Author: CPR Missions

This week, two young men from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple came by the mission home to learn more about soul winning. We sat down and looked at the Scriptures, noted key verses, watched a few CPR Missions videos of real-life witnessing encounters, and then went to the streets to pass out tracts. I explained the gospel to several people while they listened, and then they each explained the gospel themselves. They were thankful for the instruction and plan to study CPR: The Biblical Guide to Soulwinning to learn more. Please pray that God will use them greatly!

If you recall last week’s update, Peter had gotten saved and has been coming to the mission home to study his Bible. He asked his wife to come from their village called Jimi (about 8 hours away), where she heard the gospel and was saved. She had been searching for the gospel; however, their village only has false, works-based teaching.

Pastor Camulus at Mount Hagen Baptist Temple put me in contact with a national pastor closer to Peter’s village. We are currently making plans to go into Peter’s village for an evangelistic outreach meeting and take the gospel to people, many of whom have never heard that the payment for their sins has already been made—if they will only believe. Missionary Chad Wells and his family will be guiding us to distribute literature, invite people to a meeting, and preachers will be preaching the gospel. We are praying for this to happen in March. Please pray for this!

While giving the gospel on the street outside the mission home, a young man stopped to listen. He wore a ball cap with a cross on it and said he was a member of a church where his father was the pastor. Shortly after, a lady came out of the mission home to ask Theresa about the message she was hearing. Though interested, she was not clear on the gospel. We invited them inside and discovered they were brother and sister. Their father, the pastor, was staying at the mission home and soon joined us at a table in the main room.

I carefully explained the gospel, and all three came under conviction. They said they had never heard the gospel of grace presented so clearly. Each expressed that they were turning from trusting in their works to trusting in the finished work of the Savior. They left full of joy. I also gave the pastor a sermon outline showing the many times in Scripture where God required the shedding of blood for the payment of sin rather than works. Please pray that God will help this pastor take the truth back to his congregation.

Saturday, my family and I took an easy day. I took Theresa out to eat at a nearby restaurant so she could have a break from cooking dinner. The waitress at the Squash Club was very friendly. She said she was raised as a Christian; however, does not attend church because she uses beetle nut (a natural, mild drug) which is characteristic for making your mouth and teeth red bright red. When she heard that Jesus had already died to pay for her sins, and that there was no work left to do to be saved, and filled up with joy. She simply believed in the finished work of the Saviour and he washed her clean with his blood- beetle nut teeth and all. Grace is 100% absolutely free. Please pray for her new life in Christ and that she will live a life pleasing to the Lord.

Our social media presence has slowed way down; however, the Lord has opened great doors here that is difficult for many to see. It is difficult to convey in a letter because culture does not always translate well on paper, but the opportunities here can be tremendous.

Our family is doing well, but I do ask for your prayers. Bigger doors often mean bigger spiritual attacks—and they are very real. We are truly behind enemy lines and need prayer warriors on the other end to “hold the rope.” Satan has had a strong hold on Papua New Guinea for thousands of years, and he will not turn loose without a fight. God will fight the battles, and ultimately, the Lord wins the war. (I’ve read the back of the Book).

You can visit CPRmissions.org to download our free booklet on soul winning, and follow CPR Missions on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. A special thank you to everyone who supports this ministry. People’s eternities are being changed.

Do you remember in last week’s update when I shared about Peter trusting Christ outside of the Mount Hagen Missionary Home? He was given a Tok Pisin Bible translated from the King James, and Pastor Camulus graciously allowed him to stay at the church for two weeks to become grounded in the Word before returning to his village of Jimi in Jiwaka Province.

This week, Peter committed to coming to the Missionary Home every afternoon to study the Bible and learn how to share the gospel effectively. Although there are many works-based churches in his village, no one is clearly preaching the gospel of grace. When he returns home, he plans to go house to house distributing gospel tracts and showing those who are interested the truth of the gospel.

