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Retirees' Stories
Total Years of Service with NTM Keith and Pat served with New Tribes Mission for 29 years.
Country served We headed to Papua New Guinea in 1969. On our way over, with our 4 children, we stopped in Australia for what we thought was to be just a few days. While we were there, the “nighty” of one of our daughters caught on fire from the open flame of a space heater. She was badly burned. We ended up staying in Australia longer, until she was healed and able to travel. The hard part was sending our oldest daughter, then an 8th grader, on ahead so she could start school on time. I, Keith, was able to help build cabinets there for NTM Australia while our daughter healed.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Rudy Johnson, an NTM Representative came to speak at our home church. The NTM trio also sang some special missionary numbers. They left us applications and invited us to visit the NTM training Center at Oviedo, Florida. Our pastor also encouraged us to consider missionary service. During that time, we heard a missionary with TEAM speak about the need for laborers in Irian Jaya, so our hearts were set on helping in that part of the world.
What was your biggest test of faith? When we got to PNG, our 3 daughters were attending school at Oluguti, and Field leadership asked us to help build a new school base at Nuhmonohi. So, 3 we lived in a “pit-pit” house, while the new buildings were being constructed. Our young son was with us and we lived in that little house for about a year. It was a big adjustment to be away from our daughters while they attended school.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Have the people to your house and get to know them. Go as a learner. We are guests in their country. Don’t take over!
Total Years of Service with NTM Elwin and Virginia served with New Tribes Mission 34 years.
Country served We served for 34 years in Brazil, South America, working in several capacities in a support role. Some of these were keeping books; teaching in language school; teaching in the school for missionary children; being principal of the same school; being dorm parents; building houses; running the guest facility; having a ministry to kids in our large old home we had remodeled.
How were you challenged into missionary service? “Lord, if you will give us a healthy baby boy, I will dedicate him to you,” Elwin’s mother prayed. She didn’t feel well, and was concerned; it had, after all, been fifteen years since her last pregnancy. She never told anyone of her prayer, until as a young man, I came home and excitedly told her, “Mom, I know now what the Lord wants me to do with my life. I want to be a missionary!”. A Bible School teacher, Alan Haggert, had talked to our Sunday School class challenging us with his experiences as a missionary. When my Mom heard that, she revealed her prayer uttered for me even before I was born. His wife, Virginia (Ginger) added, “I felt a desire to be a missionary since I was a small child. I knew the Lord would prepare me and provide the opportunity.”
What was your biggest test of faith? We had been taught to trust in the provision of the Lord, so when we went, with three children, to California for “boot camp’ for our missionary training, we went with no support and just a few dollars. Yet all the way, the Lord surprised us, even providing tickets for our flight to Brazil.
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? All of the missionaries helped one another, contributing to the educational needs of the children; filling in for one another; each one doing his or her part.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Said Ginger, “…get a first-hand look at what missionary life is like. Visit the field, or go on a short term mission trip, so you can see what you can anticipate. Also, knowledge of first-aid is valuable, since it teaches you how to position an injury while awaiting care, or how to treat common ailments.” She then added, “I delivered a ‘pile’ of babies during my years on the field. Elwin delivered our last one! You simply have to be prepared for about anything the Lord puts in your path to do!”
Total Years of Service with NTM Dorothy and her late husband, Delmar, served with New Tribes Mission for 17 years.
Country served We came to the International Headquarters in Florida after our retirement and Delm ran the mechanic shop there, fixing HQ equipment and cars for the HQ Staff, and missionaries coming through on furlough. I started out helping cook for volunteers and the HQ Staff that moved down until they got their apartments live-able. We cooked 3 meals a day in the guest facilities kitchen…no air conditioning in those days…quite a change from Wisconsin climate! Later on I gave visitors tours of the beautiful building the Lord gave to New Tribes for their offices. It was a thrill to share what we had seen God provide before our own eyes as the Headquarters building was renovated. God gets all the credit!
How were you challenged into missionary service? We owned a garage and home in Oostburg, WI. We got to know some of the Staff at the missionary training center in Fredonia. Soon the Lord gave us a desire to be part of getting the gospel to tribal people. Yet, we were both about 60 years old. What could we do? Where? How? We were willing to do whatever God wanted us to do or go wherever God wanted us to go. We shared our hearts with Doug and Barb McCormack and they had us make a call to Macon Hare at the NTM Headquarters in Florida. He told us they had been praying for a mechanic to come to help them there at the NTM Headquarters. God’s timing was perfect!
What was your biggest test of faith? It took a big step of faith to put our home up for sale and head to Florida, not knowing just where we would live or what all we would be doing. But we were excited and we were truly willing to believe God!
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? Delm had loved tinkering with cars since he was a boy and had a lot of experience in the years he owned his own garage. Now he was thrilled to be able to use that gift from God to keep the equipment working to run the NTM Headquarters, to fix cars for the HQ Staff and to fix cars for no cost for labor for missionaries on furlough. He never was too busy to help whoever was in need and did it with a sweet patient spirit. I helped cook the first few years and in later years gave tours of the building, but in between it was really interesting to be able to help collate Bible translations in the printing building, help get a Primer printed for helping people in a tribe learn to read their own language, or help in one of the other offices, like at Destination Summit the NTM short term mission program. God showed us a much larger picture of missionary service and that we could be used!
