1. How long have you been involved in Missions work?

If you regard Missions as one reaching out to others in a foreign land; I began to reach out to Africa in 1975 by sending bible correspondence studies called World Bible School. In 1991, I sent studies to Russia. As far as face-to-face ministry, the Lord blessed me to go to Dubna, Russia with 15 others from Southwest Church of Christ the next year in 1992. There, for the first time, I was able to see my foreign students face to face. In 1998, the Lord blessed me to go to Zimbabwe, Africa with other World Bible School teachers to follow up on our students. So, I have been involved in Missions for 35 years, but face-to-face 16 yrs.

2. Where did you go on your first trip?

I went to Dubna, Russia in Sept of 1992. I have been blessed to travel there 7 times.

3. What other countries have you visited?

Africa 8 times, which includes: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, and Kenya;
and later Brazil.

4. In getting prepared to leave for Missions, what did you find to be your greatest obstacle?

Knowing I was traveling to a country where our governments had been enemies and by going, I was causing my family worry and concern for my safety. I was also concerned if I could adequately teach someone who spoke a foreign language.

5. What motivated you to go?

I was motivated to share my love for Christ and the Good News that He came to give us abundant life here on earth and for eternity; and also in response to His command to go into all the word to teach the Good News.

6. Describe your first thoughts on arriving in a foreign country.

I could hardly believe I was standing at the airport in Moscow, Russia; a country that had been our enemy. I was so amazed how dim and drab the airport was. I was also praying the Lord would allow me to pass through the intimidating passport and visa officials.

7. What is your favorite memory or most poignant moment?

The amazing way the Lord allowed me to meet my WBS student, Ruben Yegikian in Dubna, Russia. I did not know the Lord had placed me in the same hotel right across the hall from Ruben. The Nuclear Institute where he worked paid for Ruben to live in the hotel. One morning, Ruben was sitting in a lounge watching TV. There were only a few TVs in the hotel and they were located in lounges. While watching TV, Ruben saw one of our elders, Gene Adee sitting in the lounge reading his English bible. Ruben was shy and did not talk to him, but after he left, Ruben asked the maid if the man was from the U.S. She said, “Yes.” Ruben went to Gene Adee’s room, knocked on the door and said, “I am a World Bible School student, and my teacher is Paula Leverett. Do you know her?” With great joy, Gene said, “She is here!” Out of the millions of people who live in the U.S., God had brought us together! I was in my room, and Gene called me to say one of my students wanted to meet me. I went in amazement to Gene’s room to meet Ruben. Ruben is now a Christian, and through the ministry of World Bible School at Southwest Church of Christ, we enrolled Ruben in the Extension School of International Biblical Studies located in Lubbock, Texas. He has now been trained to be a preacher and teacher of Biblical Greek. He now helps preach in the church in Dubna, Russia and has also taught Greek in a preacher training school in Moscow, Russia. One wonderful preacher named Richard Rogers from Lubbock said about my meeting Ruben, “You cannot tell that story and leave out the providence of God.”

8. Have you ever gotten ill or experienced danger on a Mission trip?

I have been blessed to only have a cold once. But in June of 2000, we did experience danger on one of our trips to Zimbabwe, Africa. In Zimbabwe, in March of 2000, Robert Mugabe, the President, began to allow War Vets to take over the farms of white people who had been farmers there for 4 generations. They were killing the farmers who refused to leave their farms. Sadly, this is still happening today. Earlier that year of 2000, I had written over 600 of our High School WBS students who lived in rural Wedza, Zimbabwe to inform them that we were coming to hold a WBS follow-up seminar in June. We were told there were many white farmers located around Wedza; but we were encouraged by the local ministers in Zimbabwe to come. At that time, Southwest supported a young Zimbabwean man named Kennedy Muraicho to place World Bible School lessons in the high schools. Kennedy hired a guard to watch as we slept. Before we left the U.S., the Lord had put a scripture in my heart, Psalms 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.” I knew the guard was watching as we slept, but my true peace was the faith that God was there surrounding us. Before our seminar was to begin, the ruling Zanu party leaders came with frowns on their faces, with some carrying clubs, to demand we cancel the seminar. They said intimidating things like, “You might get caught in a cross fire.” But through prayers to the Father for His intervention, we persuaded them we were only there to teach about Jesus. They allowed us to continue, but sent their representatives to hear what we were teaching. We had no fear, and praise God, we converted them both to Christ along with 96 of our WBS students. It was a victorious few days for the Lord. Truly, He had won the battle.

9. What shocked you the most about conditions you experienced or cultural differences in a country you have visited?

In Russia, we were shocked to see how each person distrusted others, and how outdated and limited the medical help was for the common people. Doctors were paid about $100 a month and earned the same salary as a truck driver. People also lived in very small apartments that were almost identical to one another whether they were educated or not. In Africa, we were amazed how many people have AIDS and how limited the medical help was for those who have this devastating disease. There are so many orphans and widows who desperately need our help. It was also very shocking to see how hard a woman has to work in the rural areas of Africa.

10. Do you fund the trips yourself, or rely on contributions from others?

Our family members helped, and we funded some portions. Some trips were also funded by a special Mission fund set up at Southwest Church of Christ.

11. Do you plan on going on another trip, and if so, where?

Lord willing, we would love to return to Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa, and we are praying about going to Australia.