He has already highlighted many key verses in his Bible to help lead others to the Lord. He has learned how to rightly divide the Scriptures, why the shedding of blood is necessary for the payment of sin, and what the Bible teaches about the family—especially how husbands and wives are to view and treat one another.

While Peter and I were making notes on soul winning, a man from the street walked into the mission home and sat down at the table with us. I did not recognize him. After a while, he stood and said he had a question but would come back later. I encouraged him to share it then, and he came and sat beside me. He explained that he had been raised Baptist, Apostolic, and in other denominations, but had never been sure of his salvation. He said he had heard me preaching on the street the week before and had come under conviction. That day, he felt strongly compelled by the Holy Spirit to come to the mission home and learn about salvation.

I showed him the Scriptures, and when he read Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” — he burst out laughing with joy. In that moment, he knew he was saved. The timing was perfect, as Peter needed to witness this for his own learning. The man’s name is Phillip.

A few days later, Phillip returned and shared that he had lost his joy because of sin in his life. He wanted to understand eternal security and how God deals with a sinning Christian. It was another opportunity to open the Scriptures and provide biblical clarity.

I am also learning that a traditional American classroom setting is not always the most effective approach here. Many people prefer to “story” — to sit and talk openly and personally. I am reminded that Jesus often taught through conversation and real-life encounters. This takes much time; however, but is necessary.

Today, Theresa, Destany, and I went near the bus stop, where I was able to preach to several small crowds. Some asked thoughtful questions. One man wants to meet with me this week to look at the Bible together. Another may have trusted Christ, and many received tracts. Theresa also had several meaningful conversations, and one person was especially grateful to understand the truth.

I will be teaching Sunday school soon and have drafted an eight-part series on the Seven Mysteries of Paul. I am writing my notes in Pidgin, having nationals proofread them, and providing copies so the church can study these important doctrines more deeply. They are very grateful for this resource.

This week has also been full of administrative responsibilities and necessary repairs around the mission house, but I am thankful to maintain a healthy balance.

Thank you for taking the time to read our updates and for your continued prayers.

This past Sunday, Pastor Camulus asked me to bring the Sunday message while he interpreted. I shared on why God required a blood payment throughout Scripture rather than self-justification. The Holy Spirit was present and truly blessed the service.

This week, Jerry from Temple Baptist Church visited the Mission Home. Together we went into the streets and led a man named Peter to the Lord. Peter had been searching for truth. He was gifted a Bible and committed to reading it. On Wednesday, he came to the Mission Home and rode with us to church. He is now staying at the church for two weeks so he can be grounded in God’s Word before returning to his village. He has a strong desire to learn and take the gospel back with him, and I will be meeting with him this week to help disciple him. Please pray! There is no telling how the Lord is going to use him.

Missionary Joshua Seilala also stopped by the Mission Home as he and his family were leaving Mt. Hagen. We decided to go soul-winning together, and I’m thankful we did. I would like to highlight this week with Elijah’s story.

Elijah once lived a life deeply entangled in crime. After tribal violence wounded his uncle, Elijah feared for his life and fled to Mt. Hagen. While there, he witnessed further tragedy when his brother-in-law nearly killed his cousin Cecilia, leaving her badly injured and partially blind. Elijah helped care for her and accompanied his aunt to Mt. Hagen Hospital.

One afternoon, while passing the hospital mortuary and seeing families mourning their dead, Elijah stopped and asked God if his life had any purpose. In the days that followed, he noticed me sharing the gospel and handing out tracts near the hospital. He listened through the fence, returned again later, and the seeds of the gospel were planted and watered. It was Missionary Joshua Seilala who ultimately led Elijah to the Lord.

After trusting Christ, Elijah visited the Mission Home where he received food, fellowship, and genuine love. He was gifted a Tok Pisin Bible from the Pangia Ministry Team, which quickly became his most prized possession. Young men from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple welcomed him and invited him to the youth group. Elijah was so eager to attend church that he arrived at 6 a.m., thinking the service started then instead of 6 p.m.—a moment filled with laughter and encouragement.

