About Laura
I am a missionary in Vanuatu, sent out primarily by my home church Grace Bible in Miles City, Montana, USA. Several other churches partner with me financially, through prayer, and encouragement as well in Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, and Nebraska. My sending church is assisted logistically by Wycliffe Bible Translators, which is based out of Florida.
In Vanuatu our team seeks to see the development of ni-Vanuatu disciples equipped to lead in a church body and discipling and reaching others using the Word of God in their own language. We've all received training in evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, and linguistics (Bible translation skills obtained at Equip Training at Kangaroo Ground, Australia through Wycliffe/SIL) for the work God has led us to here. My role within the team is to assist with each of the areas previously mentioned, as well as to serve my team administratively.
Prior to being a missionary, I was an elementary school counselor out in Idaho and was involved in junior high girls' ministry mainly through discipleship. I have a year certificate in Bible from Montana Wilderness School of the Bible, a Bachelor of Science in Biology (which I used to teach 7th-12th grades in math and science prior to counseling), and a Master of Education in School Counseling to be able to work as a school counselor.
Having had a negative experience on a 3 month missions trip to France just after high school, I didn't expect or want to ever be involved in missions again other than as a sender, helping missionaries financially and through prayer. However, while I was happily working and ministering in Idaho, my sister Gretchen, and her husband Houghton were finishing their missions degree at Bible school and they began asking me to join them in ministering overseas. As I prayed about how God would have me be involved, He changed my heart and gave me a desire to be involved as a "go-er" despite the difficulties and personal shortfalls I had experienced that missionaries face. I said goodbye to my previous life and friends and started deputation with Houghton and Gretchen, or the process of finding churches and individuals God would have us partner with for ministry overseas. God led us to our team and to Vanuatu and provided for our needs so we were able to head to Vanuatu with prayer and financial supporters standing behind us.
As a child, I had the privilege of growing up with Christian parents who taught me early about Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with Him. At around age 6 or 7 following a sermon at our church, Grace Bible in Miles City, Montana, the Holy Spirit gave me understanding of my need for salvation from sin. I returned home and recall sitting on my bed, praying to Jesus to be my Savior. After praying, I went to tell my parents, who then discipled me the next several years, as did Sunday School teachers, camp counselors, and many others God blessed me with. I had many influential events and people that helped in my Christian walk and growth as I grew in years.
I am blessed now to serve with a team of believers who love God and people and who desire to see ni-Vanuatu come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and to be strengthened in the faith as they are taught, having an answer for everyone for reason for the hope they have in Christ. I am also blessed to have such great Senders back in the States, who make it possible for me to serve in Vanuatu. Their service is a fragrant offering, pleasing to the Lord.