In 1950, the first missionary set foot in the “Territory of New Guinea” for New Tribes Mission Papua New Guinea with the stated overall objective “To preach the Gospel widely, see groups of Christians come to being, who can then join us in further evangelization of their areas.” Lori and I have had the privilege of being a part of this endeavor for almost 1/3 of the 75 years. A majority of our years were spent in Patpatar but we have held a number of other roles, the last being the Managing Director for the field. But things are about to change again for us.
Kylee, the Graduate
Kylee, the 3rd of our 4 girls, will be graduating from high school this month and transitioning back to the United States. She will be headed to college in 2026 with a desire to become a high school math teacher to someday teach at an MK school on the mission field. She will be leaving PNG with her sister and mom shortly after graduation this month and has a full summer scheduled.
Aaron, the Director
I will be staying in PNG through July to hand off my responsibilities of the director role to my replacement before joining my family in the US for our planned time of furlough. It has been an honor to serve in this position for the last 3 years and to be a part of the big picture to see both our support missionaries and our church planting missionaries working to see a thriving church for every people in PNG. We have works in about 10% of the 860 language groups spread out across the country. This represents thousands of believers, from hundreds of churches, with dozens of completed New Testaments in their language.
Lori, the Helper
Lori has a servant’s heart and thrives in the behind-the-scenes, assistant roles. During the last 3 years she has assisted me in my work, discipled and cared for missionary wives, led ladies prayer, taken on additional academic responsibilities to help Briella, and served with me in Patpatar on our occasional trips back into the village. This summer she will be continuing her nursing classes online while traveling through the Midwest with our girls before entering her first of two licensed practical nursing classes in Sioux City. She is looking to the future to either be able to serve more on a field level in either literacy or nursing.
But that will come after this significant change for us.
Patpatar, our focus
For over two-decades our focus in PNG has been on the Patpatar tribe. We lived among them for 14 years ministering there full time but have been doing so itinerantly for short visits for the last 8 years. The churches there are doing well but they could use a boost. They are focused on the youth and the next generation of leaders but they are in new territory and feel the need for greater partnership.
We also have been wanting to complete translation portions, finish the edits of some volumes of Bible lessons that have been written, and pour into their lives. This has been difficult to do well living in another part of the country and serving in another role. So, when we return from the States in 2026, we will be moving back to New Ireland to work more closely with the Patpatar for 6-12 months. Briella will be in Junior High and still able to be home schooled by us during this time. We will be nearly twice the age of when we first moved in, but are excited for the opportunity and want to further equip the church and finish well.
Our kids
You’ve read about Kylee, but what about the other 3?
Avalon is still in partnership development and needs only about 15% more promised support before she can begin her Stateside missionary work in MK Care to work with missionary kids and keep their parents on the field. Find out more here.
Sierra and Ben are coming up on two years of marriage. Sierra will graduate in July as a Child’s Nurse in England and will begin work in a Bristol hospital in September while Ben will continue in school to become a doctor.
Briella finishes elementary school in a couple weeks. She hit a growth spurt in the last 6 months and has gained ground both physically and academically. With limited time in the USA and her last time their as a 3rd grader, she is both excited and nervous about 7th grade in Iowa.
Let’s Connect!
We’d love to see you while we are back in the USA to connect and share what God has been doing in PNG . We are starting to schedule in meetings and travel from September through December of 2025. Let us know if we can add you to our list.
The hands and feet,
Aaron and Lori Luse