Supporters, this is one example of the eternal impact you are helping make. The gospel not only changes eternal destinations, but lives here and now.

Thank you for praying for Elijah and his new life in Christ

Weekly Update #7

An amazing thing has been happening. As the days go by, and the more I talk with people in the mission house and out on the streets about the Lord, I can literally feel my understanding of Tok Pisin opening up. The Lord has given me the ability to lead people to Christ in another language; however, leading them to the grocery store can still be quite the challenge.

Theresa has begun to understand and speak the language as well, though we still have a ways to go. The mission home staff has been a tremendous help to us in this area. They have tolerated much babbling.

Destany had a playdate with Missionary Joshua Seilala’s children, and they had such a fun time. This family are missionaries from—and to—the people of Papua New Guinea. We know them from Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple.

The mission home is operating smoothly. I’m becoming more comfortable with the day-to-day operations. This week brought many tedious tasks, but nothing unmanageable.

Missionary Wayne Fair and his travel partner, Isaac, stayed at the mission home for a few days. It was honor to meet them and spend time with them. Mr. Fair had been on the mission field of Papua New Guinea for 30 years. Recently, the Lord gave him liberty to return to the United Stated and continue serving there. He took my family and I to see a nice resort called Rondon Ridge that overlooked the city of Mt. Hagen. Afterwards, we had lunch at The Squash Club where he told many stories of his years on the field. Later, we heard him preach at the Mt. Hagen Baptist Temple. It was a bittersweet time in his life, as the next day he left Mt. Hagen for the last time.

We also met returning missionaries, Doug and Ramona Shields and Jonathan and Amy Taylor. We had a good time of fellowship.

I am becoming more comfortable going out onto the streets in front of the mission home to share the gospel in small groups or one-on-one. I remain very vigilant, as some people can be quite unpredictable. Many people in Papua New Guinea do not live according to Western norms, and appearances can be deceiving despite modern clothing and accessories. I am learning to constantly remind myself not to try to change the culture, but simply to preach the good news of Jesus Christ so that some might be saved.

This week, Mrs. Cundi, a teacher on the Pangia Mission Station, hosted an ACE event for teachers at the Mount Hagen Missionary Home. Many of the Pangia school staff attended, and it was a true joy to see them again. This group of people is like family to us. Ms. Cundi and a few others asked for a copy of our book, CPR: The Biblical Guide to Soul Winning. Please pray that the Lord will use this booklet to help others learn and teach the art of soul winning.

One day, I was witnessing to an older man on the front steps. I could tell he was trying to understand the gospel, but he was very confused because a Lutheran priest had sprinkled him with water as a small child and declared him saved. He came under conviction and was absolutely terrified of going to hell. Our friend Judy came out and helped me, and she ultimately led him to the Lord. After he got saved and the Lord lifted his burden, the man said, “Tingting bilong mi i stret na klia…” or, “my thinking is clear.”

Noel, a teacher from Pangia, is helping us with final edits on a gospel tract. Theresa and I are currently working on two. Once completed, we will have many printed in Tok Pisin and will make them available on MomentsWithTheBook.com. We will also make a pointed effort to distribute thousands throughout Mt. Hagen.

I think I’ve found a system that works. I go out on the sidewalk where dozens of people pass by. When I gesture to offer someone a gospel tract, they gladly run over to take one. I begin talking with them, and within minutes a small crowd gathers. From that crowd, one or two will be drawn by the Lord, while many others simply stand and listen with blank stares. After the gospel is presented, I take those who are under conviction or have questions aside and sit with them on the front steps of the mission house, showing them Bible verses in both English and Tok Pisin. I am starting to see familiar faces and am becoming known; however, many passersby come from other villages and even other provinces.

