About

Hi Friends – Let me introduce us to you.

I am Lourens and we are from South Africa. I became a reborn child of God when I was about 23 years old. Before that Satan and sin ruled my life and rebellion, alcohol, drug abuse, and immorality characterized my life. But after 2 failed suicide attempts and through Gods amazing grace and the faithful love and witness of a colleague, I got to know Christ and His substitutionary work to redeem me. This amazing love has become the catalyst for driving us towards missions. His love for us expressed through undeserving grace in salvation compels us to want to go to others and share this Good News!

For the love of Christ compels us… (2 Cor 5:14)

After resigning from the company I worked at, I went to Bible School (1994), and then started a 6-year stint as a youth worker (1995-2001). During this time I got married and eventually, we joined missionaries as support missionaries for a 4-year stint as support missionaries (2001-2005). We were then sent to the UK for training with New Tribes Mission (Ethnos360) and ended up as church planters amongst the Mengen people in Papua New Guinea (2005-current)

I am Marie and got to know Jesus as my savior as a teenage girl. I grew up in a God-fearing family, but it took me a while to learn that I am born in sin, and also in need of a savior. I had to learn that my good moral behavior, and diligent church attendance, etc. was not going to be sufficient payment for my sinful status. I also needed a redeemer and so through the faithful testimony of a friend, I got to know Jesus as my savior. I met Lourens at a youth gathering and after I completed my Bible school studies we got married and started this journey together.

I am Madeleen and am 19 years old. I don’t live with my parents anymore.

I am Naomi and I am 17 years old

I am Marlou and am 14 years old

I am Liam and I’m 10 years old

A Quick History, written by a friend. 

The Laureti’s have been living and working in Papua New Guinea about 12 years now (2018). They live in a very remote location and their life has been nothing less than an amazing adventure. Firstly only getting to the village in which they live can be challenging to say the least. Look at this link Quick flight into Laureti’s location and this one Home for the Laureti’s

Lourens says that,

“If we cannot fly into our remote location then it involves at least a 2-day hike. We breathe sticky, humid air and sweat without stopping,”

Nothing comes easy for the Laureti’s there in their remote village. Lourens and Maries shares that,

“If you want to shop, you can’t just run to the supermarket and buy everything. Shopping involves placing an order a month in advance at our support center and after allots of logistics and money the order will be delivered by our mission pilot at our airstrip.”

But all the hardships are forgotten as they have grown to love the Mengen people. But this has not happened overnight he says,

“We have worked very hard in learning the language and getting a good understanding of the strange and totally different culture. It did not all start off that well. When we moved in we struggled to process everything that was happening around us. But we have become acquainted with crowded houses full of curious onlookers and have learned to eat whatever can be cooked over an open fire. The Mengens have been very patient with us as we learned the language.

After they learned the language they analyzed the Mengen language and developed an orthography, which again was developed into a literacy program. By teaching literacy the Mengen people were equipped to read Gods word themselves. Lourens shares that this was another amazing experience to see how young and old learn to read for the first time. Look at the following link to learn more about how these materials are printed Printing materials at our tribal resource center.

Also during this time they and their coworkers started to translate the Bible, and it’s with great joy that the translation is now close to being completed. Seeing and hearing the Mengen people being able to read Gods Word has been a great joy!

But this is not why the Laureti’s came to this remote location, not at all, they came in order to share the hope that’s made such a great difference in their lives. The Mengen people are animistic and are living without hope and in great fear for what’s awaiting them after death. Lourens says that the Mengens love to visit around fires at night and at these times they do not speak about politics, the newest model car or mobile phones, no they ask some serious questions.

Lourens says a guy like Brus or Kamalus would ask,

“Where is God and how is his character and does he love us or hate us? We have heard he has forsaken us? Is there any hope for peace from my past? Is there forgiveness for a thief like me? I have stolen so much? What about murder? We have all allowed anger and jealousy to control us and some of us even murdered?  Is there peace or hope for someone like me?”

As Lourens and his teammates grew fluent in the language and an understanding of the culture they, at last, could start to teach
from Gods Word. And the Mengens in their village began listening to the teaching as it progressed slowly and clearly in their language and with cultural appropriate explanations from Genesis to Christ. Lourens says that,

“We taught them 4 lessons a week in the mornings and evenings from Mondays to Thursday. People like Brus and Kamalus listened very closely to every Bible lesson and would talk about this for hours afterward. It was amazing to see them being changed from the inside out. Some of them were very sick at times, others had to walk very far through jungle and rain but they would not miss out on the good news that’s bringing hope to them.”

Lourens says that the result was that many in their village put their faith in Christ when the lessons concluded with the Gospel. Follow this link to look at the song the guys sang during their first baptism: Song during the first baptism

This is not where it ended, no, this is when the real work started. It has been many years of hard work in discipling these new believers into maturity and teaching them everything Christ has taught us. Since then and after many more years of hard work it’s wonderful to see that the Mengen church’s roots are growing deeper and stronger.

Its been a great blessing see how these believers have matured and how there are now young leaders and missionaries being sent out by the Mengen church to reach their own. As of 2018, the Mengen church is supporting 4 missionary families who they have sent to work in 2 remote locations within the Mengen people group. Heres another clip of Lourens hiking to neighboring village do a survey and share some info about potential teaching: Hiking to Navo for a survey

Lourens has a last Word he would like to share,

“Thanks so much for those of you praying with us and standing with us! Never forget that we are needing people to reach people and we are nothing more but a single link in a long chain starting their in your home and reaching into the Mengens’ hearts!”

You can look at their youtube channel for more clips about what they are doing at Laureti Youtube channel and look at this link for a short clip summarising the work done up to today (2018) @ The Mengen story

We believe: