A personal update from me, Jonathan!

This is a personal update from me, Jonathan Lueken, whom you haven’t heard from for a long time. 

For the Last 7 months I have been staying in Borongole, Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan and working with Operation Nehemiah. Our vision is rebuilding this new nation spiritually and physically by God’s Grace and promoting Sustainability.

For three years I have been privileged to join hands with the ground team, under Country Director Timothy Levi and Senior Pastor Michael Levi in South Sudan. There are many areas of work here, including rebuilding the family spiritually, biblical discipleship, agriculture, medical, brick production, radio broadcasting, and building Godly infrastructure.  As the Director of Sustainable living, here in Borongole, my time has been full and productive. William Levi, [Founder and overseer of Operation Nehemiah], has been here with his family since the beginning of May (2016) to encourage and declare the vision that God has given him for South Sudan. God is doing an exciting work through the Mission to the hearts of the people in our community.

Since 2013, God has drawn me into the Great Commission here in South Sudan and I have been so blessed to work alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ.  It has become clear that my calling is to be here long term, learning from and sharing life with the Christians here, who have become my family. I now am putting down roots here in many ways. 

One of these ways is God leading me towards marriage with a Godly young woman living here in Borongole, South Sudan.  I have been in a courtship since December with Joyce Gune Kenyi, niece of both William and Pastor Michael Levi.

She loves the Lord with all her heart and is the hardest working young woman I have ever met. She has a true servant’s heart and is currently helping in the Nehemiah Field Clinic, working alongside me, as I now head up the Medical department. I have seen God growing us in our faith as we have come to know each other and have faced the trials of sickness together on quite a few occasions.

 Seeking God’s will in this relationship, the Lord has  made this clear to both Joyce and I that He is the one who brought us together and I am very sure that I have met my best friend for life. With Godly counseling, we are preparing and planning for marriage. Our desire is to have a wedding in the month of November here in South Sudan (Yes, this is something of a destination wedding!)

There is much to be put into place before that and the focus now is continuing premarital counseling and looking to meet some of the obligations required in African marriage. One of these priorities is a “blessing” (also known as a Dowry) to be paid by the young man to the young women’s family.  It is my desire to be able to give generously to the family who is blessing me with Joyce. This is a cultural tradition that has Hebrew biblical roots and is standard for marriage here. The ancient Hebrew wedding’s requirement involving payment of dowry by the bridegroom to the family of the bride which is still practiced here in this Hebraic culture, where Joyce is raised, is a kind of foreshadowing of the relationship between Jesus the Messiah and His bride, the Church.  Jesus purchased his bride, the church (all believers) by shedding of His blood on the Cross.  I am praying for the provision of that gift to give to my future-in-laws, who are giving their faithful daughter into my care. I appreciate your prayers as I enter this new phase of life and prepare to lead a new family.

Prayer needs:

1-      The dowry for the family of my bride as explained above $7000

2-     To build a small house on the mission property for Joyce and I $10,000

3-      For our Wedding planning in November 2016 when we pray my family in the USA can come.

4-      Pray for our relationship as we continue in premarital counseling as we lead up to the wedding

5-      Our desire to travel together to the USA together to visit friends and family after the wedding in November.

Joyce and I greatly appreciate your continued prayers and support as we look to start a family together. Please also pray for all the Families who are working with Operation Nehemiah here in South Sudan and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to go forward. Thank you for praying as we seek God's guidance in this new adventure!

Rubanga kola nito   (God be with you)                                                                     

Jonathan,  Director for Biblical Sustainable living & working w/ Operation Nehemiah Missions 

We are excited for Jon and love Joyce dearly. We have been earnestly praying for them as God works to unite them in the months ahead. We would ask you to pray that God would enable us by His gracious working to be involved in creative ways in the wedding preparations and planning and that He would work out the details to make it possible for us to be there for the wedding. 

Jon cannot receive mail as there is no mail service in South Sudan. In order for him to receive anything it must be hand carried through us. But if you'd like to communicate anything directly to him, you could send him an email. Email: jonlueken@gmail.com

Anything else must be sent via the options listed below. 

NOTE OUR NEW  Personal & Operation Nehemiah MAILING ADDRESS:

PO Box 502, Otis, MA 01253

Donations can be made on the Operation Nehemiah Missions website
Scroll to the bottom - Choose "option #2 " www.operationsnehemiah.org

All contributions are tax deductible.