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Dorothy says, with much feeling expressed on her face, “Keep trusting Him! He is able! God is the same yesterday, today and forever! Pray without ceasing! Stop trying and start trusting!”
Total Years of Service with NTM My late husband, Myron, and I served with New Tribes Mission for thirty-six years.
Country served Bolivia, South America, from 1949 to 1972. Myron and Joy planned to work with the Ayore Indians, but Myron’s health prevented that. Instead, Joy worked as a nurse at a leper colony, where Myron was the director. From 1972 to 1979 they worked at the NTM Bible Institute at Waukesha, WI., where Myron was a teacher and she a secretary. Myron went home to the Lord in 1986. From 1986 to 1993, Joy was a nurse at the NTM retirement center in Oviedo, FL. Joy currently resides at the NTM Homes Retirement Center in Sanford, FL, where her son Paul is the Chaplain.
How were you challenged into missionary service? While attending Moody Bible Institute in 1943, Joy was challenged to consider missionary service. At American Sunday School Union, NTM missionaries Ken Johnston and Jim Ostewig spoke at church and later visited in her home.
What was your biggest test of faith? Flying to Bolivia on the first trip on the first mission airplane was a real step of faith! They had three of their four children, the oldest, Paul, was five years old; the fourth child arrived three months after their arrival.
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served: Learning to speak a new language, Spanish, was a real challenge. Language school was not a part of the training at that time. A University student worked with them in their home, and they just learned while they worked.
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? During their first term on the field, Myron and Joy were in charge of the guest home. Myron also was the supply buyer. It was later Joy worked as a nurse.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Be committed to the Lord’s work.
Date of Interview. 11/15/06
Total Years of Service with NTM Bob and Helen Goddard served a total of 44 years.
Country or countries served, and years They served in Paraguay the entire time, from 1955 until 1999.
Tribes served and years They served in six different tribes: the Lenguas; the Sanapane; the Macca; the Ayore; the Aba and the Angaite.
How were you challenged into missionary service? What happens when a husband feels the clear leading of the Lord into mission work, and his wife strongly resists? Bob and Helen Goddard were in an electrical wiring business with their brother-in-law, and had what it would take for living a full life. Then a missionary from New Tribes, Ken Johnston, was invited to speak at their church. They were particularly interested in the five men who had been killed by Indians in South America. When that service ended, Bob was convinced that he wanted to go to the field in some capacity.
However, when Helen, who had not been able to attend that service, heard that he had brought home applications for them to fill out for New Tribes service, she resisted. "I put my application packet up on a shelf and didn't even look at it for three months," she said. "It took me that long for the Lord to gradually convince me that if He was calling my husband, He was calling me, too!"
What was your biggest test of faith? Their training completed, the Goddards were prepared to go. Then, they lost a baby to miscarriage, followed by the birth of their fifth child. Also, Helen was ill for a time. Therefore, they had to delay going to the field, while Helen recovered, and they cleared up hospital bills. But they had learned to trust in God's timing.
Just as they were preparing to go, their supporting church folded. Now what? They joined a denominational church, but didn't expect any support for independent missionaries, so didn't even ask. Instead, two members of their new church offered support, so with support of only seven dollars a month promised, and a commitment to pray for them by a single person, they stepped out in faith. Traveling from Nebraska to Florida with a family of eight children ranging in age from sixteen years to eight months, "required organization and discipline," Bob recalls. The Lord would provide just enough for the next leg of the trip, and no more, all the way."
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served. Their world views were vastly different. Some were animists; some believed in "a god," due to the influence of the surrounding peoples. Some were under the influence of evil spirits. Some believed that if a person died, their spirit stayed around to wreak havoc with their families. Some were haunted by superstitions, such as fear of rainbows.
Describe your ministries. Largely, they pioneered new works. They made the initial contacts and then turned the work over to other missionaries who learned the tribal language and did Bible translation. They also did evangelism in Spanish, in which most individuals were fluent. They actually took over for a couple of missionaries, who were unable to complete their works for one reason or another.
From contact, to pioneer, to Bible teachers, to contractors, Bob and Helen Goddard were, as he has said of himself, "maverick missionaries". Not only did they themselves give most of their productive years to service of South American tribes in Paraguay, but their children have carried on the work they had started. To begin with, they worked as part of the team with their parents, but now they continue the work god began through their faithful parents. Now the Indians are reaching out, teaching other groups and tribes about the love of god through Christ.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Be grounded in Scripture; be trained. When you go to the field, be a lifelong learner, as you observe customs and culture from other missionaries and most of all from the tribal people themselves. Become involved with the people, and expect to burn your bridges, as you become part of your old ways of thinking. If you expect to change their customs, you compromise your ministry with them.
