Packing to move, packing 6 more bags to send to So Sudan & YARDSALE 4/29-30

Thank you for your caring prayers as I (Patty) recover from malaria. I am feeling well & working on getting back my stamina. Trying to do a little each day toward packing up our personal belongings in order to move just after Mother's Day 5/9/16 to our new home & adventure as Inn Keepers at Maplewood Lodgings in Otis, MA, Berkshire County. http://www.maplewoodlodging.com/

BUT, our first task is to pack up all the wonderful donations we have already received of clothing, shoes, soccer balls, sewing kits & discipleship material that are piled high in our small living room (first pic). The duffle bags we ordered arrived and we filled four with 50 pounds each of donations!! The second picture shows you how much we still have left over and then some. This pic does not include the two more bags of donated medical supplies and discipleship materials & more stuff that Jon requested.

 God is good and His people are so generous!!!

  

​We also plan to have a YARD SALE on Fri./Sat. APRIL 29 & 30 here at 86 E. Bacon St. Plainville, MA, in order to raise the funds needed to purchase additional medical supplies and discipleship materials, as well as, to cover the cost of extra baggage fees to get them on the plane with the Levi's on May 1. 

If anyone local wants to donate yard sale items to sell, Roger can use his truck to pick them up. And any donations toward the cost of last minute purchases and extra baggage fees would be a huge blessing!!
WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO STOP BY & VISIT US before we move west over those two days 4/29 & 30 if you're free!!!

So much has been happening in our lives that keeps us constantly on our knees, crying out to God for physical healing and restoration of relationships, and for God to do what we cannot do on so many levels. It is a time where God has shown us our prayers are way too small for a God so great!! The Battle is His and we praise the King of kings & our Father, Who is able, powerful and more willing than we can imagine.  To Him be the glory!!!

Thank you for taking time to read this and for your prayers & support.

Much grace,  Roger & Patty Lueken & family

(774) 254-4336 Finally able to get Roger a replacement phone (774) 210-2800

Operation Nehemiah Missions website www.operationsnehemiah.org To Donate on the website, scroll to the bottom - Choose "option #2 "

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah PO Box 2401, Plainville, MA 02762 

Two bags sent to South Sudan... 6 more to go!!

I (Patty) have just gotten home from the hospital after fighting an unexpected case of Malaria over the past two weeks. As a result, we never got to have a planned visit with Timothy Levi, Country Director of Operation Nehemiah South Sudan, while he was here these past three weeks. We can hardly beleive it. We are so glad we at least could make it to the airport on 4/5 to see Timothy off! 

AND we were able to send him with 2 extra bags filled with 16 separate packages each containing a study Bible and 4 other books from The Gospel Coalition & Peacemaker Ministries for each household in the village!!! We sent lots of donated medical supplies and other items Jon requested! Also God provided through 2 generous donors the $200 for each extra bag! We are so thankful and so excited about what God will do with these discipleship tools for every household!!

In the next several weeks we will not only be packing to move to the Berkshires after Mother's Day, but we will also be packing more of the above plus all the clothes & shoes we still have waiting to go over to South Sudan to send with the Levi's May 1st . We will include additional things that Jon cannot get over there; and Christian music that proclaim the Gospel for the radio station. One young man, who loves music, has really taken an interest in the Keith & Kristyn Getty's Hymn's Cd that we brought over with us donated by Gospel Coalition . He has been gathering other young people together along with Jon to pray together and sing their hymns.  

Here is what he wrote to me... "before asking for anything from Him, we went on and we sung from the Modern and Traditional Hymns that you gave me. Song number 3 BY FAITH, we managed to follow it from the book while playing it on the Computer, and other teachings came from Psalms 88,Psalms 5:1-6, Isaiah 58, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 11:33, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalms 138.  And a song was again sung from the same book Number 9 IN CHRIST ALONE.  This is how we came together to cry out to God and we learn that we have to walk by faith not by sight and we even prayed for all of you. So this is how God has revealed Himself to us today, His Love, mercy, wonders, were all clearly showed to us,our prayers were about many things,we prayed for God's restoration of broken relationships,broken hearts,spirit of forgiveness,prayer for different countries."