This week, we have had five (5) people profess faith in Jesus Christ. Each person is invited to “story”, or talk about the Bible one-on-one. I express the importance of understanding the Apostle Paul’s blood gospel and the importance of learning the Bible for themselves. I avoid discussing denominations because all this country has is church; however, very few church goers are saved.

Regarding the CPR Missions YouTube and TikTok platforms, I have put those on hold for now- unless I’m able to make on in English. I will most likely need to create an entirely new account geared toward the people of Papua New Guinea who speak Tok Pisin. If the Lord opens that door, I want to be able to produce quality content, which means I need to speak the language more fluently. Still, I hope to build a platform here as well. Please be in prayer about this and for the direction the Lord would have us go, in His timing.

For now, I believe we are exactly where the Lord would have us to be and we are doing exactly the work he’d have us do.

Weekly Update #6

Theresa is becoming more comfortable with life in PNG. Preparing three meals a day, keeping house, and homeschooling is hard work; however, she is now finding time and energy for smaller projects around the mission home. The housekeepers, receptionists, security staff, and even some guests are teaching us Tok Pisin. We are learning, but it is definitely a process that takes much time and energy.

Destany continues to befriend the national children who come through the mission home. She is adjusting very well and seems to be happy here.

This week, a man named Patrick came to the mission home to haul away some scrap materials. He agreed to do a video interview, during which I walked him through the gospel. Like so many others, he believed the false gospel of “stop sinning and be a good person.” During the interview, however, he heard the good news and trusted Christ as his Savior. Be on the lookout for this video on the CPR Missions YouTube channel titled “God i Lusim Sin Bilong Em.”

I went out a couple of times to the front of the mission home to witness and pass out tracts. I spoke with several people on the street, most of whom were not ready to receive Christ.

A discipleship class is scheduled for Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to attend; however, no one showed up this week due to extremely heavy rain. Most people walk great distances, and the rain can be a major hindrance. During the time of the scheduled class, I witnessed to a Seventh-day Adventist woman who struggled to understand grace, but she said she would think about it.

I went out in front of the mission home to pass out tracts and to witness. There I met a man named Nikits. He heard the gospel, came under conviction, understood the truth, and trusted Christ. He assured me that he would meet me Sunday morning to be shuttled to church. He said he had been saying nighttime prayers, and had recently ask God “where are you?” Jeremiah 29:13 happens all-to-often: If you look, the Lord will be found by you.

Nikits had been visiting his very sick mother at the hospital (haus sik) across from the mission home. We discussed possibly visiting her in the hospital after church to tell her the gospel. Please be praying that this door would open.

All in all, two (2) people professed faith in Christ this week.

We have also been very busy around the mission home with projects such as pressure washing concrete, organizing the tool shed, repairing the pavilion (haus win), cleaning carpet, and more. It is hard work, but it is good work. We truly enjoy laboring unto the Lord. A little family life, a little work life, and a little ministry make for a good life.

This week was full of hands-on work and responsibilities around the mission home. The staff and I have been working hard to make some much-needed improvements— removing old carpet from a room and hallway, repairing rotted flooring beneath a shower, trimming shrubs and caring for the beautiful flower beds, pressure washing concrete walkways and dusty window screens, and many other small but tedious projects. It’s been busy, but good work. We also had three missionaries who have done great things in Papua New Guinea pass through: Mr. Wayne Fair, Mr. Stephen Gregg, and Mr. Hartogh.

Pastor Camullus from Temple Baptist Church asked me to create an English / Pidgin side-by-side gospel tract that Christians could use to help share the gospel. We are currently working on the translations, and going forward he would like to organize soul-winning outreaches. I’m thankful for this open door.

In the evenings, I sometimes go out in front of the mission home to pass out tracts and share the gospel one-on-one. This week, on different occasions, I shared the gospel with a man named Aaron and another named Nathaniel—both trusted Christ and were saved. Nathaniel was visiting Mt. Hagen from Enga Province. He came into the mission home for a meal and rode to church with my family and me before returning to his province this weekend.

