issionary Andrea Annunziata says, “With God we have to be willing to have our expectations blown out of the water!” When Andrea graduated college in December of 1994, she expected to go to medical school, get married, have some children and live a typical life. Within a few years she realized God wanted her in overseas missions. She went to Bible College and New Tribes Training. When she left for Papua New Guinea three years ago, she expected a life as a single missionary evangelizing in the bush. Once again, God had a different plan.

Unhurried faith

Andrea’s parents were Christians, but not actively involved in a church. In eighth grade Andrea and three of her friends started attending a local church youth group on Saturday nights. Andrea remembers those days, “We just went so we’d have something to do. We liked playing games with the other kids. I pretty much ignored most of the devotional time.”

For Andrea, the salvation and sanctification process was a slow one. In youth group she began to realize she needed a Savior and that Jesus was the only way. Then, “I made a decision for Christ, but I didn’t even tell anybody about it. It was not a dramatic change.” That summer at a Young Life camp, Andrea learned some basic disciplines of the faith. She started reading her Bible and sharing her faith with others.

Ten years later she graduated from college with a degree in biology. Her plan was to go to medical school, but doubt crept in. She asked, “What next, Lord?”

That summer she went on a short-term mission trip to Papua New Guinea with New Tribes Missions (NTM). The mission of NTM is to plant churches among people who have never heard the gospel. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a mostly mountainous tropical rain forest region about the size of California. The population of nearly six million contains several thousand different communities with diverse cultures and traditions. The residents speak over 800 different languages.

Andrea Annunziata with native children of Papua New Guinea, where she is a missionary with New Tribes Missions.

Uncovered mission

Soon after her mission trip, Andrea decided to work a 9-to-5 job in Washington, D.C. to save money for college. She also realized at this time that she didn’t have sufficient Bible knowledge. She went to New Tribes Bible School. While there, the Lord used his Word to show her that every Christian is a missionary. She says, “God wants us all involved and calls us all. I just felt God directed me overseas.”

So instead of medical school, Andrea spent the next two and a half years training in language, church planting and cross-cultural ministry. It seemed natural that she would return to PNG for her first assignment as a missionary. She joined a team with a couple and another single to minister in the bush. Within six months and for various reasons, the other three members of her team left PNG. Left with no one to partner with, Andrea took an assignment offering administrative support on the missionary support base.

Andrea Annunziata and Lina Hosano, who works in the missions office.

She explains the difficulties. “Being a single woman in PNG is difficult because it is a male-dominated society. Also, I missed my family and friends. While e-mail and talking via the computer are options, they don't replace being able to communicate face to face. Then when my team fell apart, I was stuck doing a job I didn’t want to do. I wanted to work in a bush location and, instead, other missionaries surrounded me. I considered going back to the States. God hadn’t done anything I expected him to do.”

A wise counselor redirected Andrea and encouraged her to stay. Now she sees that administrative support fits better with her giftedness and wiring. “I realize I am where I’m supposed to be. I am content. The bottom line is, if you are where God wants you to be, he’ll give you purpose, direction and joy in it.” 

Andrea Annunziata visiting with a woman who lives near the missions center in Papua New Guinea.

Andrea reports that on the field there have been exciting changes. “This past year, three different tribal groups learned the message of Christ, from creation to the Cross, in their own language. Also, several new tribal works opened where New Tribes Missionaries are currently learning language and culture with the plans of beginning to teach there as well. And many other missionary teams are working to disciple and help national churches grow into maturity.”

Unexpected blessing

She did still struggle with being single. She wanted to be married and have kids. A year ago, she resolved to be content again. She said, “God is ready to bless our socks off and we get stuck in what we want.” So she made friends with nationals, other missionaries at the support center and enjoyed spending time with other singles.

Andrea thought she’d never find a husband in her secluded surroundings, but God stepped in again in 2006, when Paul Wilson arrived in PNG. He is an aircraft mechanic who works in the aviation department at the support base. The couple met and became friends through the singles group. Their wedding is set for May 16.

Andrea is excited about the marriage, “The really neat thing is that Paul has become my best friend. We have been friends for about two years, but it has been really special to see how he has become more. I never figured I would get married. Moving to Papua New Guinea single, I just figured that it would never happen as there are so few single guys on the mission field. But the Lord had other plans!”

Andrea Annunziata and her fiance, Paul Wilson.

“The most important relationship I have right now is with the Lord. That might sound like a ‘cookie-cutter’ answer but it is true and something the Lord taught me last summer (actually just before Paul and I started courting). When I came back to the field in February 2008 after a home assignment, things changed while I was gone. The Lord used this lonely time to teach me to rely on him alone.”

Andrea concludes, “God shook things up for me, but it ended up working out for my good. All of my growth (through bumps) has been due to unmet expectations. Now I try to be prepared for whatever he has for me.”

To find out more about Andrea and her ministry in Papua New Guinea, visit www.ntm.org/andrea_annunziata.