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| Grandad, Tom and kids & giraffe in backround |
We’ve been on vacation in East Africa, enjoying one of the things East Africa is known best for: safari. The vacation comes as a much needed break. We had been good and busy on the islands. Then we went to three--that’s right three--back to back conferences. The conferences were good, really good, but we were ready for some fun and relaxation. So a week of safari with Megan’s parents seemed like a great way to kick back and enjoy the spectacular beauty of God’s African creations.
It has been fun. We’ve seen rhinos, hippos, cape buffalo, zebras and giraffes just to name a few, and beautiful birds like the lilac breasted roller and yellow billed stork. But then, for the climax of the trip we were headed to Masai Mara. That’s when life, for me, (Tom) became completely unfair. We arrived in the afternoon with plans for an all day excursion the following day. But that night I came down with chills and fever and stomach cramps and woke up feeling so completely horrible that I could only send everyone off on safari without me.
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| Our kids on a hippo |
At this point I was feeling that life was pretty unfair. But as the day progressed I felt sicker and sicker. It’s funny how perspectives can change. Soon I had forgotten about life being unfair and just found life to be completely miserable. I could have cared less about seeing a cheetah or a lion. I just wanted to feel better. I wasn’t asking God, “Why don’t I get to enjoy this vacation with my family?” but rather, “How long? I feel so horrible. How long must this go on?”
Thankfully, we have a wonderful network of people who pray for us. I was not completely better overnight, but I did manage to get out for a final game drive with everyone the following day, and have slowly been improving each passing hour since then.
We are told to rejoice in all kinds of trials and to bless the name of the Lord in sickness or health. It’s not so easy to do in sickness. But we will do it. Even sick on safari: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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| Taking a nice walk |
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for my speedy recovery! And despite having been sick, we are still having a lot of fun as a family on vacation. We are thankful for the time together with family and for the wonderful beauty of Africa.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
I’m still not back to tip-top shape, so I would appreciate more prayers for my recovery and that no one else in the family would become sick. Throughout this coming week our team will be making their way back to the islands, pray for all of our transitions back to island life. There have been some delays getting the passport for our newborn teammate, pray that everything would come through without difficulty. Let’s keep praying that we don’t forget all the good things we heard and learned about at the conferences.
