After 24 years of missionary work, Marilyn Laszlo now spends her time inspiring others with her story.
Angela Fortino handed out informational packets before participants departed on the Urban Planning Conference bus tour around some neighborhoods in Kalamazoo Friday. Jo Wei Looi/Western Herald
“If I had one word to describe Marilyn, it would be moxie. She’s got a lot of moxie,” said Katrina Schreuder, a member of the international student fellowship at Western Michigan University which sponsored her speech.
Laszlo, a linguist and Bible translator, shared her moxie-filled stories of living in the jungles of New Guinea for 24 years Thursday night at Kanley Chapel on Western Michigan University’s campus.
Laszlo grew up on a small farm in Indiana and attended a 35 member church where her interest first sprouted in missionary work. Since most mission groups don’t take people right after high school, Laszlo taught middle and high school students in northern Indiana, before resigning in 1965 to follow her dreams of becoming a missionary.
“I took the step, don’t ever be afraid to take a step,” Laszlo said.
During her 24 years in Papua, New Guinea, Laszlo took an unwritten language and created an alphabet and taught the people of the Hauna Village how to read and write.
She spoke about her experiences teaching the people and watching them grow and showed video clips of her time spent abroad.
After returning to the United States, Laszlo now goes around the country speaking to thousands of students to encourage them to follow their dreams, like she did.
WMU Junior Cayla Lin found Laszlo’s stories to be very inspiring.
“I’m originally from China and came over here by myself when I was 14,” Lin said.
“I lived with foster families and was raised Christian, but to go to different worlds across the ocean is so interesting. I don’t know if I’d have the courage to do something like that, but it definitely makes me think about what I can do.”
Laszlo ended her speech Thursday night by reminding the students and community members listening the importance of learning from other cultures.
“We don’t make any judgements. We learn from their cultures. We becoming one with them, not the other way around,” she said.