On Friday evening, we had contracted workers doing some electrical work at the mission home. I sat down and shared the gospel with three of them. Ezekiel was already saved, and the other two believed the gospel of grace and trusted Christ. The next day, Ezekiel and Collins attended our very first discipleship class, held at the mission home.

A mission house employee, Samson, came with his wife. Collins and Ezekiel were also present, along with Theresa and Destany. We are grateful to see new believers who are eager to learn more from God’s Word, and we are praying that they—and others—will continue to attend.

As the week came to a close, I was reminded of an elderly man who works as a security guard for the house next door. His name is Michael. He is always willing to help guide vehicles in and out, burn trash, or gather hedge trimmings. I visited him during lunch, and he was more than happy to hear the gospel. Michael shared that when he was a small child, a Lutheran priest sprinkled water on his head and declared him saved. That day, he clearly understood his sin, the gospel of grace, and the Holy Spirit worked in his heart. When we parted ways, he was a joyful man. He said, “Mi pilim amamas na mi laik krai,” which means, “My heart feels happy, and I want to cry.”

Theresa and Destany are doing well. We have the peace of God here at the mission home, in Mt. Hagen, and across Papua New Guinea. When you are in the center of God’s will, you’re right at home.

Weekly Update #4

We are adjusting well to life in Papua New Guinea. I’ll be honest—the first few weeks were a bit overwhelming—but with each passing day, things feel more settled and manageable.

I didn’t mention this in last week’s update, but the reality of life in PNG is this: when life is good here, it’s really good—but when it’s bad, it’s bad. At the end of last week, we took a bus ride to Pangia. While en route, a teacher had killed a man in a nearby town. Fighting broke out in the streets, and roads were shut down, making travel difficult. However, buses were still allowed to pass through.

On the other side of town, a man blocked the road and held up our bus with a bush knife, demanding money. At first, we thought it was a robbery, but later learned it was a personal dispute between the man and the driver. The driver agreed to return at a later time to resolve the issue, and we were allowed to continue on our way.

This week I met with the mission home employees to discuss their cost-of-living raises. That good news opened doors for the gospel, and I was able to lead two more employees to the Lord. Please pray for Esther and Delmah as they begin their new lives in Christ. Delmah was so excited to know she was saved that she immediately ran up to our flat to tell Theresa, “Blut bilong Kraist wasim olgeta sin bilong mi,” or, “The blood of Jesus washed away all of my sins.”

Throughout the week, I stayed busy maintaining the mission home, handling bookkeeping, making airport drop-offs and pickups, and still found time to witness to guests in between tasks. Martin, a Catholic from another province, heard the gospel while passing through Mt. Hagen and trusted Christ alone for salvation.

On Thursday at the vehicle registration office, I witnessed to five people in the parking lot. As I spoke with one person, another joined us, then another. Two trusted Christ as Savior. Please pray for a man named Send and a boy named Emmanuel as they begin their new lives in Christ.

I also hired a lady to redo the upholstery on the couches in the mission home. While she was here, I shared the gospel with her and two employees. All three had religious backgrounds but had never understood the gospel of grace. Each professed faith in Christ, and two even rode with us to church last Sunday. They are interested in discipleship classes so they can learn how to read the Bible. Brother Chad Wells from the Pangia Ministry Team will be bringing me a box of Pidgin Bibles for the upcoming class, as many here do not have a Bible in their own language.

Theresa is doing well and enjoying life as a homemaker and homeschooler. Please pray for her as she continues learning Pidgin. Having our own flat—with space—is a big deal and a tremendous blessing.

Destany is also doing well, staying consistent with school and piano practice. She continues her weekly piano lessons with her teacher, Mrs. Chris, through Zoom.

