Craig & Kelly Lowell
About Us
In the fall of 1997, Kelly and I entered New Tribes Mission training. We did two years of missionary training through NTM.
We landed in Papua New Guinea with three small children in 2000.
God had placed a deep burden within Kelly and I to get involved and to reach a language group that had never heard of the Gospel of Christ. In 2001, God lead us into the Kol tribe that was opened in the fall of 1999 by our partners Garry & Faith McCay.
Bible Teaching
In the fall of 2005, Garry started the chronological teaching. It took many years of language study to reach a point where we could teach. We started from Genesis and worked our way to the resurrection of Christ. The peole were taught 3 times a week over a 6 month period. The Kol people came faithfully and listened. They heard stories on the fall of man and how sin entered the world, Noah and the flood, Moses leading the Isrealites out of Egypt etc...Finally after 6 months, the Kol people heard how Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins. Many that day professed their belief in Christ! It was very exciting to see so many express their faith in Christ. Please pray for these new believers!
In the fall of 2005, Garry started the chronological teaching. It took many years of language study to reach a point where we could teach. We started from Genesis and worked our way to the resurrection of Christ. The peole were taught 3 times a week over a 6 month period.
The Kol people came faithfully and listened. They heard stories on the fall of man and how sin entered the world, Noah and the flood, Moses leading the Isrealites out of Egypt etc...
Finally after 6 months, the Kol people heard how Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins. Many that day professed their belief in Christ! It was very exciting to see so many express their faith in Christ. Please pray for these new believers!
Photos
Literacy
In 2005, we started a literacy program in Ora. We made a alphabet from the sounds we had written down during our language study. The people in Ora were a 100% illiterate and there were no schools for their children to go to.
Literacy is a very important part of our ministry with the Kol people in Ora. We teach the people how to read and write in their own heart language. Here soon, we will be able to put the New Testament into their hands. To be able to read God's Word in their own language will help tremendously with the spiritual growth of the Ora believers.
Medical
When the work in Ora was opened in 1999 there were no medical supplies available to the Ora people. Many got sick and died from malaria and pnemonia. For every two children born one died. The people were constantly plagued with huge sores and boils.With the introduction of ammoxicilian and anti-malarial drugs, we have seen the people's health improve drammatically. More babies now survive birth and early childhood beacuse of these simple drugs. We have trained the people how to take care of their cuts and sores. We are now in the process of training them how to dispense medicine for malaria, infections and pnemonia on their own.
When the work in Ora was opened in 1999 there were no medical supplies available to the Ora people. Many got sick and died from malaria and pnemonia. For every two children born one died. The people were constantly plagued with huge sores and boils.
With the introduction of ammoxicilian and anti-malarial drugs, we have seen the people's health improve drammatically. More babies now survive birth and early childhood beacuse of these simple drugs. We have trained the people how to take care of their cuts and sores. We are now in the process of training them how to dispense medicine for malaria, infections and pnemonia on their own.
Join us by supporting our ministry financially
Thank you to those who have been faithfully praying & supporting our ministry in Papua New Guinea.God Bless you!
Thank you to those who have been faithfully praying & supporting our ministry in Papua New Guinea.
God Bless you!
Please send all tax deductible contributions to the following address:
Please send all tax deductible contributions
to the following address:
If you would like to make a monthly electronic transfer from your banking account please click on this icon for more info:
New Tribes Mission
1000 East First Street
Sanford, Fl. 32771
eletronic fund transfer
Please make checks payable to:New Tribes MissionIn the memo please write:Craig & Kelly Lowell
Please make checks payable to:
In the memo please write:
contact us
Village Life
The lives of the Ora people on a day to day basis are very hard and strenuous. 95% of their time is spent in their gardens. They are constantly making new ones and planting the food that keeps them alive.
On occasion, they have parties that are centered around people paying off debts or putting somebody in debt to them.
All of the material the Ora people use in making their houses comes from the jungle.
Our Home
We made our home in Ora in Janaury of 2001. Every nail, piece of wood, tools, fuel etc... had to be flown in by helicopter.The people in Ora cleared us a spot in the jungle. Then I and five other men got started. It took us about 3 weeks to get up the shell of the house and another week to get all the plumbing and wiring in. We would of been done sooner but the rain slowed our progress.During this time, Kelly and the kids were at Hoskins waiting for their new home to be completed.
We made our home in Ora in Janaury of 2001. Every nail, piece of wood, tools, fuel etc... had to be flown in by helicopter.
The people in Ora cleared us a spot in the jungle. Then I and five other men got started. It took us about 3 weeks to get up the shell of the house and another week to get all the plumbing and wiring in. We would of been done sooner but the rain slowed our progress.
During this time, Kelly and the kids were at Hoskins waiting for their new home to be completed.
Latest Up-date
Here is our latest prayer letter. If you are not on our mailing list please e-mail us and let us know.
Verse of the month:
If you would like more information on New Tribes Mission or short term mission trips then please click on the NTM logo ontop.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
Please click on the icon to download the letter.
April letter
Prayer Requests :
Needs:
1. Ora believers spiritual growth.2. Health of the Ora people.3. Wisdom in training up new literacy & bible teachers.4. For the salvation of all the Kol people.
1. Ora believers
spiritual growth.
2. Health of the Ora
people.
3. Wisdom in training
up new literacy &
bible teachers.
4. For the salvation of
all the Kol people.
5. For finances to buy plane tickets.6. That we would be able to raise our monthly financial support.7. For God to send more needed laborers to the field.
