Nights filled with joyful sounds
A year ago, missionary Lourens Laureti would sit on his porch listening to little frogs and crickets, the occasional arguments in the village, and the people playing their kundu drums and singing to their ancestors. Today, the night sky is filled with a more joyful sound.
Each day of the week, Mengen believers in Papua New Guinea have been gathering in different houses and singing praises to God. Sometimes they share testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.
Recently, one of the men shared about his coming home alone from his garden. Culturally, Mengens have considered traveling alone on the trails risky because they fear the spirits of the forest.
Lourens’ friend, who was giving the testimony, said he was praying and thanking God for everything and experienced such a tremendous joy that he burst out in song, praising God. He said he was singing and thinking about the words that focused on men being sinners and the mercy and forgiveness of God, when his eyes began to water and fill with tears.
He began crying in sorrow about his past sin and was grateful for what Christ did for Him. He said his song became much louder after that and echoed through the forest.
As he told his story, tears began to flow again. Lourens struggled to hold back his own tears.
Another of Lourens’ friends told him that he does not want to speak about anything else anymore except God and His Word. He said that they get up in the morning and sit around the fire and speak about God. This talk continues as they go about their day and concludes back around the fire in the evenings when they sing.
Please pray that the joy the Mengen believers are showing will spread throughout the Mengen community.
"Many unbelievers are starting to gather in the evening with the believers and there is a lot of talk about them wanting to also understand the source of … joy," wrote Lourens. "We hope there will soon be another Gospel presentation for these people."
Each day of the week, Mengen believers in Papua New Guinea have been gathering in different houses and singing praises to God. Sometimes they share testimonies of what God is doing in their lives.
Recently, one of the men shared about his coming home alone from his garden. Culturally, Mengens have considered traveling alone on the trails risky because they fear the spirits of the forest.
Lourens’ friend, who was giving the testimony, said he was praying and thanking God for everything and experienced such a tremendous joy that he burst out in song, praising God. He said he was singing and thinking about the words that focused on men being sinners and the mercy and forgiveness of God, when his eyes began to water and fill with tears.
He began crying in sorrow about his past sin and was grateful for what Christ did for Him. He said his song became much louder after that and echoed through the forest.
As he told his story, tears began to flow again. Lourens struggled to hold back his own tears.
Another of Lourens’ friends told him that he does not want to speak about anything else anymore except God and His Word. He said that they get up in the morning and sit around the fire and speak about God. This talk continues as they go about their day and concludes back around the fire in the evenings when they sing.
Please pray that the joy the Mengen believers are showing will spread throughout the Mengen community.
"Many unbelievers are starting to gather in the evening with the believers and there is a lot of talk about them wanting to also understand the source of … joy," wrote Lourens. "We hope there will soon be another Gospel presentation for these people."