A Heart Transformed in Papua New Guinea
First of all, let me apologize for being so late in updating you on my mission trip to Papua New Guinea.
I spent 3 1/2 months at Promise Land Ministry and was blessed beyond measure. God was very gracious in providing me with good health 95% of the time while I was in the country.
The people welcomed me with open arms. They patiently helped me adjust to their culture and even tried to teach me Pidgin (I only managed a few words — but they were very kind teachers!).
Teaching Literacy, Sharing the Gospel
My major mission was to train the lead teacher and her assistants in how to teach the curriculum provided by Literacy Evangelism International.
The training consisted of 11 hours of instruction and the opportunity to put into practice what they learned.
The literacy class consisted of 11 adult students from nearby churches such as Seventh Day Adventist and Revival Church and a few of the students were from Promise Land Church.
Classes were conducted two days a week from 9Am to 12 Noon. Class began each day with devotions. I was asked by the lead teacher to provide the devotions for each class. I asked her if there was any particular topic she would like me to talk about. Her reply was whatever the Holy Spirit led me to teach.
After praying about it, God decided the topic of devotions would be the Lord’s Prayer. Each class day, I would cover a short portion of the prayer, never realizing how much I would learn in the process. Has it ever occurred to you that the first two words “Our Father” provides the opportunity to share the Gospel? And shared the Gospel I did. Have you ever asked yourself why Christ prayed “Our Father” instead of “My Father”? The Lord’s Prayer packed with so many golden nuggets. of wisdom. I spent the first two months teaching the Lord’s Prayer to the class. Not only did they learn about God’s love but also learned to recite the prayer in their language and in English.
God at Work Through Literacy
At the beginning of the class, none of the students could read or write in their own language, not to mention English, but by the time they graduated they were able to read and write the Lord’s Prayer in both Pidgin and in English. Our God can do anything!!
The student’s testimonies of how much they learned about putting God’s Word into daily practice was more than heartwarming. In fact, it brought tears to my eyes. as I listened. One young man said God spoke to him about becoming a missionary to his village, another man said he had learned so much from the Lord’s Prayer and he was so grateful God brought me to Papua New Guinea.
A Community of Love and Servanthood
While there, I lived in what they call the big brown house. It was a house that had been built some 13 years ago when the Konstantinks came to Papua New Guinea. The music team was gracious to share their home with me. They called me Mama Sharon and made sure I was safe and helped me whenever I needed something. The people at Promise Land have a love for Christ and a heart of servanthood which I have never experienced. In fact it revealed just how much I lacked in the area of serving and putting others first.
With each mission trip I have been on over the years, I have always come home appreciating what God has given me, but this trip has changed my heart in a way I can not quite explain, a deeper appreciation of my salvation and what Christ has accomplished in my life only begins to express what He has done.
What’s Next
Many have asked what’s next for me. I’m praying about attending YWAM Orlando’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) this coming spring. I’ve been accepted but am trusting God for the finances and His clear direction. My heart’s desire is to go deeper in His Word — especially through YWAM’s Bible School of the Nations, which walks through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
If God has placed this desire in my heart, I know He will make a way. Would you please pray with me for His guidance and provision?
Thank You
I would like to end this letter by thanking all who supported me financially and in prayer for making this mission trip possible. The seed of God’s love and salvation was sown through the literacy evangelism and when we get to hesven we will see the full results of God’s blessings.
Your Sister-in-Christ,
Sharon Douglas
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