I am Elizabeth Thomas, and I come from Egna Province. I am the first-born of nine siblings. My family was Catholic and my mother was a very good Christian influence in the early years of my life. I also was positively influenced by Catholic brothers and nuns in my primary school and junior high school years. During grade 6 (in 1975), I prayed and told God that I would be a missionary (specifically a Catholic nun with the Mercy Sisters) if He would help me go to high school. Sure enough, I was selected to go to high school, and later, even to college.

In my final year of college (1984), I met a handsome young university student in Port Moresby, our nation’s capital, and we became friends. I graduated from college with a certificate in Library Science, and after a year of work, on December 27, 1985, I married that same young man I had met the year before. Now, Steven and I have four children. Our three daughters are Dawn, born January 16, 1987, Karol, born May 16, 1989, and Sonya, born November 14, 1993. Our only son, Samuel, was born in December of 1991. We also have an adopted daughter, Mina, who was born on June 11, 1978, and is now a seasoned missionary, herself.

Though it is a basic management need, I see my bookkeeping work as one way I can serve BTA, the Lord, and the people of PNG. We need to care for this major resource (money) the Lord has blessed us with, and use it wisely for the purpose of providing the written word of God in the mother tongues of the people of PNG. I have been especially inspired by two Scripture passages. First, Matthew 12:12-14 talks about Jesus leaving behind the ninety-nine sheep to look for one lost sheep. Second, Matthew 4:4 reminds me that the Word of God provides daily food for our spirits. These verses encourage me to stay on as part of this ministry.

During school and college, I had a heart for reaching students and others for God. Two months after Steve and I got married, he shared with me about SIL and only a month or so later we were in Ukarumpa. The more I was exposed to Bible translation, the more I saw the need for and the importance of this ministry. I prayed to the Lord to give me peace if this was where He planned for us to serve for a longer period of time. He answered my prayer by reminding me of the prayer I had prayed back in grade 6. Interestingly, I discovered Steven had prayed a very similar kind of prayer when he was in grade 6 (in 1973).

One Saturday morning in 1996, I was in my back yard in Ukarumpa battling with the pressure of going to visit our families in the villages in Enga. Because I had no money to give to them, I knew it would be a struggle. In a very clear voice, God spoke to me, saying, "You have Jesus to give to them. Money and other things they have." A total peace entered my heart.

In obedience we took Jesus home to our families. The rest of the story is a history of God's miracles as they stemmed from our obedience.

God's Word is food for our spirits and brings growth to our souls. In a very real way, He is alive in His Word, and through it, He speaks to us.