Books written by the Goddards . Missionary Maverick - Bob's autobiography From Girl to Missionary Mom - Helen's autobiography Invasion - a fictional story based on Bible prophecy The Desperate and the Blest - a sequel to Invasion The X-B Ranch in perilous times
New Tribes Mission was newly formed in the summer of 1942. Their first group of missionaries was made up of 10 adults and 6 children, going to Bolivia to contact a tribe. Dave & Audrey Bacon, married just two months at that time, were part of this small group. In 1943, Dave, along with the men he was with, was killed by the Ayore’ Indians, who misunderstood their purpose in coming. Audrey was pregnant by then with their daughter Avis. When Avis was 12, Audrey married Rollie Hoogshagen, a co-worker with New Tribes Mission. Rollie and Audrey served in Bolivia until 1961 and then at the NTM Headquarters in Wisconsin and later in Florida until Rollie’s passing. Audrey is living at NTM Homes, the New Tribes Mission Retirement Center, in Sanford, FL.
Total Years of Service with NTM: 39
Country or countries served, and years Bolivia, USA
How were you challenged into missionary service? When Audrey was thirteen years old, she attended a conference at a church, where a lady evangelist was speaking. It was at that conference that Audrey received Christ. “I knew that day I wanted to go overseas and be a missionary. From that time on, I told everyone that would listen of my commitment to go to a foreign field with the Gospel. Everything in my life was geared to achieving this desire.” Later God provided for Audrey to attend Moody Bible College. Formal training with NTM did not yet exist.
What was your biggest test of faith? Audrey met Dave Bacon at church. They started dating before she started at Moody. When she came home at Christmas break, they became engaged. Dave wanted to be a missionary also. They were married October 8, 1942. Within a month, the Lord provided the money, just in time for them to get their visas and board the ship. ”Since it was war time, the freighter had to be camouflaged and the windows had to be curtained and couldn’t be opened. After about two weeks, and a bad storm in the Pacific, they landed in Arica, Chile.” Their next mode of transportation was the train to LaPaz, Bolivia, then, another train down to Cochabamba and a truck on to Santa Cruz. The truck ride took a week! The roads were bumpy and narrow. When the driver was heading down one of the mountains all of a sudden the truck acted up. “There were no gas or service stations way up there! We made it to the bottom of the mountain and the driver fixed the motor with a rubber band! It worked the rest of the trip. The miracles added up as we traveled along. “ Soon they were set up in Robore’. The men began preparing to go into the jungle to reach the Ayore’ Indians. They had some idea where to find the Indians, but had to chop their way through high grass and weeds. They found a plant in the jungle that had a lot of liquid in it and they used it when water was not available. They built fires and took turns heating up whatever they had to eat. They slept in jungle hammocks that had a roof, screened in sides, all in one unit. They kept the fires burning all night to ward off Indians and animals.
In June of 1943, Dave came out of the jungle for a supply and bank run. Dave and Audrey enjoyed the news together that she was pregnant! Soon after, Dave and the others had to get back to the jungle. “Our men were never seen again. A few remnants of the men’s things, like a piece of boot, pages of a Bible, Dave’s wrist watch, etc. were found. There was nothing to prove they were dead – just surmising.”
Jean Dye and Audrey did not want to leave the little interior village of Santo Corazon, where they had been living while their husbands were in the jungle. They planned to stay there and Jean would help Audrey deliver her baby, hoping maybe the men would still be found. However, mission leadership felt strongly that they needed to come out from that remote location and so sent Clyde Collins in to help them come out. “I was seven months along. Jean didn’t want me to walk, but try riding on an oxen. I tried that for a while but it gave me a terrible backache and so I decided to walk. It was a walk of about 75 miles! “
Plans were made for Audrey to go to a German doctor in Robore’ for the birth of the baby. Mrs. Dye planned to be there with her. However, she needed some dental work done and would be gone a few days. The doctor assured them both that the baby would not be born until mid March. However, little Miss Avis decided she wasn’t going to wait. “There were four men sleeping in the bedroom just on the other side of the wall from me and the Dye kids in another bedroom. One of the men ran for the doctor and also served as my interpreter, as the doctor only spoke Spanish. She was a breach birth. The doctor was able to turn Avis’ head to help her come. The Lord undertook for me 100%! Dave had picked the names Allen James for a boy and Avis Marie for a girl, so Avis Marie it was!”
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served: Eleanore LaHue (Antelo) and Audrey became partners and went to help with the work with the Ese Ejja people. Language was the first major difference. “First we had had to learn Spanish and now we needed to learn the tribal language. We started out by making friends with the Indians and they were cooperative, although also mischievous. Steeling was a constant problem. They came right into our house, if we forgot to shut and lock the doors. They pushed our dish towels through the slats. They would use our towels for patches. We had to have a sense of humor. My mother sent me some seersucker dresses. They were all the same pattern and almost the same color..Now when they saw me they didn’t think I had so many different clothes. It worked! They didn’t steal the dresses.”
Tell us a bit about “your tribe”. What changes resulted in response to the Gospel? We did not see a lot of spiritual fruit at first. It was hard to get them to sit around and be quiet long enough to listen. Slowly there were some believers and we did see some fruit. It took until 1997 & 1998 for there to be a real revival among them. Here is a quote from a letter from Mike & Cher Riepma, current missionaries there. “Our hearts had been burdened for several couples who haven’t been walking with the Lord for many years But God had been working in their lives all of the time even though they seemed to have no desire to return to fellowship. Now Luciano shared that the whole time he was miserable. We had a New Year’s service allowing these believers to give testimony…For three hours more than 30 adults and teens gave public testimony of their faith in Christ. Some of them shared that they were finally responding to “seeds” that had been “planted” many years ago. It reminded us that God is always working in hearts even though we don’t see people accept the Lord until years later at times…We can’t praise the Lord enough!”
