Dear everyone, near and far
This side of the world it is going well with the Laureti clan. For once we are all healthy, no feet funguses and we are even able to get rid of some ancient furlough fat. Can’t believe how time flies… Here, some people are starting to plan Thanksgiving meals, not to mention Christmas! Can’t believe it’s October. It is a year since we left our dear South Africa for another term here in Papua New Guinea. A year since “boerewors” and speaking Afrikaans, not with a family member. Needless to say I miss home. A friend of mine in SA gave me a “windpomp” wall sticker and this past week I got it on my wall and decided to put some photos around it. Guess it was scratching around in files of furlough photos that made me realise how much I miss you all. A single photo can bring back so many emotions, smells, tastes and some tears! When one comes back after a time back home, you don’t need the memories immediately, it’s only after a few months that one starts digging the memories up, and you will hear the kids telling each other things they remember – starting their sentences with the familiar words, “ Do you remember the day we ….”
So here we are- a year later, exciting about some new opportunities for the coming year…
Recently our leadership here on our Island, asked us if we will be interested in living outside the bush for while on our support centre and to be the “coordinator” of things here and of all the things that happens here on our Island. Our current coordinator will soon start a 9-month furlough, so they needed someone to come and fill in for him and his wife. Not that we can even try to fill the gap this family leaves here, but at least we can help to keep the wheel rolling.
As you know Lourens will also be traveling to many other church plants on our Island and other areas as well to help as consultant. We have always been on the receiving side- having great support behind us supporting us while we are in the bush, now we will be part of this structure we so admire, helping out some other missionaries instead of them helping us… think back on our skid about the string of people holding the different boxes… we will basically be the ones coordinating all the different support ministries in order to lighten the workload of the missionary. Pray for us for wisdom in all of this… our emphasis is shifting for the next year from working with our Mengen church to taking hands with fellow missionaries, making sure things run smoothly…we are excited but also realising our own shortcomings in leading such a great team.
The Mengen church is happy for us, and encouraging us to help out in this way. Lourens will actually still have allot of contact with the Mengen church and especially in the two outreaches on the North Coast. The Mengen believers also realise they will have to look to God in this time, a good time as Mr. Missionary is not there to run to in all things… They day we left i asked Eddie if they will miss us when we are not with them in the jungle… he kept quiet for too long, and he started laughing. And I knew the answer- No- they won’t miss us… Its true our kids can stand on their own feet, doesn’t mean they wont need dad and mom sometimes to check on them, but they enjoy the growing experience.
Please remember to pray for our new outreach. Eddie and Fransiska and their 3 kids moved there 2 weeks ago. The Teaching has started, and we are very excited for a new group of people who can for the first time ever hear the story of the Bible. We can’t wait to see how this Story is going to change their whole world around. From darkness to light!
The 4 little, large Laureti’s are also doing fine. Schooling is moving ahead very well. Sometimes I feel I might be starting to enjoy this home-schooling thing. It is a blessing to see our kids turning into teenagers (most of the time)- if they are not trying to copy Suzelle DIY… They can actually have proper conversations and each one make us laugh in their own way.
Can’t believe my baby boy will be turning 8 this month. Feels like yesterday that he was born here- the very white boy, or kokki ( a white cockatoo found here) – like the village kids call him. Lourens is currently away for meetings so for tonight he is only my little boy, sleeping in my bed with his 3 teddy bears…
God has blessed us through you all this past year back here in PNG. We enjoy hearing from you, keeping in touch through FB or in whatever way… even a few skype calls!
We can continue here because of your prayer for us and also because of your faithful financial giving. Your part in getting the Gospel to others, is nothing small.
Marie for the Laureti clan
Lourens Laureti says
Thanks a million Josh and Faye Butler from NTM!
Josh and Faye Butler says
Thanks so much for all the work you do. We are glad to know that you will be here to help us along.
Josh and Faye Butler – serving in PNG with NTM