Your missionaries at work

LCA International Mission works with partner churches overseas to take the life-changing good news about Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. LCA International Mission invites you to learn about and support the missionaries and their families as they serve internationally on behalf of the LCA and support God’s mission.

Mick Hauser, lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary, Papua New Guinea, and his family Milka, Kelly and Malenne

After returning to Papua New Guinea following the birth of our second child in Toowoomba, our lives were spun around just before Easter. My mother-in-law passed to her eternal home. During this grim period, I questioned the safety of my family. Was my time in PNG coming to an end?

He has indeed protected us, and we pray he will continue to do so. After all of this, somehow now, I find myself in Fort Wayne, Indiana, studying a PhD in Missiology at Concordia Seminary. I was accepted into the program earlier in the year, a long-awaited journey had arrived. My heart didn’t want to leave the family behind for any length of time, let alone the almost three weeks I would be away. But the Lord is faithful.

I now learn in an intense way about the sending church and its activity. What a privilege it is to be involved with such a program! To take the name of the Lord to the ends of the earth. What great promises he has for us.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
If you would like to financially support Mick, Milka, Kelly and Malenne Hauser as Mick lecturers at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, PNG, click here.

Cathryn Zarnke, English teacher at Martin Luther Seminary, Papua New Guinea

God has prepared the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) to be a place of service for me where I can grow and learn. It is also a setting in which the education he provided for me can be shared with others. Since I arrived in PNG on 15 June, God has provided me with a team of amazing colleagues who are taking me on my orientation program, a flat with a beautiful tropical garden, lots of different foods to eat, and a welcoming church community.

At the end of my first week, I felt as though I was in the right place to serve and be served. After talking with ELC-PNG church leaders about their departments and projects, it was clear that there would be a mutual benefit for English-speaking Christian teachers to be working with this inspiring church body. There are educational projects involving a curriculum revision in the church’s primary schools and a great desire to improve post-graduate opportunities for seminary students, both with a strong focus on improving English skills.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
If you would like to financially support Cathryn Zarnke as she teaches English to the students at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, PNG, click here.

Michael Lockwood, lecturer at China Evangelical Lutheran Church Seminary, Taiwan, and his family Naomi, Asher and Jadon

Our family has been in Taiwan for six months. This has been both joyful and challenging.

Most of my time has been occupied with learning Mandarin. The goal is to become proficient enough that I am capable of teaching in it. This is a huge task! Nevertheless, I now have an excellent tutor through Chiayi University and am making slow but steady progress. Furthermore, learning a new language provides many cultural insights.

While I am eagerly awaiting the day when I can transition from language learning to teaching God’s word, I already have a few small teaching opportunities. I am currently leading a Bible study on Acts with the other mission staff; I am looking forward to teaching a seminar in November on the Apostles’ Creed for pastors and church workers in Nepal; and in January, I am scheduled to lead in-service training with the faculty of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Nagercoil, India.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
If you would like to financially support Michael, Naomi, Asher and Jadon Lockwood as Michael lectures at the China Evangelical Lutheran Church Seminary, click here.

Murray Smith, lecturer at Senior Flierl Seminary, Papua New Guinea, and his wife Tracy

Term one finished early and included an extended break for the students to return home seeking assistance from families and communities. Even though they have returned to a lack of provision, monetary gifts from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG and its overseas partners have enabled seminary classes to resume largely uninterrupted. What has been lacking in material benefits has not dampened the spirits of students, who have maintained class attendance with remarkable resilience.

Teaching pure Lutheran theology may seem relatively straightforward. But in a land where the Book of Concord has been mostly unavailable due to the cost, in many cases, there is a limited knowledge of Luther’s Small Catechism and opportunity to build on the foundation that people from Western cultures take for granted.

The spectacular coastal views from our mountaintop vantage point are surpassed only by observing the transforming power of the word of God on timid young seminary entrants to stable students of theology.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE?
If you would like to financially support Murray and Tracy Smith as Murray lectures at Senior Flierl Seminary, click here.

This article was adapted from stories in the August edition of LCA International Mission’s Border Crossings.