Describe a typical day on the field. We would get up and meet together first thing for prayer and Bible reading together. Then we would go out and meet the people. We found that we sometimes had to make fools of ourselves, in an effort to learn more about the language and customs. We washed our clothes with a James washer with a little wringer on it. There was a lever on one side and we pushed it back and forth to agitate the clothes. Our only other alternative was the river. There was no refrigeration of any kind, so we boiled our left-over’s the next day. We kept our sugar and flour in 50 gallon drums. They were air tight and kept things dry. At days end we took “spit” baths in the house. We had to be careful by keeping the house dark enough so that no one could see us between the bamboo poles.
What advice would you give to new missionaries going to the field? Make sure – 100% sure – that you know it is the Lord’s will for you to go to the field!
Want to hear “the rest of the story”? It was at a Conference at Cochabamba that Eleanor found out she had TB and wouldn’t be able to go back to work in the tribe. Then Dick and Lucille were asked to be on field leadership. So, Audrey had no partners. She stayed in town working on the Ese Ejja dictionary and primer so the Indians could be taught how to read and write. She still wanted very badly to go back to the Ese Ejja people. About this time new missionaries arrived on the field and began language study. Rollie Hoogshagen was one of these. Being he had some previous training and experience, Rollie also soon became the bookkeeper and buyer for all the missionaries. They got to know one another and worked together in Cochabamba for over a year. They were married September 16, 1956 at the Mission chapel. Avis, although surprised, accepted Rollie as her Dad right away. Although Avis continued with her schooling at Tambo, she cried and cried, “Mama, I didn’t have a family then, now I have a family. I want to be with my family.” But, after some comforting and encouragement, she did go back.
“ Howard & Maxine Morarie, were now working with the Ayores, and we were invited to visit the work there. It was a day’s ride in a bus through the Andes Mountains. Then we rented an ox cart to cross the river to catch the train on the other side. Finally, we arrived in Porton, at the base of the Andes Mountains, where Howard and Maxine met us. One day Maxine called the Ayore’ ladies together and asked me to share with them while she translated. I had a chance to tell them that I was happy that my husband was able to give his life, so they could come to know the Lord. All the ladies came up after the meeting and hugged me. It really hit me…though neither of us could understand each other, the language of love was evident.”
Once Avis graduated from High School, Rollie, Audrey and Avis decided to take a furlough. After they got to the U.S., Audrey started having pain and bleeding as they traveled to see family and friends. She finally went to see a doctor, once they arrived at Rollie’s parents place. He found a mass and scheduled her for a hysterectomy. When he got in there he found it was a tubal pregnancy. Praise the Lord the surgery went well. Around this time, Rollie was asked to serve at the NTM Headquarters at Woodworth, WI for a year doing the bookkeeping. Audrey was exhausted and the Lord knew she needed some quiet time. Avis started Bible school in Milwaukee in the fall of 1961. In 1963 Avis married Ron Bodin, a fellow missionary kid she had gone to school with in Bolivia. Rollie and Audrey served there in Woodworth from 1961 to 1978!
The Mission was running out of room at Woodworth, and being it was zoned industrial they could not add other buildings. Soon a new property was purchased in Sanford, FL and everything was moved down there. The new building needed a lot of repair both in the office areas and in the upstairs apartments. By then Ron and Avis had finished the NTM training program, served in Venezuela a term and now joined the NTM Headquarters team in Sanford also. After so many years of Audrey and Avis being apart when Avis went to school at Tambo this was truly a blessing for them to be together again. Four grandchildren also were added! Rollie and Ron both worked in the Finance office, getting the monthly allowances and statements out to all the foreign missionaries. Later Rollie worked on taxes, workmen’s compensation and other insurances for the missionaries. They lived in the big downtown office building for 20 years before moving just a mile and a quarter out of town to the NTM Homes Retirement Center. Rollie continued to work full-time with no thought of retirement until health issues came upon him and the Lord took him home. Audrey now lives in the Assisted Living area at NTM Homes and is still her bright little self, walking around pushing her cart all over the property. God isn’t finished with her yet!
To read the complete story, get the books:
God Planted Five Seeds by Jean Dye Johnson
Available at the NTM Bookstore 1-800-321-5375
Total Years of Service with NTM I served with New Tribes Mission in Paraguay, South America for 32 years.
Country served I worked in the Ava Pai and the Angaite tribes while in Paraguay.
How were you challenged into missionary service? I used to read the NTM mission magazine, then called Brown Gold, telling of people who hadn’t heard the gospel. I wanted a chance to bring the gospel to them.
What was your biggest test of faith? Learning to trust the Lord to supply my needs
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served: Because I was a single woman, the people couldn’t understand why I didn’t have children. When I would respond that I didn’t have a husband they would say, “That doesn’t matter!”
