Learning from Wasted Plans

You know how you get in the habit of something that you’re pretty sure is going to form a good, solid routine, and then something comes along and manages to completely throw you off? Yeah, that’s happened to me this past week or so. My plan was to write a blog last Sunday, about a beautiful sunset boat ride at the head of the Nile, with its overgrown banks and brightly colored birds. I was also going to write about my visit (along with the Fulks family) to a beautiful mansion in the middle of a sugar-works community, where the gracious and sweet-hearted owner served us tea (accompanied by silver, filigreed china, crystal, and several servants) and then took us out to play hard-core sport version of badminton with her trainer. Yup, all that was one of the most different experiences I’ve ever had. It was very fun, and I loved getting to know this kind Indian lady, especially seeing (even in the midst of her generosity and charities) a hunger for truth. Rebecca Fulks has been a long-time friend of hers, so please be praying that God uses that relationship to reveal Christ to this lady.

Anyway, that’s sort of the gist I would have written in my well-laid-out schedule of last week . . . then I got sick. Sadie left with the orphanage for several days to take them on an amazing adventure to a game park, and I was going to get soooo much done! But all I did that first afternoon was sit on the couch and grind through various emails and school planning that I had. I was feeling tired, headachy and slightly nauseous, and by late afternoon I was chilled. At first I thought it was because I hadn’t done much moving around that day, but as the chills became worse, progressing into the stage that I christened years ago as “pineapple skin”, I realized “TIA” (this is Africa), and I shouldn’t be this cold! I finally chattered my way into the Fulks’ part of the house, trying not to look like a frozen mummy, and the first thing I saw was John in a sleeveless undershirt. OK, there was either a problem with him or with me! Eventually I found my way to a thermometer and discovered that my temp was 101.5 and climbing!

It proceeded to be the worst night of my life! If that is, in any way, an exaggeration, then I can at least safely say that it was the longest. My back and head hurt terribly, the fever got worse and I could hardly stand! Then after about forever (or, around midnight), my stomach/intestines decided that they needed to drain my body of all hydration! During all this time I was able to pray, ask for healing, encouragement and stamina, and I knew Sadie was praying for me, and I had Rebecca checking up on me and taking care of me like crazy! I was so fortunate in all that, but my mind was constantly cast back to the situation of a girl I had met just a few days before. It was in a small clothing shop in Jinja, and after we had gone in the lady running the shop apologized to us, told us to keep looking around but she had to lie down, and she curled up on the floor in the back. The poor thing was dizzy, chilled and desperately waiting for her shift to be over so she could go to the hospital. Here I was, sick but well looked after, and what was her circumstance? At least one that didn’t even allow her to get off of work early when she couldn’t even stand! Did she have malaria? What kind of treatment would she get, and what could she afford?

I, fortunately, did not have malaria. I had some kind of bacterial infection, for which I was given a course of medication and hydration instructions, and became better shortly. It left me very drained for the rest of the week, but I’m pretty much back to speed now. That couple of days interruption completely destroyed my rhythm and schedule, and I’m still trying to get the schedule back, but that actually helped me in driving home the point that has been the main theme of my time with God lately; that all must be in Him! It’s just like in James 4:13-16, where we are called to approach all of our planning with “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that”. Plans that I took for granted dropped to irrecoverable pieces in an instant, but it reminded me that I am called to give all of those plans to the Lord, and let Him sift them into the best schedule, the best plan for my ministry and life. I hadn’t even realized how much of the planning I had decided that God was leaving to me!

So thanks to all of you who got wind of my being sick and prayed; it helped wonderfully! And thanks to God, that he allowed his lessons to come through such a time.