Genesis tells us that, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and then made all the creatures. He prepared places for living things so that they were provided for through their environments. Fish have food and shelter and all they need where God has placed them. God not only prepared places for […]

Genesis tells us that, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and then made all the creatures. He prepared places for living things so that they were provided for through their environments. Fish have food and shelter and all they need where God has placed them. God not only prepared places for the fish of the seas and the birds of the air but also for us.

God has been preparing and providing for me throughout my life and I want to proclaim that more than ever. 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, he 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. The ELC-PNG wants its pastors to present the gospel to English speakers and represent its theological positions articulately. God is preparing it to serve in a global capacity and is providing through English-speaking missionaries, with hopefully more educators to come!

God has also been preparing and providing for you. He has been nurturing your gifts, skills and abilities so that you are prepared to serve him. He has been providing for you through your family and employment or retirement and, most importantly, his body, the church.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise you for the many blessings you have provided and the meaningful positions which you have prepared for us. Please forgive us when we have not followed your ways and not put our trust in you. Thank you for forgiving us through the death of your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Please continue to prepare us for service and provide for our needs. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

This story was also published in the August 2023 edition of Border Crossings, the magazine of LCA International Mission.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to donate to Cathryn, who is serving as an English teacher at Martin Luther Seminary in Papua New Guinea, you are invited to go to https://lcamission.org.au/donations/index.php/png.html and select ‘Cathryn Zarnke’ from the list of projects.

For more information about Cathryn Zarnke, go to Papua New Guinea – Cathryn Zarnke – LCA International Mission (lcamission.org.au)