Pete was born into a Mennonite family in Paraguay, South America. He is the youngest of 7 children. When Pete was three years old, his family moved to Canada.  Six years later, his family moved to Bolivia, where they set up a farm.  He came to know the Lord in his late teens thru the influence of a missionary family. He loved to read and this family had a great library!  Some of these books were missionary biographies, sparking an interest for Pete in Missions. In 1988, Pete moved back to Canada.  He still had an interest in Missions and decided to pursue a short-term trip to Liberia, West Africa. 

Lesley was born in Port Hope, Ontario.  She is the oldest of 3 children. Lesley trusted Christ as her personal Saviour when she was 10 years old. This same year, her parents decided to become missionaries with New Tribes Mission. The family moved to Liberia, West Africa in 1984. After graduating from high school, Lesley went on to New Tribes Bible Institute in Jackson, MI.

It was in Bible School when Lesley met Pete.  After dating for two years, we were married in 1992. We both felt that God was leading us into Missions.  We continued with New Tribes Mission entering the Missions Institute in Durham, Ontario in 1993. We completed our training and arrived in Guinea, W.Africa in 1996.

The Doerksen’s have four children, Jessica (1994), Joshua (1995), Micah (1998) and Kelsey (2002).

Pete & Lesley Doerksen returned to Canada in Spring 2009. Pete joined the Property Management Team at New Tribes Mission Canada , working in construction, and Lesley assisted with the planning and hosting of work teams as well as in the Missionary Training Centre’s (MTC) childcare program.

On July 27, 2010, Pete & Lesley, together with their children left Canada, to serve with NTM in Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

The Doerksens’ home church is the Chortitzer Mennonite Church of Steinbach, Manitoba.

“God has allowed us to be a part of the team in Guinea.  We have ministered in a variety of roles. Dorm parenting, construction/maintenance, guest home hostess, field committee, leading teams, helping in the mission school and various village projects. We have been privileged to see several of our Guinean friends come to Christ.”