If you served in a tribal location, tell us a bit about “your tribe,” their lifestyles, their “old ways,” changes in response to the gospel. There were dietary changes, as the missionaries taught them about growing different vegetables. Spiritually, for years there were few changes. The Indians simply lumped Jesus in with all their other gods. That is until NTM put out the Firm Foundations course – the chronological teaching of the Bible. Some had begun to come to Christ when we left, but subsequent missionaries have been successful in wining many to the Lord. The Indians are even reaching each other now! I still hear occasionally from ladies with whom I worked, but through other missionaries mainly, because the Indians don’t use a postal service.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. You have to get used to cooking and living without some of today’s modern conveniences. You get good instructions for that as you attend the NTM missionary training program. Beyond that, be flexible and teachable, to learn from those who have been on the field before you.
Total Years of Service with NTM Dave & Althea served with New Tribes Mission for 50 years.
How were you challenged into missionary service? We met at Seattle Pacific College, where I, David, was studying psychology and music and considering going on to seminary. Althea was majoring in English, and then added the Education courses needed to teach. While there, both active on a student-led Gospel Team, we met Roger Bailey of NTM who was helping work on the NTM boat, the MV Tribesman, NTM was remodeling to take 100 missionaries to Brazil for its first run. Roger challenged us to live “all out” for Jesus Christ, to see the world reached with the Gospel. After graduation we married, and through stirring articles in the NTM periodical, Brown Gold, we were challenged to step out by faith and go to “Boot Camp” in PA after our honeymoon. At Jersey Shore, PA, Elmer Rabe, Harold Jackson and Ralph Hovland challenged us further to “live for Him who died for them”. Being I had been in Japan in the army, it was only natural to plan on going to Japan to be missionaries.
Country served When NTM started the Jersey Shore, “Boot Camp”, we were part of the first group to go to that location for the whole missionary training, instead of going on to Fout Springs, CA for Linguistics and Jungle Camp. Soon after we began, I, Dave, was asked to help teach some of the classes. When “our” class finished, to go to the field, we stayed behind to teach. From there, we helped with missionary training courses in 4 places NTM had in California. We were released to go to the field just about the time NTM was opening up missionary work in Papua New Guinea, and badly needed more laborers. We were asked to consider going to PNG instead of Japan. At first we insisted we were heading to Japan. But soon, the Lord’s leading was obvious, and after taking a brush-up course in Linguistics at Fredonia, WI, we headed with our 3 little children to PNG.
Tribes worked in. We worked in the Gimi tribe for our first term, learning the language and culture, and beginning to analyze, and write the language down, while sharing the Word of God with this people group.
Tell us a bit about “your tribe”, their life style, their old ways, and the changes in response to the Gospel. The Gimi people lived in fear of death by sorcery. People mysteriously died. The procedures involved getting some item of the potential victim, for example, sugar cane chewings, which had been cast away, and working some kind of magic to bring about sickness or death. When sorcery was suspected, the victimized village sought to find out the source and worked sorcery on someone in that village. This was repeated back and forth, in a never-ending payback system. When we arrived to live in the tribe, no language analysis had been done. Now there are many Gimi believers and 15 functioning Christian churches in many Gimi tribal villages. John and Lynn White, also New Tribes missionaries, and well as others, have worked with the Gimi people for many years. John translated the New Testament into the Gimi language.
What was your biggest test of faith? During our first term, I, David, became sick and we had to come out of the Gimi tribe to the mission base, where I was bedridden for four months due to hepatitis. As Christmas time came close, the tribal believers so wished we could come back interior to celebrate the annual Christmas 3-Day celebration with them. I was not strong enough to go, but being some NTM friends were willing to check on me and care for the children’s needs, Althea was encouraged to go interior to be with the believers. She says “It was so wonderful to hear their testimonies and see their happy faces as they were growing in their walk with the Lord! I could hardly wait to tell David all the great news. We’d hiked about 2/3 of the way back home, and reached a tribe where an NTM missionary family worked. I saw the nurse there with her husband…and thinking the worst, I just knew that David had died, and they had hiked that far to tell me before I reached the base. My joy dropped to extreme sadness. No one knew WHY I was so sad, when just moments before, I’d been so overjoyed along the trail. BUT, suddenly, when I learned that the nurse was there, NOT to tell me my husband had died, but to give 3-month shots to the missionary family’s baby, I went from total despair, to utter joy. I have never forgotten the experience and continue to thank the Lord for my wonderful husband! It took a long time for David to regain his strength after this bout with hepatitis.”
Did you ever serve in a support role, and if so how did it help the other missionaries? While we worked that first term in the Gimi tribe, I, Althea, was asked to consider teaching missionary kids IF the PNG field ever started a school. The Lord had to do a real work in my heart to have me willing to serve anywhere but in a tribe. In just he Lord’s perfect time, as we worked with other families, we could see that the educational needs of the children were not being met. Some were crying out for help, and at just the right time, God opened my eyes to see what HE wanted done. He’d given me the gift of teaching, which so far, I’d hoarded for my own family. It was to be used for the whole missionary body. So when we were asked by field leadership to consider helping start a school for missionary children in PNG, we told the Lord (and the field) YES! David served in the school for 25 years before moving into an Outreach ministry for our last 10 years in PNG. I worked with the school for 35 years. We served both as teachers and in administration at different times.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Be prepared to be humbled. You will be doing things you never thought you would do! Face the fact that your best self efforts are inadequate, BUT GOD is sufficient!!!
