We have now been in the country of Papua New Guinea for about a year and a half. Things were way different then we ever expected or could’ve ever imagined. No one is wearing gourds or threatening us with bows and arrows, just about every speaks the national language, and a ton of people have TVS (even though they have to use a generator to see them).
When we first got here we wanted to be in the most remote village with the least access, thinking that would be what “real missionaries” did. God slowly broke that thinking down and gave us a true heart for Papua New Guinea as a whole. As He started to soften our heart, He gave us a vision of reaching this country for Jesus. This is no easy task as there are over 800 languages here and still about 600 unreached!
Then we heard about the Kuman people. This people group has over 150,000 people with many spread out all over this country! They are the lawyers and government workers of this country and very well educated. There have missionaries in and out of this place for many years, most never even learning the language. That was until 1999, when the Tallman family moved in and then shared the gospel in 2011. They have been in this work for many years alone now, trying to translate and keep the church going, but the gospel has not gone out. There are about 100 believers in this language out of 150,000!
This place has a road, electricity, and a small “movie theater” right next to the house! So it was way different than our original thoughts, but we see the huge need of the gospel here spoken in their mother tongue!
The Lord laid this on our hearts and after much prayer and meetings with leadership and our coworkers, we decided to join this work! After learning the language and culture, we will be strengthening the church leaders and taking this gospel into the other villages in hopes to see the whole language group hear the gospel in their heart language! This people group has the potential to reach this whole country if discipled in the Lord, so be praying for us and the people as we embark on this journey!
Take a look at this video introducing the team and the place!