By Engage on Nov 28, 2011
Lee C. Stevens serves in the Western Highland Provence of Papua New Guinea. He took the assignment in November of 2010, but it took until February 2011 to get the permits. He had to go home for medical treatment in April of 2011 and returned in October. Lee works in the maintenance department of Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.
All of his other activity has been Work & Witness trips with teams from several churches. He has been to Honduras, Peru, Chile, Haiti, South Africa, and the Philippines as well as several trips in the U.S.
Engage: How did you first recognize God’s call to be involved in missions?
Stevens: I have only been a Christian for a few years. When I first started to go to church and found my way to the Lord, our pastor invited me to join a Work & Witness team going to Honduras. It was hot and humid and uncomfortable but I knew this was what I was meant to do. Being able to meet people of different cultures and fellowship with them while doing the Lord’s work gave me a great deal of satisfaction. I felt that must be my calling if the Lord gave me such pleasure from the experience.
Engage: What is your favorite aspect of what you do in your present assignment?
Stevens: I work closely with the local people in the maintenance department. They help me learn the local language of Pidgin. Every morning we start off with singing, devotions and prayers before work.
Engage: What are some of the challenges that you face in carrying out your work?
Stevens: I am 67 years old, so the challenge for me is keeping up with the work. The hospital station is over ½ mile long and the only transportation is your two feet. There are a limited number of tools so we spend a lot of time looking for the right tool to do the job and it seems it is always a walk to find it. After a day on my feet I am ready to sit down and relax.
Engage: Please share a story of a significant event or moment that has happened in your current assignment.
Stevens: After getting to know several of the local people that work in the maintenance department, one of the men I had worked with several times told me his father had passed away many years ago and asked if I would be his father while I was here. I quickly agreed and have developed a great friendship with him; any time I need help he is always there to lend me a hand.
Engage: How do you maintain a close relationship with God (and your family, if applicable) in the midst of the demands of missionary service?
Stevens: I attend services and prayer meetings on a regular basis. We have Internet service where we are, so I can communicate with pastors, friends and family on a regular basis. I correspond with a great Christian lady who continually reminds me of the blessings that I receive from God daily.
Engage: What are the rewards of what you do?
Stevens: The satisfaction of knowing I am doing God’s work. In James 2:18 it says: "But someone will say. ‘You have faith. I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do."
Engage: What are some aspects of the culture where you live that you have come to love or embrace?
Stevens: In Papua New Guinea the people are very friendly. It is not unusual to shake hands with several people while walking to work in the morning. As I have developed friends with many of the people in the maintenance department, I find they value your company and morning welcomes always include shaking hands and taking the time to stop and talk. As you walk around most of the people will give you a good morning or good day in passing.
Engage: What do you like to do for fun?
Stevens: I like to play pool, softball and ride a dirt bike when in the U.S. Here I get great pleasure in being able to fix something that is broken and share some of the things I know with the other people that work in maintenance.
Engage: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Stevens: I am a poet.
Engage: What advice would you have for others exploring a possible call to missions, or embarking on their first missionary assignment?
Stevens: You must be flexible; things are done differently in every culture. A missionary’s job is not to change the culture but to find a way to fit in and demonstrate by your actions and the way you live that you are a representative of Christ.