Total Years of Service with NTM Bill and Jean Martin served 28 years with NTM after serving 9 years under SAIM.
Country or countries served, and years They served in Brazil until 1980; then as Destination Summit leaders taking short term missionaries to Africa, New Guinea and Australia; also as NTM Representatives.
Tribes served and years They served in a tribe called the Xchavnte, whose name means “The Real People” because they considered themselves to be superior over all other tribes.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Bill and Jean married after World War II, during which they both served in the Army. They had a successful life, were buying their second home, and were rearing their four children. Then in their late twenties, they met the Lord Jesus Christ. No longer was success measured by achievements or accomplishments, but rather by opportunities to share with everyone they could the new life they had discovered in their Lord. When a family member strongly pressured them not to talk about their beliefs at family gatherings, they knew that wasn’t an option.
They went to Bible School. While they were there, Bill and Jean sensed God’s leading them to go to a tribal work. They had heard about the missionaries who were killed by the Auca Indians, the very tribe they were trying to reach with the gospel of Christ. Their decision made, they finished their year and began preparing to go.
What was your biggest test of faith? The Xchavnte Indians known as the Terror of Brazil had suffered a measles epidemic, that had killed twenty-five of their people. Driven from the jungle, to try to keep from losing more people, they were encountered by Bill and Jean Martin. Said Jean, “Despite their fearsome reputation, they were wonderful to us.” They were to be the only missionaries to these Indians.
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served. “The Xchavante Tribe was ruled by evil spirit,.” Bill told me. “They danced and chanted to ward off the power of these spirits. Interestingly, they didn’t use instruments or singing. “They were a naked people,” said Jean. When they wore clothing, it was to keep off bugs and parasites, rather than for beauty or modesty. “They had small families, and the mothers nursed their children a long time. You often saw moms with their toddler nursing.”
Tell us a bit about “your tribe” (their life styles, their old ways, changes in response to the Gospel, etc.) When they first met the Xchavnte, they noticed that they kept in two groups, the men with the men, and the women with the women. The men would give their children anything they wanted, but they would beat their wives for any perceived infraction.
“I poured my heart into the life of one man,” said Bill, and Jean did the same with the woman she was teaching.” One by one, the Indians came to Christ. Then they would teach others in their tribe, until the whole tribe was saved.
The men learned to treat their wives with respect, and to discipline their children, not indulge them. The people dressed, instead of wearing simple loincloths, as the men had done before. No longer did they use their old chants; they began to set scripture to a beat. Often, the Martins would come upon someone working to playing while they chanted something they were learning about the Lord.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Lean on the Lord, and keep your focus on Him, rather than on man-made programs or organizations. Bill’s favorite verse is Acts 20:24,” However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
Jean’s favorite verse is Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Total Years of Service with NTM Elisabeth (Betty) and her late husband James served with New Tribes Mission for 35 years.
Country served James and I were in a tribal work in Brazil, South America only a few years when we were forced to come home – James had cancer. He received care for several years before his death. I then returned to Brazil with our children and taught in the NTM missionary school. Our children attended the missionary school there, graduating high school. Later in life I also taught school at the mk school in Mexico.
How were you challenged into missionary service? While James and I were attending Bob Jones University, one of James best friends was the son of a NTM missionary. “James got on fire to go, and I knew what I needed to do!”
What was your biggest test of faith? Two things come to mind. We lost a baby at several months old, probably from malaria. Also, I was painfully shy, and my husband was frequently out with tribal work, so I was lonely for my family.
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? I taught their children at the school, where they were living in the dorm.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Be sure of your calling. When you are tempted to doubt, hearken back to the place of your calling.
Total Years of Service with NTM Anna and her late husband, Leo served with New Tribes Mission for 35 years.
Country served First we worked in Quito, Ecuador, helping to establish a training center there. Then we worked with the Maquiritari Indians (the government name), the Ye’cuana, as they called themselves, in Venezuela. My job was teaching the little Indian children to read.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Leo became a believer two years before I did. However, I took the children to church and sometimes stayed myself. Leo already knew he wanted to be a missionary, but was waiting and praying for Anna to come to know the Lord. She just didn’t understand, until late one night, Harold Jackson, one of New Tribes leaders, spoke at their church. Something he said turned on the light for her. She prayed to receive Christ at midnight that night, and hurried to tell Leo. She found him on his knees by their bed, praying for her!
What was your biggest test of faith? What a lot of people fear having to send our children away to a mission school! Yet the Lord provided assurance that He was able to keep them safe while they were separated. Another very difficult time was after the death of her husband. She herself had to recover from a severe burn. Yet, once she was better, she returned to Venezuela with three teenage children, to teach in the NTM Mission’s school. Nancy Dillon became her partner.
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served: First, the tribal language was not even written down, so we really had to lay groundwork. Second, the Indians lived in big round mud houses, with bark walls between families. The men ate in the center area, and the women are separately from their husbands.