5. For finances to buy plane
tickets.
6. That we would be able to
raise our
monthly financial
support.
7. For God to send more
needed laborers to the
field.
1. Plane tickets ($7500)2. Equipment: Batteries(deep cycle) ($2200) Inverter ($1800) Computers ($2000)3. Homeschool material ($2000)4. Literacy equipment ($500)5. Digital camera ($300)6. Satellite equipment for e-mail ($2500)
1. Plane tickets ($7500)
2. Equipment:
Batteries(deep cycle) ($2200)
Inverter ($1800)
Computers ($2000)
3. Homeschool material ($2000)
4. Literacy equipment ($500)
5. Digital camera ($300)
6. Satellite equipment for e-mail ($2500)
Future ministry & Vision
Our vision for Ora is to equip the church so that it can reach out to the rest of the 5000 Kol speakers. Many of the Kol people still have not heard the Gospel of Christ in their own language. Our goal now is to disciple the Ora believers and train some of the men to become Bible and literacy teachers. We have trained several to be literacy teachers and they are doing well.Garry at the moment is training some of the Ora men who are believers to become Bible teachers. These guys will be instructed on how to teach the Bible using the chronological method. We are still in the process of looking for men to be appointed elders of the Ora church. In the future, we would like to see the Ora church send out its own missionaries to reach the rest of the Kol group that has not heard the good news. Kelly and I have also considered relocating and planting another church within the Kol language.
Our vision for Ora is to equip the church so that it can reach out to the rest of the 5000 Kol speakers. Many of the Kol people still have not heard the Gospel of Christ in their own language. Our goal now is to disciple the Ora believers and train some of the men to become Bible and literacy teachers. We have trained several to be literacy teachers and they are doing well.
Garry at the moment is training some of the Ora men who are believers to become Bible teachers. These guys will be instructed on how to teach the Bible using the chronological method. We are still in the process of looking for men to be appointed elders of the Ora church.
In the future, we would like to see the Ora church send out its own missionaries to reach the rest of the Kol group that has not heard the good news. Kelly and I have also considered relocating and planting another church within the Kol language.
Map/ Hoskins
Papua New Guinea got its independance in 1975 from Australia. The trade language spoken is pidgin. There are over 800 languages in PNG in an area the size of California.We live on the island of New Britain. The village where we live is called Ora. The language that the Ora people speak is called KOL. There are 5,000 Kol speakers. We live with 150 of them in Ora.Ora is very, very isolated. You can reach Ora by helicopter only. It is a two day hike out to ethier coast. Ora is located at an elevation of 1800 feet above sea level.We get a lot of rain in Ora. We have two seasons of rain: wet and wetter. The nights are cool at around 70F. During the day it can get up to 90F at 90% humidity!
Papua New Guinea got its independance in 1975 from Australia. The trade language spoken is pidgin. There are over 800 languages in PNG in an area the size of California.
We live on the island of New Britain. The village where we live is called Ora. The language that the Ora people speak is called KOL. There are 5,000 Kol speakers. We live with 150 of them in Ora.
Ora is very, very isolated. You can reach Ora by helicopter only. It is a two day hike out to ethier coast. Ora is located at an elevation of 1800 feet above sea level.
We get a lot of rain in Ora. We have two seasons of rain: wet and wetter. The nights are cool at around 70F. During the day it can get up to 90F at 90% humidity!
Map
Hoskins
WWII Wrecks
I would like to honor the allied airmen who fought and died over New Britain of Papua New Guinea in WWII with this section of the site.
I have had the opportunity to visit these crash sites and see firsthand the wreckage and sacrifice that these brave men gave for our freedom.
Over 800 aircraft from WWII are still hidden within the jungles of Papua New Guinea.
Baptisms
We have baptised several believers since the birth of the church in the fall of 2006. Before Garry and I would baptise anyone, we made sure they understood the meaning of baptisim and that baptism by itself cannot save anyone. It symbolizes our new life and faith in Christ.
Please click on the button to view the pictures.
Videos
NTM videos
Please click on the blue writing to watch the videos. The videos will come up in a seperate page.
4. Landing in Ora5.Landing in Lele6.Arriving into Ora7.Ora literacy teacher8.Ora waterfall9.Our bush house tour10.Ora believers singing
4. Landing in Ora
5.Landing in Lele
6.Arriving into Ora
7.Ora literacy teacher
8.Ora waterfall
9.Our bush house tour
10.Ora believers singing
11. Ora clothes sale12.Singing at a party13.Ora garden14.Bible teaching15.Ora waterslide16.Ora mud!17. Giving medicine
11. Ora clothes sale
12.Singing at a party
13.Ora garden
14.Bible teaching
15.Ora waterslide
16.Ora mud!
17. Giving medicine
1. Reach Into The Darkness2. Reachable3. Flight4.Wayumi
1. Reach Into The Darkness
2. Reachable
3. Flight
4.Wayumi
1. Ora presentation2.Visit to Ora3. Ora literacy class
1. Ora presentation
2.Visit to Ora
3. Ora literacy class
Planes-n-Helicopters
We use two types of vehicles to get us into Ora, a helicopter and plane. The helicopter is used to bring us into Ora along with supplies. The Cessna 206 is used to bring heavier loads of supplies into a neighboring airstrip. This airstrip is only a 10 minute flight away from Ora. Once the supplies are at the airstrip then the helicopter is used to shuttle them into Ora.
We love our pilots and they do a wonderful job!
