueken@gmail.com  

 Mail checks payable to Jonathan and Joyce Lueken   

PO Box 1611 Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Temporary Go Fund Me link for those who dont have PayPal:

https://www.gofundme.com/manage/jonathan-and-joyce-lueken-in-s-sudan

Jonathan and Joyce Lueken 

Roger and Pattty Lueken

PO Box 1611, 16 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA, 01262

Worn - A song that can be prayed for ourselves and others

 I reheard this song a few weeks ago and it got my attention. Has anyone felt like this?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUEy8nZvpdM

Worn

Tenth Avenue North

I'm tired
I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
'Cause I'm worn

I know I need
To lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won't let up
And I know that You can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Cause I'm worn

And my prayers are wearing thin
I'm worn even before the day begins
I'm worn I've lost my will to fight
I'm worn so heaven so come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

I want to know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
Yes all that's dead inside will be reborn
Though I'm worn
Yeah I'm worn

A needed reminder of the Gospel from the Heidelberg Catechism

Our church just covered question #60 in the Heidelberg Catechism and it really struck a note in my heart. As one who habitually is trying to earn God's favor by my own efforts, I really need to recite this to myself on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. I hope it is encouragement to you all as it was for us.

Question #60: How are you right with God? 

Answer: 

Even though my conscience accuses me 

of having grievously sinned against all God's commandments

and of never having kept any of them,

and even though I am still inclined toward all evil,

nevertheless, without my deserving it at all,

out of sheer grace,

God grants and credits to me

the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,

as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner,

as if I had been as perfectly obedient

as Christ was obedient for me.

Rubanga koco(KO-CHOH) tutu anya ru ga! (God bless you!)

Jonathan and Joyce