I did it. No regrets. I'm going back again in 2019, God willing, at age 64. Cheaper overseas.
In 1995, my husband and I packed our worldly goods and our three children and trekked halfway across the world to the island of New Guinea, specifically, Sentani, Papua, Indonesia. We went there because there are over 250 different languages on the Papua side of the island, then called Irian Jaya, which do not have a copy of the Bible in their language. (A person should not have to learn a foreign language to read God's Word to them) We wanted to be part of the Bible Translation team.
We have stayed there ever since, only returning for furloughs (Home Ministry Assignments) and short family vacations. I returned this May (2018)because I was severely anemic. It turned out I have developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma (FYI, in 2015 a study was printed which showed a possible link between malaria and NHL. I have had malaria between 25 and 50 times. I haven't counted) It is our year of Home Ministry Assignment again. That means we travel and tell others about the work of Bible Translation in Papua.
The work is not done. That is why we will be returning. Hubby and I both are 63 and it is our intention to continue doing this work until God retires us one way or another.
No regrets.
If someone reading this would like to be part of a work with eternal consequences, please contact me. Boy! Do I have an important work to share with you!
Wow !!! That sounds like fascinating work.
You and your husband are young people of my age group, my peers, and people I can rapp with...as I will turn 64 in December.
I’m saddened to hear that you have to deal with NHL in addition to recurring Malaria but it sounds like you are one of the super tuff types.