I know, it’s been a long long time since the last blog posting. Partly because it’s been a bit of a busy time in our household (more of that in a minute) and partly because I just didn’t seem to have much to say. Weird and most unlike me.
Anyway, abnormal service is now being resumed, I hope. 
We have had a lovely introduction to the wonders of (private) healthcare in South Africa. South Africa has a kind of two tier system, whereby those who can afford to do so, take out medical insurance and go private, and those who can’t afford to do that take their chances with the public health system. I think public healthcare varies hugely from place to place, whereas if you are fortunate enough to be able to use the private system, the care is excellent. South Africa, after all, is the home of the heart transplant, with the first successful transplants being carried out here in Cape Town. And just this year, transplant teams here blazed another trail with a successful transplant of a very sensitive part of male anatomy, but let’s not go there. We found out three days before we left the UK that I would probably be needing some gynaecological treatment. Not great timing in some ways, but there you go. So, I asked around here for recommendations and ended up making an appointment, which in due course led to a short stay in hospital and a spot of surgery. No waiting lists – just pick a date and in you go. I was a source of some amazement to the theatre staff when they found out I had only once been in hospital before (one hospital birth, one home birth) and had never had a general anaesthetic before. Anyway, all went smoothly and I was out a few days later, all ready for six weeks of quiet recovering at home.
Or so I thought…. less than a week after my operation, we were at a different hospital with younger daughter. She ended up having her appendix removed, so whether or not she will leave her heart in Africa remains to be seen, but her appendix is definitely staying. We were admitted via Casualty by our GP and yet again, the quality of care was superb. Izzy’s surgeon was lovely and we have since found out he is the surgeon of choice for other surgeons!
So much for a quiet recovery. However, we are now both back on our feet, and looking forward to getting on with some more normal life.
It has been wonderful to see how God has been close to Izzy through this experience and she has known him to be with her. I am able to say the same and to be thankful to him for the amazing way he provides us with spiritual family in new places. A group of mums meet near us to study regularly and I had only managed two sessions before the hospital season opened up, but they stood with us in prayer, sent messages of encouragement and provided meals. What a privilege to be part of God’s world wide family. This has also been a useful time for me to put the brakes on and spend some time thinking and reflecting on what where I feel God would have me serve him here. There is no shortage of opportunities for social or gospel work, but the Lord knows I have a tendency to leap in, and so forced me to take some time out before I could commit to anything. I am excited about the possibilities that might be opening up, and continue to trust that God will lead and guide.
African Crossroad 