My wife was born in Papua New Guinea where her parents served in LCMS missions. I’ve been hearing their family stories about that formative decade overseas for over 30 years now, 20 of them as part of the family by marriage. And one of the recurring characters in those stories were their teammates on the mission field in the Highlands of PNG – Ron & Mary Anne Rall.
When Gena’s parents returned to the US in the early 80’s, her dad began his next phase of ministry as a parish and eventually campus pastor, which is where I met the family. The Ralls had also returned by then out of necessity due to health issues with one of their children. But Ron & Mary Anne continued to be actively involved in ministry and mission in PNG even as he settled into his role as a parish pastor in St. Louis. Still today, twice a year, they make the long trip from St. Louis to PNG and spend two months or more each time teaching, pastoring, mentoring, and doing whatever else needs to be done.
Gena and I reconnected with the Ralls when we were at Seminary in St. Louis 20 years ago. Ron was still pastoring at that point and it was fun to meet up with them occasionally. They have a gift of hospitality that is beautiful. When we relocated to California after seminary, their youngest daughter, Margaret, lived with us for about six months as she sought work in California. Last year during home service the Ralls were in PNG but we stayed in their home during our St. Louis sojourn.
And now here I was sitting around their dining table with these legends of mission work. My boss, Regional Director Rev. Charles Ferry and I enjoyed breakfast and a time of reconnecting and planning . Ron retired from his full-time pastoral duties but he and his wife still journey to PNG twice a year. It’s an exciting time for ministry there as the PNG Lutheran church body, which has been rent by division and schism over the years, last year reached consensus among the three main divisions to appoint an interim bishop to oversee all three and begin the work of reconciliation. God is so very good, and Satan’s plans can’t stand against the Holy Spirit’s dogged determination and work in the world.
I’ll be heading to PNG at long last sometime this year as part of both my regional work as a theological educator as well as my recent administrative duties as Area Facilitator. Please pray for the Ralls, who will be back in PNG in early February. Pray for the church in PNG that reconciliation and healing continues, resulting in a reunified and stronger church body. Pray for safe travel for the Ralls, and for Rev. Ferry and myself.
The Nelson Family Indonesia 