South Africa Detour

 

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

Like most things that happen, a five day trip to South Africa was not in my plans for the month of July. Back in May, I had injured my back lifting those bins of clothing I was sorting into sizes to be stored away for later use. At the time, I had no idea until a week after the incident I was woken up by an intense muscle spasm in my right leg. We went to town and saw a doctor and see said that she thought I pinched a nerve and that it would be healed in the next 6-weeks. So two months pass and I am still having spasms at night and pain in my right leg. Naturally my mom became more concerned and started researching more diligently and asking doctors for their advice on what I should do. After a few days of idea shooting, we all decided it was best that I see a doctor as soon as possible. Unfortunately they don’t have that kind of specialist here in Zambia, so I had to fly to South Africa.

We contacted a few people trying to see the best route to determining what I had actually done to my back and how I could help it recover. We were hoping to get an MRI, but that process is long and almost impossible without living there to see everyone you need to see in a timely manner to get the prescription for the MRI and then an actual appointment, so it was suggested that I see a physical therapist first and if they couldn’t figure it out, than I would try to get in with a specialist. Praise God I was able to get a flight out of Livingstone two days later and off to South Africa I went. God was also gracious to give me a place to stay for my time there and someone to drive me to all my appointments. At the first appointment, the physical therapist was able to determine that I actually  ripped a disc between to vertebrate in the lumbar region of my lower back. The rip was deep into the middle and there was jelly like stuff (nucleus) leaking out, irritating the nerves causing the extreme pain in my back and leg; the muscle in my leg was trying to compensate by going into a spasm since the nerve pain was so intense. We all prayed hard that the physical therapists would be able to determine the cause of the pain without needing an MRI and thankfully God answered that prayer.  She gave me several exercises to do, especially if I was experiencing a spasm, and others to strengthen my lower back so that the disc can heal properly.

As much as I didn’t want to go, thinking it was an inconvenience, God blessed my time there with the people I stayed with and the pastor who drove me to my appointments. In addition to everything God had already done, he was prepared for this moment more than I could ever have been.  A week after I got back, I got an email from a friend in my church back home, informing me that the kids from Vacation Bible School raised money for the missionaries. The children had given more than expected so the additional was sent to me totaling the exact amount of the travel and medical expenses for this detour…Praise God!  

It seems my back will take 6 months to heal, meaning no heavy lifting or strain on my back for that time, or else the disc could rip back open and I will have to start all over again with the therapy. I am already feeling better and have not had any leg spasms since I have been to South Africa.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:19

Sid Roth (Ultimate Promise Keeper)

 

“No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”  Romans 4:20-21

Since I have moved here to Zambia, God has been teaching and showing me many things about him and how he is faithful. Just the fact that God provided a way for me to come, the means to come, and friends and family who have supported me the whole way is testimony enough to his greatness, power, and sovereignty. So when I saw a lunar rainbow in Livingstone, at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the other month, I remembered God’s covenant with Noah, and since then I have been seeing how God consistently fulfills his promises, especially in my life.

In Jeremiah, God promises to give us a “hope and a future”; that his plans for us are always good and never for harm. I am still figuring out where my time here in Zambia fits into the bigger picture of my life, wondering how long I will be here, if God will call me elsewhere, when God will bless me with my husband, what impact he will allow me to have here in the community…and so on. In spite of all the holes and questions that I have running around in my mind, I don’t ever have to doubt that God’s plans are far better than my own and that he has me here to fulfill a purpose he created me for (Psalm 139).

In Isaiah, God promises to “never leave or forsake” us, to always be there in times of tribulation and times of joy. He reassures us that he is in control and wherever he calls us to go; he will not send us alone. Ever since I started my journey into missions, I can see where God walked right alongside of me…there were times when I was extremely ill, impatient, frustrated, scared, worried, not in control, confused, lacking in faith, and unfocused; but despite my disposition, God never let me do it alone, he was there to catch me when I fell, to heal me when I was sick, to hold my hand when I was scared, to calm me when I was out of control and unfocused, to give me his spirit of patience when my flesh was lacking it, and to never let me lose sight of the reason he had sent to me where I was serving.

Often we don’t understand why God is choosing to do things the way he is, but thankfully he has blessed us with his Spirit to give us the faith that we need to endure and keep following his footsteps even if we can’t see more than two feet in front of us! The rainbow is an amazing reminder of how careful God is to fulfill the promises he makes to each and every one of his children. Every promise he made to Adam, to Abraham, to David, to the Israelites, to his disciples, to Mary, to you, to me, and to so many others since he created us has come to pass or will come to pass in his perfect timing and plan!

God sent me here to begin a school and to use the gifts he has blessed me with to build up the community and to help the orphans, widows, children, and others in the community draw nearer to Christ; through discipleship, education, and building relationships.  I am grateful to have been reminded of his calling and the reassurance that God will always carry out the promises he makes to us!

MOL Clinic Coming Soon?

These past few weeks have been a time of great interruptions or divine appointments, as we like to call them.  During the time we were preparing for the team and while the team was here, we had two severe instances where local people came in need of stitches.  One woman was using a pickax…when she swung it; it missed and went right into her shin.  Her mother brought her here hours later to receive stitching from Jako.  Praise God that he and Amber both have wisdom and knowledge when it comes to injuries like this, otherwise these people coming to them would most likely die from infection because they are unable to get to the clinic a ways away.  Jako graciously gave her the stitches she needed and instructed her to come back 6 days later to get them removed.  Thankfully for Jako, it was a straight cut down her leg, so it was very easy for him to sew up.  

The second incident came near the end of the teams stay here in the bush.  A man came hobbling up to camp telling us that he had an accident on his bike the night before and almost lost his second to last toe.  The chain cut from the bottom of the toe all the way to the bone.  Jako had a much tougher time sewn him up at the angle he was given.  Luckily, he had a helper (Tammy) who was very intrigued by giving stitches in the bush and wanted to give it a try herself.  She watched her teacher carefully and even got to get in and attempt a stitch of her own.  Although the man was in a lot of pain, I think they were able to save his toe.  He never came back to get them removed, so we pray that he didn’t get an infection or anything severe like that. 

Unfortunately I don’t think MOL is planning on opening a permanent clinic any time soon…hehe, but we would love for the government to put one up in Mukumba for the villages around here.  The nearest clinic right now is so far away a lot of people can’t get there because of the distance.  Charles has to take our babies there once a month and it is a long trip on the tractor.  Jako says that if the people show an interest in a clinic and make their need known to the government, they will come out here and build one and staff it, but first the community needs to show a care and an interest.  Please pray that if it is God’s will the people who are able to influence the community begin to talk about a clinic and the need for medical care closer to them.