In Training: April 2012

“Hurry girls, I want to get to church early to set up for our mission presentation,” John said.
As we rushed out the door, Alissa suddenly stopped. “Wait! I need my purse,” she said. Knowing we were in a hurry, I hesitated. “Please, Mommy! My tithe is in it.” I hurried in to find it, and then we were on our way.
It wasn’t the little purse that was important to Alissa, it was the gift she wanted to give back to Jesus. As she placed her tithe in the offering plate, I beamed at her with pride.
Later that evening after vespers, we were following friends to a gymnastics program. As they took the ramp leading to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I realized the only money we had brought that day had gone into the offering plate. I voiced my concern, and Abigail replied, “Mommy, you don’t have to worry, because Jesus always provides our needs.” As we approached the toll booth, I was still worrying about what we would do when Alissa spoke up. “Mommy you can have my savings to pay for the toll.” God had already made a way for us by softly reminding Alissa to bring her purse that morning.
What an awesome God we have who cares for all our needs! “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” (Matt. 6:25).
As we live among the Ama people, we will feel comforted knowing that God is our refuge and strength, and that many of our family and friends will be lifting us and our mission up in prayer. Thank you again for faithfully giving and praying for the Ama people. —Pam Lello

In Training: March 2012

“Is it true, Daddy? Is it really true?” asked Abby. “Are we finally going to Papua New Guinea?” “Yes,” John replied. “God has answered our prayers and completed our fundraising so we can finally go.”
“Can we go today?” begged Alissa.
“Not so quickly, girls. There is still a lot of planning to do.”
“Oh! We can hardly wait!” they chorused, and both girls began making plans of their own.
“I’m going to get a parrot,” said Alissa.
“I can’t wait to ride in a dugout canoe,” said Abby.
“Do you know why I’m so excited?” said Alissa. “I can’t wait to meet our new friends in Papua New Guinea. I want to tell the Ama children about Jesus and what heaven is like. Then they will have the chance to join us in heaven and meet our friends from America, like Gracie.”
“Yeah!” said Abby. “We can all meet under the Tree of Life and gather fruit together to take to Jesus.”
As the girls continued to make plans about their new life, my list of things to do before we go didn’t seem so pressing anymore. “Dear Lord,” I prayed. “Thank You for giving me peace about our future, and thank You so much for family and friends who have stepped out in faith with us to reach the Ama with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” —Pam Lello

In Training: February 2012

On November 10, 2009, my wife and I accepted God’s call to go to the Ama people of Papua New Guinea with the message of His love. But with over $40,000 of business debt and a home in a depressed rural area that had attracted almost no attention during a year on the real estate market, our dreams of mission service seemed very distant. But we believed God’s promise, “Faithful is He that calleth you who also will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). And so we set out to prove it true.
What followed was not an instant answer but rather the sustained providence of God that has brought us to the verge of launching. Slowly, steadily, one by one, God has removed the obstacles from our path. First, He miraculously sold our home to a couple seeking a quiet country getaway. Then, after a year of raising support, He completed our $90,319 launching goal. Next, He erased what remained of our $40,000 business debt. And now, after a second year of fundraising, He has completely funded our $7,148 monthly budget!
During the next three years we will face even greater challenges. But as we travel to one of the remotest places on earth, learn two new languages, build a home in the jungle, make sense of the mysterious ways of the Ama and design a method of evangelism that ministers to their unique needs, we know one thing: “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.”
As He so often does, God has used many people to work out His will for our lives. To each one of you we say thank you ever so much for answering God’s call to assist us. Your continued prayers and support are a great source of encouragement. —John Lello

In Training: January 2012

The ringing of the phone broke the stillness of the morning as my mother-in-law hurried to answer it. A sweet, soft voice on the other end wanted to know if John and I could visit that morning. We climbed into the truck, bowed our heads and asked God for His guidance during our visit.
She was waiting at the door when we arrived and invited us in. As we began talking, she mentioned she had heard about our mission to the Ama people when we spoke at her church and had felt the Lord urging her to help. Weeks went by before the Lord once again spoke to her through the Sabbath School lesson: “If you feel deeply enriched in your own spiritual faith walk, resolve to step out in service as a mentor or support to others in your circle of friends, family, and faith community.” Once again, her heart was touched and she decided to act upon that still small voice. Not knowing if she would have enough each month for her bills, she took out her checkbook and pledged a monthly gift.
I sat there thinking about this dear lady whom God was using to strengthen my faith. What does it take to have that much faith in Jesus? I wondered. What would that kind of faith look like for me? I have found that when I open my heart and mind to a personal relationship with Jesus and give my all, faith becomes real.
Traveling to Papua New Guinea to reach the Ama for Jesus will take a giant step of faith. Also, we can’t do it on our own. If you want your faith to become real, too, step out with us and join our mission team. Together we can reach the Ama for Jesus.
—Pam Lello

