Dear friends and family,
Thank you for your patience and grace. This is my first written update after a long and demanding season. Life and ministry in Papua New Guinea has been full, intense, and often chaotic, in both good and stretching ways. For much of the year, my energy was focused on the work in front of me rather than on communication.
Being home over the holidays gave me space to rest, reflect, and process the year. I’m grateful to finally share what it has looked like.
A brief overview of the year
January–February
I began the year in Kona, Hawai‘i, at the YWAM Ships base, preparing to return to the ship after a challenging previous season. During this time, I worked with the communications team to clarify media workflows and define roles within the broader YWAM Ships organization. It was also a season of recalibration—time with Stephen, Garrett, and Olivia, and time to realign my heart with the Lord before returning to ship life.
March–June
By March, the YWAM Liberty had begun regular medical outreaches along the coast of Madang Province. These included sailing outreaches and land-based clinics, bringing medical care, prayer, and relationship building to isolated communities. Preparation gave way to daily movement: travel by sea, clinic setup, and constant adjustment.
My role this past year
My primary role was to document what was happening on the ground. Much of my time was spent filming, photographing, and gathering stories so the work could be accurately and faithfully captured.
As a result, YWAM Ships now has a complete, current library of photos and video. We moved from relying on footage several years old to maintaining a living archive that reflects present-day work on the ship and in communities. That groundwork matters. It allows future communication to be built on what is real and current, even when the immediate task was simply to capture moments and trust they would matter later.
July–September
From July through September, the ship hosted an Oral Bible Translation cluster with eight language groups from across Madang Province. Nearly every space on board was in use. Groups translated, recorded, listened, and revised as they worked through the Gospel of Luke in their heart language. Because many of these languages do not have a written alphabet, the work was done entirely through audio. For these eight groups, this was the first time they heard a gospel in their own languages.
During this period, my time on board was intermittent due to medical travel and a return to the village of Wampan.
July: I stepped away briefly for required medical appointments, then returned to the ship.
August: Stephen and I joined a Discipleship Training School team traveling to Lae and then into Wampan, a village I had visited the year before. The trip unfolded differently than expected. Instead of carrying out planned ministry, we were invited into humility, reconciliation, and presence. The experience was a reminder that faithfulness is not always loud or visible. I’ll share more in a future update.
September: After several intense months, I stepped away briefly after noticing early warning signs of burnout. Drawing on years in ministry, I chose time in a quieter, slower setting in Kona to rest, pray, and regain steadiness before returning.
October–November
Outreach continued through October and November, combining sailing and land-based medical work. During one of our last outreaches of the year, the ship’s dental container became fully operational. For our final outreach, we welcomed an eye surgeon on board to perform cataract surgeries in our eye container.
This outreach was local. Remaining docked in Madang allowed patients to come directly onto the ship for care. Providing eye exams, cataract surgeries, and dental treatment on board marked an important milestone for the ship and for future outreaches.
Watching patients regain sight and receive care that had not previously been accessible was a quiet reminder of why this work matters.
We also partnered with Samaritan’s Purse to distribute Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes across communities, schools, churches, and a hospital serving children with disabilities. Watching the kids receive these gifts and hear that they are seen and loved by God was deeply moving.
Gratitude
None of this happens in isolation. Every outreach, translation session, and moment of connection exists because of your prayers, encouragement, and generosity. I may be the one physically present, but this work is shared.
Thank you for believing in me, for supporting this calling, and for walking with me through quieter seasons.
As I enter the next season, I do so steadier, having learned much, and continuing to listen for the Lord’s direction. Your prayers continue to matter, and I’m grateful to walk this journey with you.
This is the first of several updates reflecting on the past year. In the next, I’ll share specific stories that show why this work matters. After that, I’ll share what lies ahead and how you can continue to pray and partner with me.
With love and gratitude,
Laurel
