"The helicopter lifted off from a small village in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Joan sat, tears pouring down her cheeks, staring blankly out the window, unable to take it in. Ten years of her life, her whole heart, and all her creativity had been invested there. Was it now to be abruptly torn away forever, with no completion or closure?"

This was just one of a succession of dramas and challenges that seemed to characterize Joan's career as a missionary involved in Bible translation. The desperation she often felt drove her deeply and intensely to God. That is why the imagery of the title was chosen, based on the following quotation:

May your life so resemble a turtle on a fence post that all who see you will know that you could not possibly have gotten there by yourself.

The book is full of God moments and insights as Joan, through a lifelong process, becomes God's own "turtle on a fence post." You'll learn about spiritual darkness, confusion, and discouragement, but also joyful mountaintop discoveries, the challenges and fascination of translating God's Word into a previously unwritten language, and how a good sense of humor definitely helps maintain sanity under pressure.

Joan says, "I'm very much hoping that you, my reader, will find multiple connection points even if your life circumstances are vastly different than mine, because our God is working toward similar goals in all of us: to make us more like Him. That is why I have chosen to be quite transparent with you, hoping it will help you identify with me, warts and all. It is God's hand that I want you to look for, with an open heart, as you read my stories. May my hard-won lessons also help you in your journey."