PayPal onlighthouse@gmail.com

Make checks out to: Operation Nehemiah PO Box 502, Otis, MA 01253

Our physical address is:     266 North Main Road  Otis MA 01253

      

​

News about Jon & Josh & our Adventures in the Berkshires

We've moved to the Berkshires & are endeavoring to settle in to our personal 3 room apartment, as well as, readying Maplewood B & B for guests in hopes to officially open June 1. We have some reservations already throughout the summer and some friends coming to stay with us this week, which is a blessing!

If you've not yet read  the story of how the Lord directed us here:    http://theluekens.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html]

I also found an old real estate listing when Maplewood Lodgings was for sale with lots of pictures of the property. Check it out and we hope you'll come and sit in our backyard by the river with us!  http://berkshiresforsale.com/property/266-North-Main-Rd/Otis/Massachusetts/01253/210113

We are excited about co-laboring with Kevin & Melissa Rousseau, the new owners, to run the B & B for them, as well as, working together for Operation Nehemiah, as Kevin is on the Op. Neh. Board of Directors. We are also 1/2 hour from the Levi's home, which is Operation Nehemiah Headquarters and 1/2 hour from Hannah Levi's parents who are also on the board and our good friends, Rob and Ruth Kirkman. This is huge for us, so that we can meet and pray regularly together.

Jonathan has been on the ground in Borongole, South Sudan since he arrived with us in early December and early in May William & Hannah Levi and their 6 children along with 3 others from the states arrived on the ground in Borongole  and will be there for their longest stay yet till mid August.

Jon is just getting over another bout of malaria and accepting the disappointment of not being able to work with one of the US team who is a farmer and worked diligently the past 12 days to plant in the village and in the farmland before he returned to the States. Now please pray with us for consistent rain so the the seedlings will thrive.

Jon has seen this two weeks of rest as important... giving him needed time with the Lord AND with the young lady that he has begun a relationship with. Actually, our trip there in Dec. was initiated so that we could meet her South Sudanese family as the customs require. We love Joyce and if you remember Emma shared about her friend Joyce in her newsletter "Africa from the Eyes of an American Girl" after our first trip.

Jon and Joyce are working together in the Nehemiah medical clinic in the village. They make a good team and they are both diligent workers, so their biggest challenge is finding time to sit and talk together. 

Jon & Joyce 

 Together in the medical clinic

Jon testing for Malaria

On May 1st we were able to send 3 bags of medical supplies and discipleship packs for the families including children's books. Many people donated funds and actual medical supplies. So much was donated that we could not send it all!! So we are ready with more supplies and clothing for the next trip over.

Josh, as of May 2nd, is out of the Army and he left Fort Drum and moved east the same week we moved west, so there are new adventures for him ahead as well! He  has been blessed to return to work for his former employer and good friend, Dave Axberg... a job he really enjoyed before he enlisted. He also has plans to start school in Boston in early 2017 and has been enjoying a bit of fishing... like every day lately... his Papa would be jealous and proud.

                                      We love Mary... Here she is with her two favorite guys!!

Emma was so excited initially about helping do the baking for the B & B, but as the time of our departure neared, she struggled with leaving our church & family.  

Emma's new do... ready for new adventures

 Emma assistant directed and performed with friends in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

So far God has been meeting her in special ways and we trust His good plan for her and all of us.

 Cousins enjoy exploring the Farmington River in our new backyard!

Anna Flynn was our first visitor & helped Emma unpack & organize her new loft area in the barn.

The last time we were all together!

Prayers for all of our children in these times of transition & new adventures are a blessing!

The wonderful thing about being here at Maplewood, is that the Rousseau's want to see this property used for the Lord as He leads. We have beds for 7 in the three rooms upstairs and some overflow options if needed. We will do our best to accommodate you. So consider coming to visit us!!! It is so peaceful here, especially sitting in our backyard by the river, so come join us. 

NOTE OUR NEW PERSONAL & OPERATION NEHEMIAH  MAILING ADDRESS:

PO Box 502, Otis, MA 01253

If you come to visit our physical address is:

266 North Main Road  Otis MA 01253

(We are 12 miles south of the Mass Pike (90). Take LEE EXIT 2  & go left onto Rte 20 for about 7 miles and then Right onto Rte 8 toward OTIS, follow exactly 5 miles & you'll see The Other Brother Daryl's Fish Mkt on the Left and Maplewood is immediately after.

Much grace,  Roger & Patty Lueken & family

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 502, Otis, MA 01253

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