Mission Possible: The Story of a Wycliffe Missionary

by Marilyn Laszlo

The dynamic true story of Bible translator Marilyn Laszlo. Journey through the jungles of Papua New Guinea as she shares her adventures bringing the Word of God to the Sepik Iwam tribe.

Genres: Christian, Biography, Nonfiction, Christianity, Asia

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Skye Hayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one’s about a preliterate tribal community in Papua New Guinea finally having the Bible translated in their language. Had chills/tears the whole second half of the book. This Gospel is for every culture and every language. God created every man with the ability to accept His grace.

[Shannon]

Excellent read! The stories of success and failures associated with the missionary experience of Wycliffe translator Susan Lazlo. Her perseverance and obedience are inspirational. Many lives changed for the kingdom of God!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. The story of an Indiana girl, Marilyn Laszlo, who goes to Papua New Guinea, and over the course of 20 years translates the Scriptures and introduces Christianity to a pagan tribe. The work was very difficult at first, but as the people began to see the changes that Christianity was bringing to their tribe, they wanted to have God's words "carved on a banana leaf." This lady had to overcome shamans, spirit worship, and witch doctor medicine. The people were illiterate, so they had to be taught to read. She had a series of helpers, including her sister, but she was the one who stayed all those years.

A young Christian couple refused to kill one of their twins even though tradition said the second child would be from the devil (and they named her after Miss Laszlo). When the little girls were toddlers, one was taken in a whooping cough epidemic. At the funeral, hecklers were taunting "We told you so!" But the father, Joel, prayed at the graveside (which was a first in itself): "Papa God, I am not angry. I know our little Marilyn is with you in heaven. You don't make mistakes. Satan is not going to win here. I will not turn my back on you. I will keep believing. You are the Strong One above all things. My little Marilyn is in a better place than here. I think, Papa, you wanted her with you, so I am OK. I am OK, Papa."

And as the author states - this was evidence that the Word of God was being carved, not only on banana leaves, but in the people's hearts.

Highly recommended.

[Bobbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that has sat on my shelf for years. Possibly, Marilyn Laszlo spoke at our church all those years ago. It's an inspiring and honest missionary autobiography. Marilyn Laszlo spent over 20 years living with a remote people group in Hauna, Papua New Guinea, with their permission and encouragement. She became a part of their community, learning their language and teaching literacy skills. Eventually, Marilyn and her local Hauna friends were able to write a translation of the entire New Testament, which was eventually published and delivered by canoe to their village. They called it "God's Talk" or "Papa God's carving in our own language." Quite a few interesting insights in this little book.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a riveting, fast-paced story of a brave and humble missionary whom God sent to some very sweet people who needed to hear the gospel. This is one of the best missionary stories I’ve ever read! Shocking, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and humorous, it really helped me to understand what a missionary goes through, and the wonderful things that happen when the whole community works together! I heartily recommend it, and will read it again!

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way the author used short chapters format to tell her story. The crescendo effect is evident as her God-encounters progressed in PNG. This is an incredible testimony of what God can do when we are obedient and faithful to His call. For all Christ’s followers who are dedicated to serve at any capacity and platform, please read this book!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account of Marilyn Laszlo's time spent among the Sepik Iwam people of Papua New Guinea as a Wycliffe missionary. She spent 23 years living with them, learning their language, codifying it into a written system, and translating the New Testament into their language. This biography includes her struggles as well as the highlights of her life among the people of Hauna village.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Marilyn Laszlo speak when I was a student at Moody. And even though that was years ago, her stories and faith have stuck with me. I sought out this book so I could be reminded of what a woman surrendered to God could accomplish for the Kingdom.

[Josiah Muhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find the story the story of Marilyn and Sepik Iwam people of Papua New Guinea to be incredibly interesting and inspiring. It’s an encouraging example of how to gospel transcends all times and cultures. Lord help me love and lean on you as much as the people in this story.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Kristin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book we bought years ago after hearing Marilyn Laszlo at CFC. Fascinating.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story of Marilyn's work with the Hauna people in the jungles of Papua New Guinea in 1970's and 1980's to translate the Mew Testament and improve their lives.

[Lana Colby hurd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story of a missionary living in a jungle to interpret Bible into the natives language!

