When our gardener, Danny, went to Port Moresby so his son could have surgery, I needed to find someone to tend our garden and cut the grass around the fringes of our yard. I prayed that God would direct me to the right person.

One day, Elizabeth came over to visit Karin. She had just returned after working for a Chinese family at a nearby logging camp. I felt impressed to ask her if she would be interested in doing our yard work. “Sure, I’ll come,” she replied. Watching her work, I realized she was truly a Godsend. When he returned, even Danny, who is particular in his work and critical of others, commented on the fine job Elizabeth had done. Elizabeth’s faithfulness and hard work got me thinking about involving her in our transition to the new house in Kewa. She would be a great help with packing and cleaning. I made an offer to her, and again she responded, “Sure, I’ll come.”

However, just before our move was to take place, Elizabeth joined some other women on a two-week trip downriver to make sago. I was disappointed because I had been counting on her help. Our moving date ended up being delayed, so when Elizabeth returned from her trip, I invited her to come and work for me some more. She gave her usual happy response, “Sure, I’ll come.” We packed our things and cleaned the house, and finally the day came when the new house was ready for us to move into. We loaded our fiberglass dinghy and traveled to Kewa. Since Elizabeth was such a good helper, Steve and I decided to invite her to live with us for six weeks to help with household chores so I could give Steve more help finishing construction on the house.

Each morning while walking by the girls’ room, I would see Karin, Johanna and Elizabeth studying their Bibles. Karin took every opportunity to teach Elizabeth truths from God’s word, and Elizabeth hungrily devoured the Bread of Life. She also enjoyed our family worships and celebrated Sabbaths with us. What a joy it was to watch her grow spiritually and to see her desire to witness develop.

During her time in our home, Elizabeth shared many stories from her family and from Gogodala culture. She told how a pastor from the Evangelical church and his daughter were visiting in her home. Her father, Duaba, pulled out his Bible. The pastor and his daughter looked questioningly at Duaba and asked what he was doing. “I’m going to have family worship,” Duaba replied.

“Where did you learn to do that?” the
pastor asked.

Duaba responded, “From the white missionaries when I went to Port Moresby with them.”

The daughter then exclaimed, “I want to
learn also!”

Elizabeth told us that, even though her father conducts family worship regularly in the morning, her mother, Kapiyato, is often in so much of a hurry with the day’s business of checking fish nets or leaving early to make sago that she misses worship. Elizabeth noted that whenever her mother returned at the end of such a day, she was usually upset because she did not get fish or much sago. However, on occasion, Duaba offers to help Kapiyato make sago, and she has waited until after worship to go. On those days, though they leave late, they return with large bundles of sago like the story of Jesus blessing the disciples with an abundance of fish after obeying Him even though it went against conventional wisdom.

Duaba has learned Bible truths during his time with us and wants to follow them, but Kapiyato has discouraged him from attending our church. However, things are changing. One night, Kapiyato had a dream that she, Elizabeth and Elsie were on a trip. Her two daughters were carrying suitcases, but she did not have hers and had to return home to get it. Kapiyato believes her daughters were carrying “suitcases of truth.”

Hearing Elizabeth’s stories reminded me just how closely the Gogodala are watching us. Our daily living has far-reaching effects we don’t know about. When we left Kewa to return to the States for furlough, I encouraged Elizabeth to be faithful to God and the new things she has learned. I told her she could witness to friends and family in ways we can’t. The Holy Spirit is working on her heart. Before coming to live with us, she was considering going to school to become a teacher. But after her time with our family, she seems to have a stronger desire to stay in her village and witness. Now I am thankful our moving date was delayed. It gave us the opportunity to get to know Elizabeth better. God’s timing is always perfect! I pray that whenever Jesus calls Elizabeth to do something for Him, her response will be, “Sure, I’ll come!”

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