We welcome you to our site.  As  New Tribes Mission representatives, we present  photographs and stories of our experiences in Papua New Guinea. Our life here began with orientation at the New Tribes Mission base around Goroka in the Highlands Province. Goroka is at about 5000 feet, which means warms days and cooler nights. Thatched roofed villages dot the mountainsides. We had our own small, furnished house and most of the conveniences of home. The notable difference was the shower, which was a bucket with a pulley and water had to be heated. We worked on learning pidgin, the local trade language and the local culture. Kelly’s language helper told her that her husband’s family had to give her family a pig and plenty of money as her “bride price.” She asked what Craig’s family had paid for her. What a different world!

 In May of 2000 we moved to the New Tribes Mission base in Hoskins, West New Britain Province. There we visited various areas, including New Ireland. One of the survey trips took Craig to the Village of Ora, in the Western New Britain Province, where he met with Garry and Faith McCay a team from Australia, who were in need of another family to share the ministry. Ora is a very remote location. Although Craig and his team hiked to the village as there are no roads, the practical means of transportation is via helicopter. After a great deal of prayers for wisdom in making this decision, Kelly and I decided to make our permanent home in Ora. Because of the remoteness of the location, building our home was a huge undertaking. Every board, nail and wire had to be transported via helicopter—there is no Home Depot down the street.

Our days in Ora involve learning the Kol Language, medical assistance and training and preparing to teach literacy. Providing medical assistance has been both extremely challenging and rewarding. Recently we were saddened by the loss of a young child, but we felt some progress had been made when the Big Man of the village expressed his belief that the mother should have brought the child to us. Too, it is gratifying to see that they are learning to better take care of themselves. Upon our return, two children who had been badly burned were well taken care of without any sign of infection.

What's planned for the future?  Our partners Garry & Faith have been teaching a small literacy class of six for the last 9 months.  It has been a laborious and painstaking process for them as the people are totally illiterate. Kelly and I plan to start a new literacy class, Lord willing, in May with 8 students.  In Sept Garry will be starting the Bible teaching in Kol.  We all look forward to the people hearing God's word in their own language for the first time.  Please continue to pray for many people in here to come to know Christ.  Satan is not going to let go of these people without a fight; the spiritual battle will be intense for these people's souls.  But we know that God will prevail!  Also, please continue to pray for Garry as he laboriously continues to translate portions of the Bible into Kol for the teaching. The portions of the Bible that Garry has already translated will need to be checked for accuracy with a language consultant.  This will take place in August before the teaching begins.  Please pray that all this will go well and that Garry's language helpers will perform well.

  Thank you all who support and pray for us while we are over here doing what the Lord has called us to do.  You all play an important part with us in reaching the people of Ora with the Gospel of Christ.

Take a few minutes to visit our pages. If you have questions, comments, or wish to be added to our mailing list, we welcome your e-mail addressed to craig_lowell@ntm.org.pg.