Have you ever wondered if God really knows who you are? I know He is aware of me, but He recently told someone who didn’t know me something that leaves me full of awe.

Steve and I were both raised Seventh-day Adventists. As architect and nurse, we discussed participating in Maranatha or medical mission trips, but nothing long-term.

A few years ago, Steve was feeling dissatisfied with his job, and he prayed that God would bring a change to his life. In August of 2003, Steve lost his job. Not knowing what God had planned for us, we vowed to make ourselves available to Him.

Using various people, God spoke to us about Adventist Frontier Missions. Last summer, at Michigan Camp Meeting, we were encouraged to visit the AFM booth. Soon we were filling out applications and praying that God would close the door if it was not His will for us to proceed. We mailed our completed applications on December 31, 2004.

As we read articles in Adventist Frontiers, we became attracted to the Gogodala project in Papua New Guinea. In March, we attended orientation. The night before we expected to receive our official call to be missionaries, strong doubts assaulted us. We questioned our own ability to be missionaries. We prayed earnestly that God would give us a sign. Early the next morning, God gave Steve a vision of heaven that he will never forget. In his vision, he was standing in heaven, and surrounding him were natives from PNG. They were old friends, smiling and thanking him for coming to share the gospel with them. After this, we were confident that God was indeed calling us to work with the Gogodala people of Papua New Guinea.

Later that morning, we accepted the call. That afternoon, I emailed the Beazleys, who are currently working with the Gogodala, to let them know we had accepted the call. I had first made contact with them only a week before. Thursday morning, I received a response from David White, also an AFM missionary to the Gogodala. He wrote, “I just want you to know that late last year, while I was in my morning prayer time, the Lord impressed me with the thought that a new family was coming here to join us. He told me your family would have kids and that your last name was Erickson. I have been praying for you and your family ever since. At the time, I mentioned it to my wife, and just last week, I told the Beazleys.”

We are at peace knowing that, since we are going where God is leading, He will be with us.

Will you consider being a member of our team to reach the Gogodala? The fields are white for harvest, but the laborers are few. Is God calling you by name to help us with this great responsibility? “And the Lord said, ‘. . . thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name’” (Ex. 33:17).

• Twitter