Pre-Christmas African Safari

Harriett has a broken ankle. She has a cast up to just below her left knee and the doctor says she will need to wear it for about 6+ weeks. We’ve bought crutches, a special shoe and rented a wheelchair so we are mobile. Those are the facts. Here’s what happened.

Our adventure began December 5 when we left Pennireef, our little home in Cape Town and headed east along the Garden Route which closely follows the southern coast of Africa along the Indian Ocean. After leaving Somerset Wes we were watched with indifference by an assortment of monkeys and baboons as we climbed over Lowry’s Pass and plunged almost immediately into the rich sub-tropical vegetation near Hermanus. It’s beautiful, and the weather was perfect.

The first night we stopped in Knysna at the Log Inn. It’s a rustic old landmark in a quaint little town just along the coast from George. After dinner – ostrich steak and chips – we decided to stroll down toward the water front to get some exercise after being in the car all day. When we were accosted by a young man just a block from where we were staying we decided it wasn’t too good an idea to venture out like that after dark. We took evasive action, returned without incident to our second-floor room and watched from our balcony as a full summer moon rose silently out of its eastern bed. It was so romantic.

Our destination for Wednesday night was East London. We’ve been in contact with a veteran missionary of 45+ years, who has recently lost her second husband to cancer. Her first husband died of cancer also. We promised her we’d arrive by five. It was 4:50pm when we pulled up in front of her home. She was waiting in her front garden and welcomed us warmly.

Gaye Stillwell is an extraordinary lady with deep spiritual insights. She and Harriett connected immediately. We talked non-stop about the Lord and His wonderful dealing in our lives. Her ministry is teaching children, first of all about the Lord Jesus and how to be saved, then about the 3-R’s. She is also a gifted poet and talented artist.

Friday morning the weather was closing in. A summer storm was on the way. We talked and prayed until mid-morning and then it was time to reluctantly say ‘goodbye’ for now. We spent two nights and a significant part of three days with one of God’s choice saints. One thing is certain: we will never be the same.

The weather deteriorated rapidly as we pressed slowly eastward toward Durban. The mountain passes were already socked-in with clouds and it was pouring rain as we crossed from the Transkei into KwaZulu Natal.

Visibility was less than 50 meters for long stretches and my windshield wipers were at full speed. Harriett spotted a thatched roof log cabin Inn up on a hillside above the road we were on. “Maybe we can stay overnight there!” she exclaimed. I turned into the long driveway that took us up the hill. They had one room left. We took it!

Saturday morning we were up early and after a fabulous African buffet breakfast set out for Port Shepstone in a light drizzle rain. By the time we reached the coast and picked up the toll-road to Durban the rain had stopped, but the sun tried in vain to break through.

From Durban we took the coastal road 70km to Stanger, then turned north on the R74, through Mapumalo (where the revival began 40 years ago) and arrived at KwaSizabantu at 2:45 p.m. My first scheduled preaching service was at 7 p.m. that evening.

The theme of the youth conference was from Luke 14:22 “…there is still room for you.” I did not know the theme ahead of time. In the next 2 hours the Lord gave me a message from His Word on that subject and the Holy Spirit enabled me to preach with power for an hour as Harriett prayed for me. There were just over 4,000 present with more delegates arriving hourly all through the night.

Gray clouds and a misty-drizzle greeted us on Sunday morning. We assembled with about 8,000 people for the Sunday morning worship service in the big auditorium. Rev. Erlo Stegen preached a powerful sermon. The presence of the Lord was evident and the people very moved.

After the service we walked to the car through a misty-rain. Our car is right-hand drive. I opened the door for Harriett on the passenger side. As she was getting into the car I opened the back door for Margrit Olsen, Kjell’s wife to get in. I heard Margrit gasp and stare in shock as she looked past me. I turned to see Harriett, lying on her back in the mud by the side of the car! I couldn’t believe it, but there she was, in obvious distress and pain. I dropped to her side and gathered her in my arms and she whispered to me, “My left leg just gave-way.”

She had lifted her right foot into the car which meant her weight was on her left leg. Suddenly her knee gave way; she fell backward to the ground. Her left ankle was twisted and it looked like the bone was completely out of joint. We learned later that it was broken. Her foot was turned sharply outward at a grotesque angle. She was in great pain, but she never screamed or cried out.

We lifted her up and sat her sideways on the seat. Then I pushed the seat back as far as it would go, and let the back of the seat recline as much as possible. People brought cushions to put under her leg for support and blankets to keep her warm. She was trembling with shock. Dr. Albie gave her an injection to ease the pain.

We left immediately for the hospital in Durban – an hour and forty minutes drive. Kjell drove, because he knows the road and the quickest way to the hospital.

Dr. Albie phoned ahead and contacted an orthopedic surgeon friend of his who met us at the emergency entrance of the hospital. The staff was extremely kind and understanding and very professional. Harriett sensed this and was immediately reassured. After prep she was taken to surgery where Dr. Buchan inserted a metal plate and five screws to the broken bone and placed her leg in a cast. She was in Durban’s St. Augustine hospital from Sunday until Wednesday.

I preached my last message at the KSB Youth Conference on Wednesday evening. We left the next morning for the 1,073-mile return journey to Cape Town. It took us two days. We stopped overnight in Bleomfontein and had a pizza sent to our room. Harriett rode all the way in the back seat with her leg straight out. We praise the Lord for some beautiful highways in South Africa – unique on the Dark Continent.