Goodbye to Irian
[In July, 1992, friends took me back to Irian Jaya—wheelchair and all — so I could do what I had not done before I left so quickly in August, 1991. I had not packed up anything, let alone said goodbye to the Kimyals and missionary colleagues. During the 1992 visit, I was able to do those things, though I was very weak, and not well at all. I dictated the following letter before my departure from that 1992 visit.]
Sentani, 25 July, 1992
To all my Irian Jaya Friends,
Before leaving Irian I want to thank you all for your prayers and concern which many of you have expressed and to praise the Lord with you for His faithfulness.
When I left Irian last August, I knew deep down that something was terribly wrong with my body. But I was still telling myself that I would get my knees fixed and be back in two months. Four days after I got home I was diagnosed as having post-polio sequelae, meaning I needed to be near equipment, specialists, accessibility and a more convenient style of life. Return to Irian Jaya to live wad impossible. Less than two weeks after that my arms suddenly lost most of their strength and I began having severe muscle pain. Post-polio sequelae is an over-use syndrome. After initial polio, surviving but weakened neurons grew extra sprouts, attaching themselves to orphaned muscle fibers, while the damaged brain stem also over-extended to function normally. Original polio attacked the whole central nervous system. As a result, what I had left had to work at 100% capacity every day with no reserve in order for me to keep up with ordinary life. That was especially true in my life here in Irian. After a while, the body cannot keep up with the metabolic demands of the overworked neurons and oversized functioning muscle fibers. They begin to starve and weaken. They have “shot their wad” like an over-stretched piece of elastic. My body ha continued to weaken and pain in my arms has increased.
Grief always accompanies loss. As I have faced the loss of direct ministry to the Kimyals, loss of daily contact with close missionary friends (at least by radio), loss of a life-style I loved, loss if a ministry absolutely fulfilling and filled with wonderful variety, loss of mobility and loss of a great deal of independence, many times there have been many tears. Yet no regrets. I am deeply grateful to the Lord for the gift of 18 years in Irian—years I logically should never have had. Chuck Swindoll has said, “Without risk, we lose the key that unlocks the abundant life God wants to give us.” When Job was slapped by his crushing losses he tore his robe and shaved his head, fully expressing the total emotional impact of his grief. At the same time, though, he bowed to the ground and worshipped God, expressing his total trust in and love for the Lord. He knew his circumstances were not the measure of God’s character. Jesus himself in the garden of Gethsemane agonized as no other human ever has, at the scorn, rejection and physical torture that He know was imminent. That expression of His suffering did not contradict His faith in the Father nor His position with Him.
Even in the tears I have experienced the deep joy of the Lord’s faithfulness. With David I can say, “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28)
I used to often ponder what Paul meant when he said, “I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s affliction for the sake of His body which is the church.” (Col. 1:24) I am beginning to understand now. We are Christ’s body in today’s world. People in the world who are suffering all that life can throw at them need to see God’s power and joy—the display of his splendor—incarnated in us as we experience the very things that are crushing them. It is only then that God’s strength can be seen. As we suffer the same things they do, yet with a source of strength they know they do not possess, only then will they listen to our words about the Savior.
So, though I have lost much of one specific ministry, the Lord has given me marvelous new areas of ministry. A light bulb does not need arms and legs to shine; all it needs is power. Power not its own. Paul said it well: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) I can truly say that along with the pain and grief the Lord has also given an over-abundance of joy and peace.
As for the future, as long as there is no one else to continue scripture translation for the Kimyals, I plan to keep plugging away at it from my home in Chattaroy in Washington. Then when I have enough material to make it worthwhile and enough energy to make the trip, I will make visits to Irian to revise and check. Because of the weakness in my arms and low general energy, getting any translation done will be a long slow process.* However, the growing Kimyal church, so eager for God’s Word, needs even that little bit of encouragement. Personally, I am participating in an experimental therapy program which offers hope of some improvement in three to four years.
Again, thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging expressions of love and concern. I want you to know that through it all the Lord has never let me down and I am confident He never will. Truly, He is more wonderful than my words could ever express.
Much love,
Elinor
* (2007 update) This dream was never realized. My body just could not do it. However, translation has continued by others in other ways.
