Isaiah 41:9-10 “…You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away; Fear not for I am with you; Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
If someone were to ask me how to explain in a couple of words what has gone on in the last month I wouldn’t be able to find those words. But let me just say that God is an amazing Father! God has an absolute perfect timing and knows All things. “You are good and what you do is good (psalm 119:68).”
On Friday February 1st I woke up in severe and horrible pain, two week prior I was also sick ad in pain but this was much different, I couldn’t move. I was then taken to the hospital where the doctor gave me pain medicine and found a 10cm cyst in my ovary. I returned to the camp only to have to return once more to the hospital the following day, in even greater pain. I remained in the state hospital for a day in a half, in which the doctors decided I needed to have an operation. I was then transferred to another private hospital an hour away. During all this if I had not had the help of the people here at Global Challenge, so many thing could have been different or turned out a lot worse. They found the right doctor, hospital ambulance, handled my insurance… when I couldn’t do anything God provided. I am so thankful for the people of Global Challenge.
Anyway I was checked into the hospital was poked and prodded once again and then went into surgery that night. The doctor removed a cyst that was 20x14cm, the size of an 18 week year old baby. It was an abnormal cyst/tumour within my ovary. The doctor was concerned that my ovary would be dead and that he would need to remove it, but by a miracle it was fine and I didn’t need another operation. Any other doctor/hospital in South Africa would have probably removed my ovary anyway, taking away 50% of the possibility for me to have children. God provided this doctor! The tumor/cyst was removed and tested, and again by God’s grace, was not cancerous. In all this, by saying that so many things could have gone differently, I ruly mean SO many things.
Go is truly good even in a situation that could look or appear awful. While going through al this not only was it stretching from having to e helped in every daily activity, but God really did a lot in me emotionally and spiritually. He was my companion and truly became my Father. He began to reveal things in my life that aren’t meant to be there and that really affect me. We all have issues in our lives of brokenness whether we struggle with loneliness, rejection, lies(there are too many to name), memories that hurt us, comments that people have made, and etc.. Whatever it is it is inside of us and it affects u. But God sees that and, as a Father wants what is best for his children, God wants to heal us. “In His presence is fullness of joy.” God desires us to be full of His joy and I experienced that. He would make me aware of a lie or a memory where I would feel hurt and He would show me the truth and heal that place. Literally I had a surgery emotionally as well as physically but with surgery comes recovery. Our Father is an amazing Father! He loves and cares for every detail of our life. He knows all things in us and leaves no part of us cast aside.
So after leaving the hospital, I have stayed with a couple people and am now to the point where I can walk (rather slowly :)) by myself. I am still in some pain here and there but I am getting there. Please pray that the money will come in to pay for the medical bills. If you feel lead to donate, it would be much appreciated. Right now we are waiting to see if my medical insurance will cover some of those bills, but it is quite a lot of money.
In closing this lovely blog, I would just like to share the new adventure God is taking me on. My personality is one of intense passion, and I am someone that will put everything into something that I am passionate about. This is how I have been towards going on this journey this year, and this is how I am towards Africa. I love Africa and know that I am called to be here and give my life for Jesus. As many of you know and have experienced, God sometimes has a better and different plan then we do. Even though our plan may seem great to us and that it would impact many, God plan is better and He alone knows what would bring Him glory the greatest. He has the perfect plan for our life and knows us better then we know ourselves.
So after saying all this, Global Challenge has given me an option to remain here in Jeffrey’s Bay this year and then, God willing, go on the one year journey of Explore Africa, the following year. Why you may ask? Well it seems as if God has a plan for me here, timing doesn’t seem quite right for me to go on this year journey, and I am still recovering from my surgery. What would staying here look like? Well I don’t know fully but this is what it may entail: I would be being discipled by the people here are Global, ministering and serving in areas and ways here, and would visit my Explore Africa team throughout the year; overall I would be continuing to develop in the ways in which I need, in order to follow the calling God has placed on my life for Africa.
This has been a very difficult decision for me for several reasons: my heart and whole being has already been set on going this year, I love my team and it’s hard to see and let them go, I don’t know what is here and there is no set plan, I don’t have the finances, in staying here there is a lot of unknown. So in a since, staying here is a greater faith journey. Truly learning to hear His voice and trusting in His promises. But after all this struggle in myself I do know that God has called me to remain here, I don’t know why or how it all will happen, but I do know. I also know that God is faithful to bring about all His promises that He has spoken. I went back to all the words and verses He gave me for this year, and staying here doesn’t contradict any of those words He gave me. He is faithful and consistent! So I am staying here for now and will be meeting up with my team throughout the year, I am letting go and am laying my life down before God in a way that I didn’t know I would.
So God I choose you. I choose to lay down myself and be obedient to your calling giving up my heart, dreams, finances, and everything, trusting in you, the ULTIMATE GREATEST FATHER.
Supporters, family, and friends thank you for praying so faithfully for me and supporting me. I would ask even more so now that you pray and if you feel lead, to support financially, because financially these next two years, and who knows how long, are going to be a huge faith journey. Feel free to help :)
Blessings on you and your own journey with the Lord. May you know His companionship and His presence even greater! Feel free to continue to walk with me on this faith journey, it’s going to be wild, it’s going to be great, it’s going to be full of Him. Strap on your parachute and let’s jump out of this plane!
Romans 8:28 "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes."
Below is a picture of two amazing women at Global :) who helped me many times, as I needed support during this last month (there are more people not included in this picture of course)
Comments
Dear Thandi - we still pray for you - for recovering quickly and for everything that Father God has in stall for you this year. We know that you would have loved to be with your EA team right now, but we also trust God to give you peace and to show you what His plans for you will be for every day of this year. Be blessed - hold on to HIM. (Ilene's mom).