If you served in a tribal location, tell us a bit about “your tribe,” their lifestyles, their “old ways,” changes in response to the gospel. Formerly almost naked, they began to wear more clothes. Formerly, they lived a loose lifestyle, but made changes as they began to celebrate Jesus.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Completely depend on the Lord. Be open to learn a different culture. Remember, God loves them!
Total Years of Service with NTM Morris served with NTM for 31 years.
Country served Morris served as a missionary with NTM in Bolivia, South America.
Tribes served Morris did dental work for many tribal people, living several places, including with one tribe that was uncivilized.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Morris says he heard the message of the need for missionaries for years, from Ken Johnston, the chairman of NTM, and others. Then Dick Sanford, an NTM representative, gave a challenge at a church in Chicago. He responded, and applied to NTM in 1962.
What was your biggest test of faith? “In 1993, before I was to come home on furlough, I had a physical. Though I hadn’t yet begun feeling sick, I was found to have hepatitis! I quickly became very weak, as my liver literally became hardened. I was a pretty sick man. So instead of beginning furlough, I had to stay in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, so I could go to the clinic – for three years! "
Describe a major cultural difference in the country where you served: “The missionaries try to be on time when they have someplace to be, and to start promptly. However, I observed that when the Indians came to talk to me, they would spend half an hour or so with small talk. Then before they left, they would ask about the real point of their visit. If you had a time constraint, you would have to stop them and ask how you could help them. Then they would get to the point of their visit."
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. “Trust the Lord completely! Wait on Him, as you have a wonderful relationship with Him.”
Date of interview: November 29, 2006
Total Years of Service with NTM Ann and her late husband, Robert (Bob) served 15 years with New Tribes Mission. They started working at one of the NTM training centers in Jersey Shore, PA. Trained in business they then worked at one of the NTM Bible Schools in Jackson, MI. Ann worked with the students who were attending there. “I baked many pies in those days, and even learned to decorate wedding cakes. When students got married, I would make them a gift of their wedding cake! They loved it,” She told me New Tribes Bible Institute was dubbed “New Brides”!
Their next assignment with NTM was with Tribal Air Communications, the air arm of NTM now called NTMA (NTM Aviation). Robert was the business manager and ran the terminal in Arizona. Here pilots are trained for missionary aviation.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Robert owned a trucking company, in Pennsylvania, and he used to deliver to one of the NTM training centers there. His contact with the NTM missionaries, especially Macon Hare and missionary trainees influenced his decision.
What was your biggest test of faith? Ann didn’t want to leave her home. Finally after their last child was five years old, God changed her heart, and she told Robert, “Okay, I’m ready to go into the mission now.”
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. “Just keep your eyes on the Lord. Any Christian should do that!” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
Total Years of Service with NTM My late husband, Robert, and I served with New Tribes Mission for twenty years, until his death.
Country or countries served, and years Venezuela
How were you challenged into missionary service? Ever heard of a drive-in Bible Conference? Well it was at such a conference that my husband and I, Robert and Peg Shaylor, first heard Paul Fleming, founder of New Tribes Mission, speak. Until that time, Robert always wanted to farm, and support missions from his earnings. We had already heard about the first five New Tribes missionaries who were killed in 1943. I was glad that Robert didn’t want to go. When we heard Mr. Fleming speak, however, Robert decided to consider missions. Therefore, I had to rethink my stance. “It seemed like it was what the Lord wanted us to do,” Peg says. “I just had to decide whether to do it!”
What was your biggest test of faith? We prayed about our response to the call. We would have to sell our home, the dairy, our dreams. “Bob had a tough time seeing the cattle go – we had done well in the business. And I was saddened to see my house sold. Yet in retrospect, it made it easier to move from time to time, and leave other places behind over the years.”
Once they were on the field, Peg says she often found it was a struggle to maintain her responsibilities with Bob being gone so much. “He was the Field Chairman, and where we were located was fairly isolated.” There was one five year period when she didn’t leave their mission station. Her responsibilities were to provide housing for guests who came there, whether scientific teams or guest missionaries. Once, when I had an illness, I was home alone with our baby, and thought, “God, don’t you even care?” At once, I thought of the disciples of Jesus, crying out to him in the boat, “Carest Thou not that we perish?” I quickly realized that He did care, not just for his disciples, but for me!
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? Robert’s many responsibilities as Field Chairman had him traveling to meet with those working in the different isolated tribal locations. He listened to their excitement about all the Lord was doing, heard their heartaches, praised and exhorted as needed. Other areas of his work was that of filing government reports and working with the Indian Commission, which gave permission for the New Tribes missionaries to work with the different tribal groups. While he traveled, I served in a similar role at the guest house, and doubled as radio contact operator, for the pilots in the area.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Be versatile, and don’t expect things to be as they were back home. Whether it is in the area of foods you eat, or jobs you do, just be available to the Lord. Because of our location in Venezuela, we found ourselves hosting parties to Botanists, there to study our unique location, as well as parties of young people there to hunt and fish. But families didn’t settle there, because of the large swarms of gnats that were present constantly. Yet the Lord used our ministry, as we had an MK school as well as guest house there in the spot He provided.