As the week came to a close, we took a family walk through the public markets. Until now, we’ve mostly driven to the more American or Australian-style stores with gates and security, so this was a new experience. We walked through throngs of New Guineans, many of whom travel into town by bus from villages across the region. The greetings were warm, and they loved patting Destany on the head. We passed out gospel tracts along the way, and many people approached us asking for one.

I witnessed to a young man outside a shop who was wearing a marijuana hat. When a missionary engages in a serious conversation with a New Guinean, it often draws a crowd. I looked up and realized twenty to thirty people had gathered around us, listening intently. A woman near the front asked me, “Yu i go long wanem lotu?”—“Where do you go to church?”

I replied, “I am a missionary sent by God from America to give New Guineans the good news of Jesus Christ—from the Bible. I believe the Bible. Denominations cannot get us to heaven.”

Many nodded in agreement. I felt the Lord nudge my heart and say, “I brought them to you—preach.” So I lifted my voice and gave them the truth. A few were convicted and walked away, but many stayed and listened carefully. The Spirit of the Lord was present and working through the message. I didn’t have liberty to call for professions, prayers, or raised hands—the Lord simply wanted the truth preached. As many as would believe will be saved.

As a family, we plan to begin daily walks to pass out tracts, preach the gospel, and invite people to our discipleship class held at the Mt. Hagen Missionary Home on Saturday afternoons.

This week I purchased a whiteboard, markers, and pens, and began typing weekly tests for the lessons. I already have a solid discipleship program provided by Brother Chad Wells and the Pangia Ministry Team. The first class will be held on January 17.

All in all, five people professed Christ as Savior this week.

Weekly Update #3

A strange, yet wonderful thing has taken place!

At the beginning of the week, a receptionist named Samson helped me translate sentences and Bible verses that I commonly use while witnessing. I wrote out the script several times and practiced saying it aloud. Using my notes with English and Pidgin side by side, I began sharing the gospel—and I saw people come under conviction and place their trust in Christ as their Savior. I truly sense the Lord opening my understanding to speak Pidgin, while also giving me discernment to recognize common snares as I help people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

By the end of the week, I was able to share the gospel with Samson and his wife at the mission home without using any notes, though Samson still corrected me when needed. They both acknowledged that they had been trusting in works for salvation and chose instead to believe the gospel of grace. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and their burdens were lifted. Samson then suggested starting a weekly discipleship class at the mission home so people can learn how to read their Bibles. Please be in prayer for this. Discipleship has already been a recent topic of discussion for new believers. When people come to the Lord, there is an instinctive trust, and I feel a deep responsibility to help new converts grow in Christ. What a joy it is to see that the Lord used the very notes Samson helped me with to save his own soul.

This week was also busy with projects to bring the mission home up to par. Still, between family responsibilities, work, and errands, I was able to share the gospel with employees, contracted workers, people passing by on the street, and even a man on the bus. This week, eight people professed Christ as their Savior. Of course, only the Lord truly knows the heart—I can only go by what people say. Three have agreed to ride with us to church this Sunday.

The Wells family invited us to attend their New Year’s Eve celebration at Loma Baptist Church near Pangia. We took a three-hour bus ride, attended the meeting, stayed overnight at the Pangia Ministry Team Mission Station, and returned the next day. It was a blessing to see so many familiar faces and acquaintances again. The warm greetings meant a great deal to us.

We closed out the week with a holiday party for our eight employees and their families. We enjoyed catered food and plenty of gifts. The families received gift bags with toys and useful items, while the employees participated in a white elephant exchange with the nicer gifts. It was a great way to break the ice, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Please be in prayer for the upcoming discipleship class. It is very manageable, but it carries a high level of responsibility.

Weekly Update #2

As we come to the end of our second week living as missionaries in Papua New Guinea, we are still very much on “high alert.” I’m learning to juggle leadership responsibilities at the Mount Hagen Missionary Home while making sure my family’s needs are met, caring for employees, and driving in a foreign country where the laws and customs are very different. All things considered, we are adjusting well.

