The primary question I am asked many times over, both by national Papua New Guinean people and our own folk back in Oz is this: why am I, a 66-year-old Aussie who has the same incurable genetic cancer that killed her sister and mother, working here with the PNG Bible Translation Association (BTA)?  What is it that made me come here? And what makes me stay?

In October 1994, my husband and I were living happily on our small farm (116 acres) on the mid north coast of Australia, close to Kempsey in new South Wales. We had been married just five years and were away at an October conference in Brisbane when we both, independently of each other, heard from God that He wanted us to go to Bible College. It took eighteen months of fighting myself and God before I obeyed His direction and we sold the farm I had longed for since I was six years old.  In 1996, though, we commenced a three-year Bachelor degree course at our denomination’s college in Brisbane. We completed the course in November 1998, and in 1999, we moved to Kangaroo Ground to get training with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL).

On 8 March 2001, we arrived in Port Moresby to work with PNG Bible Translation Association. We were ready to work for BTA with a language group in West New Britain doing translation and literacy, but this never happened.  Both we and BTA realized that my skills in office administration would be of more help in the Port Moresby office than out in the field doing translation and literacy. Since then, we have also worked in Ukarumpa, Madang, and then Ukarumpa again for several years.  We have been back in Madang since December of 2007.

I spent 2004 - 2008 doing project funding applications and reports.  Because I am an Australian and not an American, and most of the funding is handled through the U.S., I had to start from scratch with no knowledge or understanding of the system. It was a steep learning curve for a woman my age, but I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.  In addition, it provided a distraction from worrying about the genetic disease I had inherited, so that was a great benefit!

When we came from the Highlands down to Madang, I, being a woman who loves cold places, struggled very much with the heat and humidity. Many times I just wanted to pack up and leave, but God never said I could so I had another cold shower, changed my clothes yet again, and went back down to the office.  This happened day after day, week after week and so far we have managed to survive the tropical environment. I don’t expect to ever ‘get used to it,’ but as long as God gives me the grace to be able to survive, I shall.

Why am I working with BTA? Because God opened this door and closed all other doors back in 2000; because I have a dream from God of PNG Bible Translation Association at a future time. Because I believe God wants me here at this time doing this work. Because being a missionary for God is a lifetime position. Just as, at God’s request, Abraham moved from Ur for a lifetime, so it seems His request for us to move from Australia to PNG is a lifetime request that we can’t refuse. Only God knows how many years He intends to keep me on the earth, let alone in Papua New Guinea, but that is His business. My business is to be a willing vessel, broken and remolded to fit His plans and purposes for my life, as they fit into His scheme for Papua New Guinea and the world. All I know is that being in PNG and working with BTA is full of stress and excitement sorrow and joy, tears and overwhelming happiness. As I get closer to the end of my life on Earth, just knowing I am within God’s will is a blessing.

May my testimony encourage you to take that step of faith and follow the plan God has for you in spite of all that may seem to come against you.  It is well worth it.