Total Years of Service with NTM Manny and his late wife Ruth, served with New Tribes Mission for 14 years.
Country served We served in the Philippines at the guest facility as well as in the U. S. as a Representative to some of the NTM donors.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Our son was serving with NTM in the Philippines when he told us of a need for a couple to come to help in running the guest facility there in Manila. We were both more than willing to go!
What was your biggest test of faith? It was still a big step of faith to make such a drastic change in this our later stage of life. We knew that living in the Philippines was going to be very different than our life had been here in the U.S. However, we were both willing and very excited that we could be of help to the missionaries there.
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? As the missionaries came to Manila from their tribal locations, for medical help, for paperwork, for rest and recuperation, or for consultation with field leadership, we were able to help them have a nice clean place to stay and good food to eat, at a reasonable cost. We provided transportation to and from the airport as well as a smile of welcome. It was a role we loved.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Keep in the Word! Keep your eyes on the Lord!
Total Years of Service with NTM We served with New Tribes Mission in Venezuela, South America for 32 years.
Country served We worked with the Maquitari Indians and others near the NTM mission school base in Venezuela.
How were you challenged into missionary service? Before he was a believer, Lee asked a co-worker, who often read his Bible at lunch break, how he could be so sure he knew Jesus. That man told him about Christ, and through Lee himself reading the Bible to his mom and grandma, he understood what the Bible was saying. After getting out of the Navy, he went to Moody Bible Institute, where he met Irene. There folks encouraged students to consider missionary service.
What was your biggest test of faith? "Trusting the Lord to supply our needs," said Irene, "also showing care for the children and the tribal people around the school, by extending love and understanding."
If you served in a support role, how did it help the other missionaries? Lee and I were among the first missionaries from NTM to arrive on the field of Venezuela. We had to help arrange places for the missionaries that followed to live, since nothing had yet been set up. Later we served as dorm parents at the mission school, so parents could focus on their tribal works.
If you served in a tribal location, what changes did you observe in the tribal people as a result of the gospel. We had two main tribes that lived in the vicinity of the school base where we worked. We had many opportunities to work with boys, several of who came to the Lord. In fact, many of the people came to faith in Christ from the tribal groups in our area.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. Listen to the Lord and learn from other missionaries who have been on the field. Most of all, it takes a lot of prayer! You have to change your ways of living to win the tribal people.
Total Years of Service with NTM Mary Lou began in 1948 and retired in the late 90’s, so she served about 50 years.
Country or countries served, and years She served her entire mission service in Venezuela. She had a break of six years to care for her ailing mother, and then returned to Venezuela.
Tribes served and years Mary Lou worked with the Piaroa Indian Tribe.
How were you challenged into missionary service? “I had been “frozen” in a secretarial job after World War II. I often wondered if there was a better way to use my skills. Then I was invited to a ladies meeting where, Rena Williams, the wife of one of the founders of NTM was speaking. After the meeting, she asked me, “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?” This led me to entering into missionary training with New Tribes Mission. I still had no idea of where I would go, or in what capacity.”
Mary Lou says she probably would never have gone to a foreign field, if it hadn’t been for her partner, Margaret Gilmore. While Mary Lou was pretty shy, Margaret was outgoing and knew that she wanted to go overseas. When their missionary training was over, they headed off to Venezuela, knowing neither the language nor the customs. Yet New Tribes had a work in progress there, and they were on their way!
What was your biggest test of faith? When Mary Lou and Margaret first arrived in Venezuela they had to wait for their belongings to arrive. They also had to wait until a boat was available to take them upriver. This ended up being a wait of six months! The Lord provided housing there in a home of a Christian family, who were out of the country for several months. Never wanting to waste time, and living in a Spanish speaking country, they made use of those months to begin learning the language and the culture of Venezuela.
“Our riverboat trip ended in Puerta aya Cucho, where Mr Northrup, from NTM met us and took us to his home. There we stayed for another six months, and continued work on the language.” Mr. Northrup knew of a man upriver, who had contacted a tribe of Piaroa Indians, with whom he wanted missionaries to work.
Describe your tribe, and your role in ministry to them? The Piaroa were a gentle people, and when the missionaries came to tell them about God, they were very interested. Each group of Piaroa lived in a large palm-covered building, and each family had its own fire area. Next to the large common house was a much smaller mud house for storing their belongings, to keep them from being stolen. In this mud house is where Mary Lou and Margaret were housed until they built their own house.
What was a typical day like in your tribe? “We would get up, have prayer and Bible reading together, then I would go to work on language study. My partner went out to “meet the people” and interact with them. As the years went on, I continued to work on language, writing lessons for the missionaries to learn the tribal language, and creating primers for the increasingly literate Indians to learn to read.”
Working as a team, New Tribes has developed translations of the New Testament, and subsequently of the chronological teaching. Work continues to this day. The Indians themselves now have churches and function on their own.
Advice you would give to new missionaries going to the field. If you really hope to fit in and reach them with the Gospel of Christ. expect to learn the way they do things and adjust your lives to theirs.
JFYI Mary Lou is legally blind, but you would never know it. She is still very active and helpful around the NTM Retirement community. Her cheerful yet quiet spirit is an encouragement to everyone.
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