Samuel wants to spread God’s word – in Brazil

By LULU MARK
SAMUEL Joseph, 25, from Semp Merep village in Karinz, Mendi district, Southern Highlands believes that one can identify his or her purpose with God.
He is the third eldest of six children. His parents had served as pastors with the Christian Apostolic Fellowship Church in Tente Village, Mendi where he was raised.
He is following his parents’ footsteps and is preparing to go and serve as a missionary in Brazil.
In 2014, he stayed in the village when he did not receive an offer to pursue tertiary studies after completing Grade 12 at Togoba Secondary School.
He served as a musician in church. He was active in other ministries too. He moved to Port Moresby in January 2018 hoping to find education opportunities. He stayed at the church compound at Eight-Mile involving himself in church ministries. He had to return to the village in December when his mother passed away.
While there, he learnt about the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) organization which sends missionaries to nations around the world.
“I felt that God was speaking to me to go and serve as a missionary. I don’t know where and when to go and prayed for God’s direction.”

“ You can identify your purpose in God. God will offer you opportunities even when the world says no.”

In January last year, he went to the YWAM base at Camp Kalina in Mt Hagen. He had no money to enroll as a student. So he requested the base director if he could be accepted as a volunteer. He was taken on straightaway.
He saw missionaries going overseas to serve. He wanted to join them. In June, the director asked him if he was willing to go and serve as a volunteer with the YWAM medical ship.
“Even though I was not a student or staff at the YWAM base which was a requirement, I was considered. My commitment and faithfulness as a volunteer got me a ticket to serve as a crew member on the medical ship.”
He joined the ship on June 3.
“My first job on board was in the kitchen. After a month I was transferred to the maintenance department. The ship travels to the remote villages along the coastal areas delivering medical services. I was able to travel too.
“It was a wonderful experience travelling with medical professionals and visiting remote villages along the Fly River, Purari River, Sepik River and coastline villages delivering free medical services with the word of God.”
He served as a volunteer for 10 months.
“During that time, I felt that the Lord was leading me to go and serve as a missionary to Brazil, for the indigenous people of Amazon Forest.
“I enquired about serving in Brazil and an American volunteer staff told me that there is a YWAM base in Brazil. She gave the address. I applied and received my acceptance letter in February.
“I was asked to travel there to do a six-month discipleship training school programme. I was overwhelmed and thanked the Lord for opening this door to me.”
He was supposed to leave on April 4 but due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, classes have been rescheduled. He will now leave in July.
The total cost of his travel there and back is around K15,000. He hopes people can help him. His email address is [email protected].
“Even though, I don’t have any money at this stage in my personal bank account, I have faith that the Lord will provide a way for me to go. There are souls dying out there without knowing the salvation message of Jesus Christ.”
He hopes his story can inspire young people who may be struggling, trying to understand the purpose and meaning of life. “You can identify your purpose in God. God will offer you opportunities even when the world says no.”