Caleb and Carolin Townley and family serve in Papua New Guinea at the support centre at Lapilo. Caleb’s main ministry being in construction.
Recent news that their son won’t be able to attend school next school year due to a lack of teachers hit them hard. He loves being at school with his friends.
To meet his educational needs, they decided on an American homeschool system combined with a German course. Homeschooling materials are very expensive, and they were extremely concerned about how they could cover the costs. They ordered the American materials right away. They didn’t order the German materials as they didn’t have the funds.
Doubts arose and they questioned, “Is it really right for us to be here?” However, they are convinced that God provides all they need (not always what they want). His provision in their ministry is a confirmation to them that they are in the right place. In a time of uncertainty, it was so important for them to hold on to truth: it is God alone who provides. Wrestling in prayer they clung to His promises in James 1:5 and Lamentations 3:23 and prayed only for wisdom and grace.
With the certainty that God also sees the needs of their children and will provide for them, they signed their son up for the German course despite not having the finance. The connection that resulted from it surprised them. Not only did the customer service offer them a discount because they are doing missionary work, but they also made it possible to split the cost in a way that was affordable. God didn’t take away the cost or shower them with money. The cost is still there, but it’s doable. He provided them with exactly what was needed. Something they would never have experienced if they hadn’t taken the step to order the materials in faith. Praise the Lord! He provides step by step.
Caleb and Carolin’s ministry is a blessing for the missionaries involved in church planting and to their local friends on site too. Increasingly, they are becoming part of the community.
There is still a need for more missionaries, including support missionaries in PNG. For church planters to work in remote regions, it takes facilities like those in Lapilo, which can supply the missionaries working with a tribe in the area. Lapilo is one of five such facilities, and also the largest. Each facility is responsible for supporting one region. Please pray for more workers in Papua New Guinea, people who are willing invest their lives and work skills in expanding God’s kingdom.
Currently, the centre manager for the Madang site had to leave the field, and there won’t be anyone on-site to take on organisational tasks for this location. Caleb and Carolin were asked if they could imagine going to Madang as a family to take on this responsibility. Madang is a very different site compared to Lapilo. A different climate (warmer and more humid), few or no other families on the site, and would be a completely different set of tasks for Caleb. They were asked if they could see themselves taking on this role for an indefinite period, and after thinking and praying about it, they decided to go to Madang for a month and help during that time. At the moment, they can’t imagine going for a longer period, especially because they still can’t gauge the work of centre management. Please pray for this time, that as a family they are not overwhelmed by the move, new tasks, and starting homeschooling.
Pray also for their spiritual and emotional health. They miss their home church in Germany more and more. It’s hard for them not to be there in person, to grow together with their brothers and sisters in Christ and to be part of their lives there. After a year and a half in PNG they are increasingly feeling how much they miss their families and the parts of their lives they have ‘missed.’ Not being able to be there when family members go through tough times is also difficult to bear. It’s hard for them to feel certain in such emotional turmoil, that this is still the place the Lord has led them to and wants them to be. Thank you for thinking of them and praying.
Prayer Points:
Thanks for God’s provision
Their upcoming time in Madang
More co-workers in PNG
Finances
Spiritual and emotional health
Prayer for their families back in their home countries who are going through difficult times
The upcoming school year and homeschooling time with the children
Caleb’s citizenship process in Germany (still waiting to be continued)
New passports for their daughters (they have to apply through Australia)
Goodbyes as some of their son’s friends leave