Jon is so excited as he participates with these young people singing these songs that are filled with the message of the Gospel. One  young man who joined them is a Ugandan worker and new to the village, whose younger siblings live with his grandparent b/c both his parents were killed, and he had to leave school after elementary level to work. 

We are overjoyed to see these direct answers to the prayer burden we have had to see the beauty of the Lord and His Good News go forth into the hearts of the dear people of South Sudan.

Thank you for your prayers for us as we make this transition to our new home in western MA. These past couple of months since returning from Africa have been some of the hardest months we've ever faced for multiple reasons.

When faced with trials on every side,  we know the outcome is secure.

And Christ will have the prize for which He died, an inheritance of nations. 

~ from O CHURCH ARISE 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXNO-OGUGyU

BE ENCOURAGED, CHURCH!!!

We know God's plan ahead is a good one for us as a family and for the ministry, as we can meet and PRAY with William and Hannah and the other Operation Nehemiah Board Members on a regular basis. 

He is with us through it all, bringing about His purposes for our good and His glory!!

Clinging to Him as never before, Roger, Patty & Emma

Jesus, Draw me ever nearer  As I labor through the storm

You have called me to this passage  And I'll follow, though I'm worn

*May this journey bring a blessing  

May I rise on wings of faith

And at the end of my hearts testing  

With Your likeness let me wake

Jesus, guide me through the tempest  

Keep my spirit stayed and sure

When the midnight meets the morning  

Let me love You even more

*

Let the treasures of the trial  

Form within me as I go

And at the end of this long passage  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pib13aveIKU&nohtml5=False

We are moving! Here are the details that testify of GOD's FAITHFULNESS

In Nov. 2015, a friend called us just before we left for Africa to talk about us renting his house as they needed to find a place directly between his job & his wife's (their home is 2 1/2 hours from his new job). We said we would pray about it & all we knew was that it was in Windsor in the Berkshires of western MA.

We got back from Africa on Jan. 21, 2016 & four days later we found out that we had to move from our current residence in eastern MA. We marveled that such news did not need to be a shock because obviously God knew about this, though we had no details about our friends offer.

We inquired about the offer and our friend apologetically explained that they had not found a place for his family yet, but out of concern for us (who now had a deadline to move by early MAY) he said that maybe we could stay at their B & B temporarily. We responded, "What B & B?"

While our friend was traveling to his new job, he saw a B & B for sale & for 6 months they had prayed about whether God wanted them to buy it. They finally let it go because they could not get anywhere near the asking price, & they continued to search for another home.

Later the realtor called to say that the B & B owners had lowered the asking price & though they still could not make an offer anywhere close, they thought, what have they got to lose? ... if they take our offer it could only be God confirming that He wants us to buy it. Though their offer was $50,000 less than the asking price, the owners took it & they closed on the property a week before Christmas, while we were in Africa.

Roger then asked him if he knew that we once ran a B & B in Canada and he was so surprised and amazed! On the property there are 6 rental spaces that are all rented out and the only piece of this property that they did not know what to do with was the 3 bedroom B & B with its parlors, dining room and kitchen & a 3 room apartment for those who ran it.

Soooo... we’ve started packing up & are bringing things little by little toward our move to Otis MA (Berkshire county, 2 hours west of Boston) to live at (starting the first of May) & run MAPLEWOOD B & B (Reopening soon, Lord willing)   This also moves us 2 hours closer to Hannah & William Levi, founders of Operation Nehemiah, so we feasibly can pray and meet together regularly, which is huge!!

Rejoice with us!!  Our God sees and knows and is way ahead of us. At times He demonstrates for all to see how very faithful HE IS!