If you’ve noticed less activity on the CPR Missions Facebook, YouTube, or TikTok, that is because we’re intentionally trying to “take it easy” so we don’t make unnecessary mistakes or experience burnout. PNG is often referred to as the mission field where missionaries “go to die”—not in a physical sense, but because the phrase “what can go wrong, will go wrong” has proven true for many. The constant pressure and stress have caused some missionaries to leave the field. We’re aware of that reality, but we’re trusting the Lord and taking things one step at a time.

This week, I spent time getting to know the eight employees at the Mt. Hagen Mission Station: Ipson, Tama, Raphael, Samson, Delma, Loame, and Esther. We have been planning the upcoming Holiday Party, which will be a great icebreaker and an opportunity to meet everyone’s families. I also spent time explaining some business matters, such as their regular, overtime, and double-time pay rates, and showed them how to calculate their own wages. I told them it was important for them to know this—not only to protect themselves from mistakes, but also to ensure nobody would ever cheat them. Most of them didn’t fully understand the concept, but the gesture was well received and helped to build trust. They appreciated having open communication and knowing that I was “for” them.

Missionary Chad Wells from the Pangia Ministry Team has invited me to teach evangelism classes at his Bible college, about three hours away. These classes will begin in June and will require a weekly commute by bus and an overnight stay at the Pangia Mission Station. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to invest in pastors and preachers in PNG who want to learn how to effectively lead people to the Lord.

As a family, we’ve started attending Temple Baptist Church in Mt. Hagen. I strongly believe in the local church and that ministry should flow from it—even though our sending church is 8,000 miles away. I asked Pastor Camulus if he would shepherd my family and me and look after our souls while we’re here. He was happy to do so, and the church members have been very welcoming. We’ll be praying about how I might be able to help at the church and/or Bible college.

Toward the end of the week, I asked a fifteen-year-old national to sit with me on the front stoop of the missionary home so I could practice speaking Pidgin. His mother soon approached us—she turned out to be one of the housekeepers at the mission home. Her name is Loame.

I shared the gospel with her son, mostly in Pidgin while reading from my notes. When we came to the “good news,” Loame looked surprised. She had never understood grace. She believed Jesus taught us how to become good enough to go to heaven, but she had never understood the atonement—until that moment. I quickly ran to my flat, grabbed my English/Pidgin side-by-side Bible, and read through the key passages explaining why Jesus shed His blood, that the payment for sin had already been made, and that salvation is a free gift by the grace of God through faith in the finished work of the Savior. There was a sweet spirit present as she trusted Christ as her Savior from the heart.

Then another miracle happened. A lady approached us from off the streets with tears in her eyes. She saw a white man holding a Bible and sharing the Word of God and felt compelled to come closer. Her name is Nancy. She said she had been living on the streets for the past two weeks and had been staying at the hospital (haus sik) across the street. She also believed she needed to “change her ways” and “be a good person,” but she saw in the Bible that the victory was won at Calvary.

I invited her to sit with us on the stoop. Without any prompting, she bowed her head and prayed—along with Loame and her son. Afterward, Nancy said, “I can’t describe it, but I feel so free and relieved.” She agreed to come to the mission home Sunday morning and ride with us to church.

Loame confessed Christ as her Savior and was overjoyed that God sends missionaries to preach the gospel. She was especially thankful that God had lifted her burden. Seeing the care-worn heaviness leave her face and be replaced with pure joy made every challenge we had faced so far worth it. Loame was just as excited to see the Spirit of God draw Nancy over so she, too, could partake of the water of the river of life—freely!

The next day, Loame was willing to do a testimony video, where she expressed her gratitude for salvation and for God sending missionaries to the people of Papua New Guinea. It will be published on the CPR Missions social media platforms very soon. Be on the lookout!