A few months ago I attended a missions conference where I met the Laney family, missionaries to Papua New Guinea (PNG). I was greatly inspired by what God had accomplished and was accomplishing through these humble servants in PNG.
A while back, I posted a two-part video that gives a glimpse of the Laney's missionary endeavors. If you have not yet seen those videos, I encourage you to take the time and do so now. It is time well spent.
During the missionary conference the Laney's daughter Nellie gave her testimony. I was deeply impacted to hear a teenager with a biblical focus. I asked Nellie to write down her testimony so I could share it with others. I am happy to present it here on my blog for your edification!
*****BEGIN TESTIMONY*****
My name is Nellie Laney. I am seventeen years old. My family and I are missionaries to tribal people on New Britain Island of Papua New Guinea.
The Lord burdened our hearts for tribal people who were unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and He led us to a very special people in Papua New Guinea, the Kaulong tribal people.
We actually live in the jungle among these tribal people. There are no power lines where we live - the small amount of electricity that we have in our house comes from solar panels and batteries. There are also no telephone lines or internet access where we live either - we only have a two-way radio in which we communicate on. It’s certainly not the ordinary lifestyle, but we have gotten used to it and really enjoy it there. The Kaulong people’s language had never been written down before. For some of them, we were the first white people they had ever seen.
The Kaulong tribal people go barefoot all the time. Some women even wear grass skirts. They live in small huts with dirt floors and leaf roofs. Their houses are built out of materials straight from the jungle. They don’t go to the grocery store, hardware store, or Wal-Mart. They live on the food they grow in their gardens or gather out of the jungle. They also get food by hunting and trapping. They hunt birds with blowguns and animals like wild pigs, they hunt with spears.
The Kaulong tribal people can seem very different, on the outside, but on the inside, they are just like every other person in this world. They are sinners needing a Saviour. The Bible tells us that God created them in the image of Himself and that He loves them. He loves them so much that He sent Jesus to this earth to die for them to pay for their sins. And He wants them to hear this message of Salvation, so they can have an opportunity to believe in Jesus and then spend eternity with Him in heaven.
We have had the privilege of delivering this wonderful message of Salvation to the Kaulong people. The Lord gave us the grace to learn their language and then to teach them God’s Word “God’s Talk” in their own language. We first taught them about God and of who He is. We then taught them about creation, how sin entered into the world, the fall of man, and God’s plan of redemption to redeem man back unto Himself. On this Biblical foundation, we presented the Gospel to them on June 15, 2001. That day over 50 people put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to save them from their sins! These, who previously had no hope of hearing what Jesus had done for them, unless someone came to them; are now set free through Jesus Christ. By believing in Christ as the only “Bridge” to God the Father, they are now God’s children bound for heaven.
God didn’t stop there! Since that time, many more have been saved! The Kaulong church is just growing and maturing continually! Today there are over two hundred believers! That first Kaulong church has now started/planted two new churches among their own people! They have also started literacy schools in each of those locations as well! Literacy is so very important for the church. By being able to read and write in their own language, they will one day be able to read and study God’s Word for themselves.
God has given us such wonderful relationships with these dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I have so many special and precious Kaulong friends. Our relationships are so special that they view me as part of their earthly family as well and I view them as part of mine.
I have heard many people say that they would never be able to stand it going to a foreign mission field because of the hard way of life, there are too many bugs, the filthiness, there’s no cars, no phones, no shopping malls; the list goes on and on. But, I can tell you, I would not have traded it for anything in the world. I was there. I saw God working every day. I saw lost people be found through Christ and I saw their lives change. When they got saved, the fear that had controlled them their whole life was now gone, replaced with peace, contentment, and joy. They are no longer worshiping demons, but now are worshiping the Almighty God who had created them. What an Awesome God we serve!
Not every Christian is called to go to a foreign country. But every person that has been saved by the blood of Christ, has been given the Great Commission to take the Gospel to wherever He calls. Will you go? Every day people are dying and going into a Christless eternity. People are dying without ever clearly knowing what Christ has done for them, because Christians are not willing to go with the Gospel. “The Harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few...” Luke 10:2 Will you go?
I am only seventeen, but I know that God is calling me to serve Him with my life as a missionary. I don’t know where I’m going yet, but I do know what God wants for me. I’m just trusting Him to take care of the details. When I surrendered my life for His purpose, He gave me such peace and joy. It is a wonderful thing to be in the plan and will of God and directed by His hand. That peace and joy that fills the heart of a true servant of God is something that cannot really be put into words. But I can truly say that I have never regretted giving my life in service to Him and I long to live for Him. I know that you will never regret it either, if you will wholeheartedly surrender to serve the Lord with your life.
People ask me, “Why did you choose to be a missionary, when there are so many other choices for your life?” I tell them, “Because I love my Lord and I know that He has called me to serve Him in this way. It is estimated that there are seven billion people in our world today and soon to be a billion more. The tragedy is, that multitudes of them have never clearly heard what Christ has done for them. To me, that is seven billion reasons to serve my Lord with my life, as a missionary.”
How big is your God? Is your God the One that created the Universe? Is He the One who gives you life and breath, and every day gives you that next heart beat? Remember, only Jesus Christ the Lord, can save people from the eternal “place of fire” as the tribal people call it. But how will they hear unless we tell them? Our great God who created all things and who gives you life and breath and who keeps your heart beating every day, can and will use you to win souls for Him, if you will let Him. Will you go?
Happy in His Service,
Nellie L. Laney