[Michelle Ule · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this story was the description of how Marilyn Laszlo and her colleagues learned the Sepik Iwam language and then translated the New Testament.

Inspiring, and well written.

[Joan F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy, interesting, intriguing read. I love missionary biographies.

[Arjen Admirant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring story about how the gospel changes a whole tribe

[Karina (Karina's Christian Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number of pages: 178

Genre: Non-fiction/Missionary Biography

Series: N/A

Age recommendation: Teens interested in missions; 13+

Summary: Since she was a little girl, Marilyn knew God was calling her to be a missionary. Finally, she is on her way to Papua New Guinea to live with the Sepik Iwam people. She will learn their language, their culture, teach them God’s Good News and finally help them to translate His Word into their own language. However, facing strange customs and difficult language barriers, Marilyn wonders if this was really God’s will for her life.

My thoughts: It was a really good book; well-written and interesting. I’ve read a few other books that talk about translation and trying to share the Gospel with previously unreached tribes, and I love hearing the successes of translating concepts into other languages and cultures. Not all languages are the same, with the same words and customs. I mean, imagine even trying to explain an animal to someone else that they’ve never seen or heard of. It’s those kinds of challenges and successes that make these stories and this work so rewarding. When you find that word or that story or that example that perfectly explains what you’re trying to tell them but they couldn’t understand before. Translators (and missionaries in general) have to be so creative to get messages across without always having the words to describe it. I like that Marilyn works side by side with the Sepik Iwam people, and puts it past the young and the old to assure its accuracy and that it’s understandable.
I just really admire missionaries and what they do, and this is just another great example of what God can do through you when you surrender your life and your will to Him.

My personal rating: 5/5 stars.

Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...

[Kathy Penrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Marilyn before even though we are both Hoosiers and I have heard several Wycliffe translators speak at my church about their own translating experiences. I loved hearing the stories of how they first arrived and the people thought they were spirits and still helped them anyway. And I cried when I read about the people in another village who built a church so God would know they were ready to receive His Word too. This book was filled with humorous and heartbreaking stories but most of all about the grace of God which is still changing lives today.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in addition to one other Christian missionary biography and two accounts of secular explorers on the island of Irian Jaya. It was for a reasearch paper. I found that while the missionaries and the explorers both brought Western culture to the tribes and changed their traditions forever, the missionaries impact was mostly positive, while the explorers impact was overwhelmingly negative. I found this book to be well written and her stories were very helpful examples for my research paper.

[Luci Tumas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to work with Marilyn Laszlo to record her adventures, challenges and traumas as a Bible translator for the Sepik Iwam people of Papua New Guinea. I just wish I could have written down all the stories she told me those many months in my office. I look forward to hearing more adventures God led her through when I see her again in heaven. I'm so glad this book can still be found on Amazon. I'm honored to be listed on the cover: Marilyn Laszlo with Luci Tumas, with Foreword by Franklin Graham.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a number of weeks to read. Partly due to busyness and partly due to lack of holding my interest. I was amazed at Marilyn and what she so willingly and happily (most of the time) put up with. I'm not sure I'd have that fortitude. I enjoyed learning about another new people and culture. I would like to know where these people, well descendants most likely, are at now and how life is treating them.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, inspirational. Each chapter gives a short snippet of Marilyn's life either leading up to her time in PNG or describing her time in the jungle. Each story is a great illustration of the power of the gospel to sustain through culture shock, severe illness, and discouragement and of its power to radically change hearts of an entire culture.

[Anni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! Only thing I would have enjoyed more about this one was if the pace was a little slower, like if they did more of a background story of the main Hauna tribe members. And I would have liked a "where are they now" epilogue. Oh well. Still a good read!

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenominal Story of God's Work in and through a missionary. Refreshing to read a true story and the power of simple words put together is remarkable!!

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really fascinating story, dumbly-written book.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read and testimony to the great commission to go out and preach the word to all the world. Very inspiring true story of Marilyn Laszlo.

[Joyce]

Good read. Very intriguing. Hard to put down.

[JoAnne Styger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read one chapter a day aloud with my kids. There were times we laughed and times we cried. We will not easily forget the adventures Marilyn had in the jungle or the Sepik Iwam people.