Much Grace,

Roger, Patty & Emma

See a few more pictures at http://www.maplewoodlodging.com/

Quick overview of our Dec- Jan. 2015-16 Trip to South Sudan

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [We, Lueken's] thank [our] God in all [our] remembrance of you, always in every prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this that He Who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for [us] to feel this way about you all, because [we] hold you you in [our] hearts, for you are all partakers with [us] of grace…For God is [our] witness, how [we] yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:2-8 

We are thankful for you & for your prayers & support that helped to make our 54 day trip possible. We thank our God Who carried us, challenged us, changed us and gave us more of His perspective and His heart for the people.

A large part of what was accomplished was relational. 

CHATTING AROUND THE COOKSTOVE IN THE CENTER OF THE VILLAGE

God deepened our relationships with others on the ground & filled our hearts with love & a greater burden for the people of South Sudan. We also setup drip irrigation; Rog preached in church and on the radio a total of 17 times & I (Patty) was his secretary; 

ROGER PREACHED TWICE AT BETH ISRAEL CHURCH

Jon was regularly working & learning more at the medical clinic and we all assisted with many trips to the farmland to harvest oranges, sesame seed, sorghum, cassava, etc.

We’ve only been home a week, & there’s lots to do: we worked on year-end tax receipts this week and & then we will have an extended few day meeting with the Levi’s to debrief and pray together.  So this is just a quick update.

God overwhelming supplied more clothing & shoes than we could take over (we took 17 bags over). We are now looking forward to packing up all that we still have in storage for the Levi’s to take over in May. We will also be asking God to supply one of the greatest needs we saw which is for Gospel literature. We’ve taken Bibles in the past, but this time we got 2 free pastor’s sets of books through Gospel Coalition. While some of the books were way beyond their English, there were a few that were worth their weight in gold (TITUS FOR YOU & GALATIANS FOR YOU). Roger shared from them when he preached 3 nights a week on the radio. So we have a real burden to get multiple copies from the “God’s Word for You” series, such as on ROMANS & EPHESIANS. We would also like to gather children’s gospel books, & books from Answers in Genesis, & other ministries, as well as general educational materials, etc. to share with the families.

Upon returning from Africa, we were surprised to find out that we need to move by the end of April, but God was not taken by surprise. We actually had an unexpected offer of housing prior to leaving for Africa. So we welcomed the news about our need to find another place to live and we look forward to new adventures in the Lord!

Speaking of unexpected… this trip was full of unexpected blessing, challenges, opportunities, and more that caused us to draw closer to the Lord than ever before. Prayer was the regular business of the day and we walked through many days talking to God, crying out to Him, & praising and thanking Him for His unseen hand at work around us.

'I say to you, he who believes in Me, greater works than these he will do.' Jn 14:1

"Prayer does not equip us for greater works, 

PRAYER IS THE GREATER WORK…” 
Oswald Chambers

JON (after he recovered) & EMMA & FRIENDS

Jon had a bout with Malaria & Typhoid over the turn of the year & the Africans really do know what to do!! And for the first time, he prayed uncharacteristically, "Lord, show me your purposes in this.”, rather than, "Lord, I can't be sick, I have work to do”  & God answered his prayer. 

Jon remains in his home in South Sudan. Though it was hard to say goodbye, we are thankful. Unlike missionaries of the past that we read about while in Africa, such as, Jim Elliot & Pete Flemming , etc, or Adonirum Judson, & John Patton, we can communicate by phone. Their stories put everything in perspective for us. We all have been changed in the process of calling on God. We trust much fruit will be born because of what the Lord did as we looked to Him, knowing only He can do that intricate work in all of our hearts. Our burden to pray for the people in Borongole and beyond is far greater than ever before.

Thank you again for your prayers & support.
God bless you richly as you serve Him,
Roger, Patty & Emma Lueken

More updates & pictures to come

Operation Nehemiah Missions website www.operationsnehemiah.org To Donate on the website, scroll to the bottom - Choose "option #2 "

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah PO Box 2401, Plainville, MA 02762 

Your prayerful support mixes with our prayerful going, AND the REACHING OUT!

