It seems our final challenge for this trip was the most difficult, as it resulted in us leaving Zambia early. Late in the day of September 23rd Ron began seeing flashes of light and floaters from his left eye. This was followed by a flurry of emails and phone calls with Karen, and the following day we made the trip to Lusaka in search of an eye doctor. The concern was a retina detachment, tear or hole, which could result in blindness in that eye. I had sent out an email, which was passed on and on until I think half of the United States was praying for Ron. We knew he was safe in God’s care, and joined in the prayer marathon as we made the five hour drive to the capital city. We repeatedly phoned the U.S. Embassy before and during our drive, hoping they could advise us and provide a referral for a competent eye doctor. Each phone call resulted in the same message: “The number you are calling is not in service.” Click. And it’s not like phoning in the United States – we couldn’t just dial information or the operator. So, we just kept driving to Lusaka and praying.
The drive to Lusaka is a straight shot. There is only one road. It’s a two lane paved road busy with trucks. Broken down vehicles litter the sides of the road, as well as vendors selling everything from bamboo mats and gourds to chickens and rats (in case you’re looking for a quick meal). Our intent was to drive straight to the Embassy once we reached Lusaka, but this was no easy feat. We had a map, but all the streets are not on the map, and most streets do not have signs with the street name. We finally found the U.S. Embassy – a complex of buildings surrounded by fences and gates and security guards. There was no sign in front of the Embassy, only a small bronze plaque bearing our nation’s symbol of freedom – the bald eagle. No parking there either. We were directed down the road a piece where we navigated through too much traffic on too tiny of streets with unmarked turning lanes and over humps and bumps into a rocky lot filled with cars. We walked down the street and when we did reach the entrance for the Embassy we passed through two security checks where they retained our passports, phones, and my oh so dangerous dental floss. We were directed to the consular’s office where we spoke to a nice American man through a glass partition. He informed us that there are no competent eye doctors and that the U.S. Government would send them back to the U.S. if it were anyone at the consular’s office. He further conferred with the Embassy nurse and the final conclusion was that the U.S. Embassy advised us to return to the United States as soon as possible. And he did apologize that they had just changed their phone number. Keeping true to Zambian tradition we were once again reminded that nothing is easy here. Since we had made the trip to Lusaka, the Embassy did give us a referral for a good medical facility where we could obtain reliable medical advice. But of course, it was too late to see anyone today.
Next day the doctor in charge examined Ron and concurred that we must return to the United States as soon as we could to see an eye doctor. He said Ron’s symptoms were indicative of a retinal tear or detachment which left untreated would result in total loss of vision in that eye. Ron tried everything to get the doctor to say it would be ok for us to stay till the end of October – how about the middle of October – maybe even the first week of October. But he just kept shaking his head “no.” He said “You may be hopping mad when you go home if you find out it’s not a retina detachment and you left, but please don’t take that risk. If it were me, I would leave immediately.” Then he called in the eye doctor they have on staff. I’m not sure why, because he confided to us that she was not competent, merely the best they could find. He said we couldn’t trust her diagnosis as she has declared patients to have no problem when they actually did have a torn retina and even a detached retina. His only reassuring remark was that she wouldn’t hurt Ron. We knew it was hopeless when she examined Ron’s eyes and in her thick Russian accent tried to insist that Ron’s contact lens was a surgical implant and the instruments she used looked older than me. I guess that’s why the doctor called her in – to convince Ron he really must return to the U.S.