In Training: December 2011

“Oh no! Were we supposed to exit at Lenhartsville?” My chest tightened. “We passed that exit thirty minutes ago.” Swept along the rainy interstate by a tide of cars and road spray, there was no going back and no way to follow our old directions forward. We exited the highway, but with no map, each turn only compounded our difficulty.

Wedged into our pickup, we battled along congested city streets in the direction of our appointment, Pam pressed against the far door, Abby and Alissa squirmed uncomfortably in the middle, and I gripped the wheel more tightly after each appeal for quiet. As our girls’ bickering developed into pushing, I snapped. “Can’t you girls just leave each other alone? Be quiet and sit still!”

Then, under conviction, I confessed my sin to my children and the Lord and asked for their forgiveness. Calling the people we were scheduled to meet, I explained our situation. Listening graciously, our hosts told us of their decision to support us with a monthly gift. Praise the Lord!

That night in our hotel room, I asked God for help, and in the morning I proposed a simple plan. “Today when we sense Satan beginning to attack, let’s immediately warn each other, stop what we’re doing and pray.” It worked, and the day was blessed by God’s peace.

This is all a part of the frustration and challenge of raising support. However, we do not allow logistical difficulties or family problems to deter us. “No, dear brothers and sisters, we are still not all we should be, but we are focusing all our energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, we strain to reach the end of the race” (Phil. 3:13, 14 Paraphrase). We’re almost there. Please help us cross the finish line.—John Lello

In Training: November 2011

The sun shone warmly through the window as we sat around the table for breakfast. As we lifted our heads from prayer, the stillness was broken by Alissa’s soft voice. “Mommy, where is our home?” Those words struck me. I had never stopped to realize how all this traveling was affecting my girls.
My thoughts flashed back to our trip the night before. As the stars twinkled in the sky, we squeezed into the front seat of the pick-up truck to begin the 10-hour trip back to Kentucky. I rested my head on the window as the girls began asking questions. “When will we get there? Will we see our friend, Gracie? How long will we stay this time?” It doesn’t matter where a person lives; there is no place like home.
Returning to the present, I searched for a gentle way to respond to Alissa’s question. Before I could think of anything to say, a smile came to her face, and she said, “I know, our home is in Heaven.” I leaned back into my chair, relieved. God had come through again, giving us peace about our situation.
It reminds me about how Abraham followed God’s leading and wondered when he would arrive at his home, the New Jerusalem. It was a child’s small voice that reminded me to be patient until we get to our home in Heaven. God still has work for us to do. When it is accomplished, He will take us to that Heavenly home where we will stay forever. —Pam Lello

In Training: October 2011

“Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but He is strong . . .” My hoarse lullaby faltered and then fell silent, stifled by the choking in my throat and the deep aching in my heart. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks and dropped softly onto the tiny bundle in my arms. I gazed down into the painful darkness of my daughters eyes, determined to cradle her as long as I possibly could. Slowly, her vitality faded like a tiny wildflower picked before its time. And then it was over. Our precious Aubrie Marie had fallen asleep in Jesus after just four days of life. I gathered her close and sobbed out my sorrow. But even in the depth of our grief we had hope.
What must it be like for my Ama people who routinely suffer the loss of their children? They die amid squalor and filth without the comfort of a modern hospital. They slip away in malarial fevers, dehydrated by diarrhea, without the benefit of even simple treatments or medicines. But even more tragically, they die without hope. For them, death and what follows death is a horrifying unknown. There is no hope in the tortured wails of those they leave behind.
What must it be like for Jesus as His little ones slip away untouched by His love as hopeless grief grips their parents? The Bible says, “Jesus wept,” and I am sure His tears still flow today. I think I can hear Him crying out, “Please, please, won’t someone help My children? Won’t someone give My people hope?”—John Lello