THANK YOU!! The Lord’s blessings are going forth & His purposes are being accomplished ONLY by all of us working together... your prayerful support mixed with our prayerful going, AND the REACHING OUT of  the indigenous people of South Sudan themselves, who are on the ground  sharing God's blessings & His Good News!

“There should no longer be any question that the average Christian, here or there, who supports ministry, teaches Sunday school, raises a godly family, or uses his or her spiritual gift in offering service, exhorting, leading , or showing mercy (Rom 12:6-8) is critical to the spread of Christ’s Gospel… Not all believers can or should be missionaries, but every believer, regardless of his or her education and financial ability – or natural & spiritual gifting, has a place in missions.

Paul said this very thing quite succinctly in his letter to the believers in Rome. He told them, “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord, will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in Whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him Whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent” (Romans 10:13-15a) ? “Senders” are just as critical as “Goers”.  Let’s not make aces of the front line pilots without making heroes of the Rosie Riveters who are making their important role possible.”  ~ from the book, The Great Omission,  by Steve Saint (son of missionary Nate Saint, who died with Jim Elliot & 3 other men in order to reach the Aucas/Waodani of Ecuador) 

YOU ARE OUR HEROES!!! 

Your role is crucial and greatly appreciated!!  Your prayers, giving, hosting, contributing of donated goods, etc. ALL equip us to go, so that we can help equip the people of South Sudan. Then the things we gain and learn from the people there, we can share with you!! We are a team with each one doing his part.

PRAISE GOD on Monday we still needed $4500 & now we only need an additional $2000:    

  ~  $1000 for extra baggage fees for 4 MORE extra bags of donated items (16 bags total)

  ~  $1000 for travel expenses to get to South Sudan. The dear ones in Boronogle will take good care of us once we arrive. As Jon says "Their hospitality is second to none... sharing all that they have been blessed with.

It's never too late to donate. Any funds that come in, even after we leave, will be wired to us on the ground to aid in the work there, help to pay monthly visas and get us home!!

We fly out of Boston Nov. 29 and return Jan 21^st 2016 (though Jon will stay in his beloved Borongole until fall of 2016). We are excited about the adventures ahead and we know He will be with us through all the trials we face. 

As we cling to Him, may He have His way in all of our hearts!
With great appreciation for your love and support and especially your prayers,

Roger, Patty, Jon & Emma

Operation Nehemiah Missions website www.operationsnehemiah.org 

To Donate on the website, scroll to the bottom - Choose "option #2 "

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah PO Box 2401, Plainville, MA 02762

Off the Road to in the Air... the count done begins... we're Africa Bound!

Off the Road to in the Air –the count down begins we're

AFRICA BOUND! 

How do you summarize a 6 ½ week, 7490 mile ministry trip?
God connected us with so many dear friends old & new; equipped us materially, financially & in many other ways;  & even gave us a couple of unexpected adventures!! We are extremely thankful to those that opened their homes for us to stay and share; and those who arranged for us to speak in their local area or who traveled to see us.  We were overwhelmed to come home to a living room stacked with boxes of donations we had shipped home.  Soon, we had an additional 11 large boxes of donated items from a thrift store to add to the dozen or more bags of clothing that caring friends had already donated. 

 PRAISE GOD most of the needs which were presented while on the trip have been provided for:

- Additional water storage in the village

- A well for Pastor Remise’s church in the wilderness
- Renovations & solar refrigeration for the medical clinic

- the last days of our trip, we connected with CHAPIN LIVING WATERS  who  sold us 10 bucket drip irrigation & a ¼ acre drip irrigation kits for 80% off retail!! Just enough for Jon to start experimenting with drip irrigation thru the dry season.

                   

Travel to South Sudan - Nov. 29 – Jan 21

Since our return we have been waiting on the Lord, seeking His daily bread, & asking Him to order our steps in the days ahead.  We are having a yardsale to raise needed funds for the upcoming trip & friends are donating their unwanted items to help with the cause.