And so with heavy hearts and through another seemingly endless series of complicated inquiries and driving all over Lusaka we were finally able to reschedule our return flight for the 28th of September. Devastating. Truly devastating. But there was no choice. And we couldn’t imagine any other reason that would cause us to leave early. We know with the same certainty that God sent us to Zambia; He also brought us back to the U.S. While it most assuredly is not our desire, and we may never know why God brought us back, we do know that it is all according to His will and purpose, and we are so very grateful for His healing powers. Since we have been home there have been several appointments and there are more coming, but so far no serious problem has been discovered. There is no tear, hole or detachment of the retina. It is truly answered prayer and we praise God! Thank you all for the many, many prayers. The prayers and faith you have shared with us are a beautiful witness to God’s love and healing power. There has been a significant change in Ron’s vision in the last few days. We are hoping this can be attributed to the eye drops the doctor in Zambia gave him and praying that the condition will reverse or at least not worsen. His next appointment is tomorrow. I am sorry for the delay in posting this blog, it’s just been so hectic leaving Zambia so abruptly and since returning to the U.S.
We had so many more stories we wanted to share with you. Like how four men, Ron, Steven, Godwin and Frank erected the steel storage building in only eighteen days without any heavy machinery. Their tools were strong arms and backs, determination that never stopped and a great deal of ingenuity.
We wanted to tell you about Violet and Peter, the two children from Kasongo who underwent the serial castings for club feet last year, and this year OMNI facilitated corrective surgery for their feet. I wanted to tell you that when Peter’s cast was removed following his surgery it revealed a foot aligned just like the other. And for the first time we saw Peter’s usual serious expression melt away into a huge smile complete with laughter and excitement. No longer do we see a grandmother carrying a child on her back or a child struggling to walk with a cane – we are now greeted by a little boy walking freely or even running to greet us. Violet too now has one straight foot and will return for surgery on the other foot in December. We look forward to seeing a huge smile on her face, and those beautiful brown eyes laughing as she runs to greet us next year.
We wanted to tell you about Melvin – one of the brightest students at the OMNI School who suffered polio as an infant which left one leg crippled and lame. Shortly after our departure Melvin underwent successful surgery to free the tendon at the back of his ankle
and he will soon be fitted with a shoe and a brace which will enable him to walk without the aid of the forearm crutches which he has been using. Melvin loves soccer and we hope to see him as goalie in the first soccer game we see the children playing next year.
I wanted to tell you about the funeral of Steven’s father. Steven is one of the men from George who worked with Ron every day. I wanted to tell you about the compassion and mentoring and the love of Christ that Ron shared with this man as he turned to alcohol as he faced the devastating loss of his father – and how Ron ministered to him and encouraged him to turn to God for comfort instead. And at the funeral, how one of the grandsons broke down completely and Ron reached out to him with the love of Christ, holding his trembling shoulders in a strong embrace, and how Ron removed the cross he was wearing and gently placed it around this young man’s neck, and tenderly reminded him wherein our eternal hope and salvation lies.
It has been very difficult leaving so suddenly and leaving so many things undone. But we are holding tight to each other and the love of God. “Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts.” Romans 5:5 And we are finding some comfort in the words from the Prayer of Archbishop Romero: “We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us... We plant the seeds that one day will grow…We lay foundations that will need further development…We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something…It may be incomplete but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.”
We will miss so much in the coming months that we are gone from Zambia. Mostly we will miss the children. There are so many things that are so far beyond words, and the children are at the top of that list. Wonderful, special, beautiful children who have stolen our hearts so very completely. They are with us wherever we go. One of our last days there was the most special – just a wonderful unexpected gift from God. When we open the house for school each morning there are usually a few children waiting outside to come in for school. This morning when we opened the door there were dozens of children gathered on the front verandah. As each child entered they shook our hands, curtseyed, bowed, some shared huge smiles and others shy smiles – they hugged us and wrapped their arms around us and we never felt more loved or wanted. Three of the younger girls attached themselves to me for a long while – holding onto my hands and around my waist, walking where I walked, giggling that sweet little girl giggle the whole while. There is nothing quite like the love of a child. A blessing from God we will never forget. And then Rachael found me outside later in the day. She ran up to me, wrapped her tiny arms around my waist, and said some of the sweetest words I have ever heard “Mary Sue, I love you!” “I love you too Rachael.” We’ll miss you.
