Biographical Information
Michael Earl Lott
Band Director, Hillcrest International School
Mike was born in Decatur, Alabama on December 29, 1954. Although he is a southern boy at heart, his parents traveled throughout the United States and Puerto Rico due to the nature of his father's job. He didn't know it at the time, but this was special preparation for teaching at an overseas school, whose students are known as "Third Culture Kids."
When Mike was twelve, he listened to a broadcast of a Billy Graham crusade. Mike became powerfully aware that although he was no worse then many others ~perhaps better than some~ he fell short of God's standard of holiness. He called to his mother who was in the next room and she helped him pray a prayer committing his life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
There was not much spiritual growth in the years following. Mike finished high school in 1972 at Wheelersburg High School in Ohio. He followed his brother's example and entered Auburn University that fall as a Music Education major. It was at this time that he met Mary.
During that freshman year, Mike made the acquaintance of other students who were active with Campus Crusade for Christ. Through the influence of that organization Mike learned the basic disciplines of the Christian life and grew in his faith.
During their sophomore and junior years, Mike and Mary began to find that they were doing a lot of things together. Both were music education majors, both played in the University band and both were active with the Campus Crusade ministry. Their friendship became stronger and they decided to marry when they graduated.
Mike has taught music at various schools in Alabama including Notasulga High School, Andalusia Middle School, Stevenson High School and North Jackson High School. Then in 1991 he heard a guest speaker tell of the need for teachers at overseas schools. After talking it over with Mary, they decided to apply to become teachers overseas. It took another four years to complete the training and secure financial support, but in October of 1995 the Lott family left Huntsville, Alabama for Sentani, Irian Jaya (now known as Papua), Indonesia.
The first two-and-a-half months were in Sentani, helping out at Hillcrest and getting to know the community. Then, in January the family temporarily relocated to Bandung on the island of Java in order to study the language of Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia. Since moving back to Sentani in July of 1996, the family has lived and ministered to the community there.
Mary Carolyn Jemian Lott
Village Tutorial Coordinator
Mary was born on January 9 in Troy, New York. Her early remembrance is of Greensburg, Pennsylvania where she attended first and second grade. Then in 1963, her family moved to Auburn, Alabama where her father became a professor. She attended Auburn High School, graduating in 1972. While at AHS, Mary played in the Auburn High School Band.
It was due to a friendship with another band member that Mary became a Christian. Up until then, Mary had learned a lot of Christianity. She believed that Jesus Christ was divine, that he was born, on Christmas, that he lived a sinless life, that He died on Good Friday and that He rose from the grave on Easter. However, her friend explained, that it was possible to believe all these things and NOT be a Christian. Mary learned that being a Christian wasn't so much a religion, but rather a RELATIONSHIP with a living person, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.
Mary was also undergoing the usual dilemma teens often feel, namely, what is the purpose in life? What is my purpose in life? Where are we going after this life is over? How are we going to get there? Her friend took her to a play in which God asks Jonah, "What are you running from?" To Mary, it was as if God was asking this question of her. She didn't feel she was running from anything, but after pondering the question, Mary realized that she had not been seeking God's guidance and Lordship over her life. She was "running" from Him by not allowing Him to guide her life.
So, on March 26, 1971, Mary invited Jesus into her heart. She began attending a high school Bible study where she learned the same principles which were described earlier. This study continued for her in college as she also became active in the Campus Crusade for Christ group. Mary also majored in music education and played in the University band. She began dating Mike and they joined their lives together on June 5, 1972.
Beth, Josh and Carlie, and Abigail
Beth was born to them on June 1, 1984, Josh on August 1, 1986 and Gail was born on June 30, 1990. The children accompanied them to Papua and have been enrolled in the school there. In 2002, Beth graduated from HIS and entered Auburn University. She expects to graduate in December 2008. Josh graduated in 2004 and entered Covenant College. He studied there until being activated in the Army Reserves and served one year in Iraq. On July 5, 2008 Josh married Carlie Ann Evans of Bristol, TN. They are making their home in Chattanooga, TN while Carlie finishes her studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Josh is making plans to become Active Duty in the Infantry. Gail has changed her name to "Abigail" and is entering Auburn University as a Pre-Vet major.
© 2008 All Rights Reserved Mike and Mary Lott. Do not reproduce or publish in any form without the express written consent of the authors.