This trip is important in more ways than we can express. We have much to bring with us and Jon will train others in installation and use of drip irrigation to grow food in the dry season for the first time. God has put it on our hearts to listen to the people, hear their stories & as He builds relationships, look to God together for all He has.

WE WALK BY FAITH & NOT BY SIGHT

Prayers for the upcoming trip -  Nov. 29 – Jan 21

$4000  We have our airfare & got the cheapest rate ever!!

$2000 Travel to & from South Sudan (Visa’s for Uganda $400 South Sudan $300, etc.)

$1000 $200 Needed supplies for us of food & kitchen supplies, duffle bags for donations, additional luggage, malaria prevention,  solar flashlights, probiotics, toilet paper, & more.

$1000 Anti venom injection & anti venom extractor kits that need to go over on this trip (in 2014 to 2015 at least 10 people needlessly died of snake bites in the surrounding community) 

$3000  $1000 for obligations back home for the next 3 months

4 extra bags for $FREE God DID provide just what is needed or make a way for the extra donation baggage to be waved.

>>>That God will touch hearts & lives in South Sudan for His Kingdom through discipleship/realtionships, divine appointments, & sharing God’s blessings. 

>>>>Most of all that we would listen to & learn from the people & that God’s Spirit would unite our hearts in Him.

Clinging to the One Who holds all things in His hands,

Roger, Patty, Jon & Emma

 (774) 254-4336 Email: plueken55@gmail.com

Operation Nehemiah Missions website www.operationsnehemiah.org

To Donate on the website:

 scroll to the bottom & Choose "option #2 "

PayPal *onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah PO Box 2401, Plainville, MA 02762

The Lueken family is off again!!

Packing today as Jon flies out early Sunday am for his Third World Medical MissionsTraining course at EQUIP International in NC. We, 3 remaining Lueken's, will drive to southern NH to share about Operation Nehemiah at the new location of the Church at the Intersection.

Then on Monday 9/14 we drive south to Maryland to stop to pick up 200 handmade dresses and 100 handmade pairs of shorts for boys, from "Let's Dress the Girls" ministry of ladies! They will have a potluck with an an opportunity to share about the ministry and make new friends!! What a way to kick off our trip! See a picture of our general route for this 7 week ministry trip below.

We appreciate your prayers, especially for Jon as this next 2 weeks of training will be full 14 hour days with no breaks... Much to be exposed to and absorb. Trusting that this time will be fruitful as he rubs shoulders with other missionaries and missionary Doctors who will be training them... Who knows, perhaps God would put it on one heart to come to Borongole to serve in the medical clinic, where we have no official presence currently.  That is a great prayer need at this time!

Pray also for the goals for this trip:

To share the vision of Operation Nehemiah, what God has already done & the current needs on the ground with all who will listen.

To raise awareness, prayer and financial support & to raise funds for:
1)Drip Irrigation
2)Additional clean well water storage
3)Renovation of the Medical Clinic
4) Solar powered refrigeration for medicine

​Our itinerary is more detailed than this, but this gives you the general idea and if we are coming through your state perhaps we will be coming near you or have days available to come to your home or church to share with a few friends or many.  Just give us a call 774-254-4336 or email. We hope to post our speaking schedule on the website soon.

We look to Him for our daily bread and for Him to direct our steps.

We are also praying about returning to South Sudan in November. God is abundantly providing much for us to bring over, so we know we are going, but He's in charge of when.

​

In Him Who keeps us,  Roger & Patty Lueken & family

R  (774) 210-2800  P & Op N  (774) 254-4336 Email: plueken55@gmail.com

Operation Nehemiah Missions website www.operationsnehemiah.org

To Donate on the website scroll to the bottom - Choose option #2 

Choose PayPal or Credit card NOTE: one time or recurring/monthly option

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Mail checks to Operation Nehemiah PO Box 2401, Plainville, MA 02762