Since we got back to South Africa, I tried hard to get on with life and forget about my back problems, but the slightest odd movement would put my back out. A consultant attended to me, and he first tried to put me into traction over a few days in the hospital. But no success. I remember an appointment the consultant requested before they operated. They stuck all these little electrodes to my legs. Then, they sent impulses (or something very cruel) down my legs. It was the most tortuous experience ever, and I remember crying and begging the two young girls doing it, to please stop. I also remember a nurse doing an NCV (nerve conduction velocity) test tapping my knee to see if the nerve down my leg makes my foot jump. There was no movement at all, and the lady wanted to know why I was laughing. I told her to watch my arm when she taps my knee. She was shocked to see my wrist and hand jumping instead of my foot. It was time for another back operation, and I was preparing for a laminectomy and a spinal fusion.

 

The lady I worked for was not happy that I was going to be out of action for 6 weeks. It wasn’t something I was happy to do either, but having been through a laminectomy before, you are not allowed to sit and cannot drive. I told her that I would try and do what I could from home. I would be lying on my back in bed with my head propped up and paperwork spread all around me on the bed. Then when I was ready, I would get up and stand in front of a computer for 5 minutes and input some information. That is all I could do with my physical limitations. Even that frustrated her, and I remember her coming to see me and throwing her toys out of the pram. I responded in the same manner. I saw the rare gift operating in Hendrik at times like this. He would intervene, provide an accurate summary of the problems at hand, and then suggest a practical solution that would benefit both of us. In the end, I was so glad it was over. But how foolish I was to think that my back problems were now over.

 

It was clear to me that when we left South Africa, I would not be back there soon. And so, I had to say my goodbyes. My mother passed away while we were still in South Africa. She was living in a very good care home, but she suffered from severe dementia. I would have loved to clear up all the hurt and animosity between my mum and myself, but you could not even have a superficial conversation with her. Once when doctors took her in for an operation on a broken bone, I went to see her in the hospital. She couldn’t even remember why she was there. We were so glad that the Lord took her to be with Him before we left South Africa, and it was good to see most of the family at her funeral.

 

During some holiday leave, Hendrik and I decided to go to Namibia to see my brother Pine. Hendrik knew Namibia well and loved the country. Namibia was forever drought-stricken and it was in the middle of their Summer and no rain was in sight. Hendrik walked around the farm, and when he reached what appeared to be a small drinking hole for the animals, he decided to pray, asking God for rain. That night the rain came, and they had a whole year’s worth of rain in one day across the huge farm, and twice the annual rainfall at the specific point where Hendrik had prayed.

 

On our way back, we went to see my aunt and uncle on their farm near Okahandja. It was very rural with very little communication with the outside world. When we left there to return to South Africa, we had to leave in the dark early morning hours as the whole trip would take us about 17 hours. To make matters worse, we needed to be at the border post with Botswana at 6 am when it opens as it takes you almost 12 hours through Botswana to the next border post back into South Africa. That Border Post shuts at 6 pm. Halfway into Botswana is the only gas station to fill up with petrol to take you through Botswana.

Everything was going smoothly until a young oryx suddenly leapt out of a ditch on the side of the road, appearing right in front of us. We were driving at about 120 km per hour when Hendrik slammed on the brakes. He had to keep the car on the road to avoid rolling it over. Unfortunately, we struck the oryx on its backside as it darted in front of us, moving in the same direction. It is dangerous to approach them while they are still alive, as they can injure you with their sharp horns. We had no choice but to leave the oryx behind. It was still alive but had skidded off the road.

 

A part of the bonnet was bent up and the grill on the front was damaged, but the engine was okay and even the lights were still working. We drove to the nearest sign of life before the border stop. We found a guy at what looked like a car repair place with nothing else in sight (thank You Lord). He lent us a hammer and we did some 5-minute panel beating on the VW Golf. We told him about the Oryx, and he promised us that he would drive out and see if he could find him and shoot him.

At the border post, we had to take our passports in and get them stamped. After I showed my passport, I picked it up and followed Hendrik out. Our next stop would be the only petrol station on that main road, about 400 km into Botswana. We were still a bit traumatised by the accident we had and were so grateful for God’s protection.

 

As we were getting closer to the only petrol station, I was getting my things together to get out and stretch our legs. I wanted to put my passport in my bag, and I asked Hendrik for his passport. He replied, “I don’t have it. You took it.”

Another emergency stop followed. Now we are looking for Hendrik’s passport. He said when he wanted to pick up his passport after filling in the papers it was gone. He thought I had taken it. We realised that someone must have picked up his passport in error. We knew that we couldn’t turn back, we had to fill up the car and go forward to the next border post as time was not on our side. All we could do was call out to God, to help us get through and out of Botswana by 6 pm.

 

On most days, I am the one with the faith, but that day I felt completely devoid of it. I was in a panic all the way. Hendrik placed complete trust in God to help us out. He kept saying “It’s going to be fine.” Upon arrival at the border post, we went in, and I showed them my passport. Then it was Hendrik’s turn, and he told her what happened to him when he entered Botswana. “What is your name?” she asked. He gave her his name and she gave him his passport. “Someone else picked up your passport in error.”

 

When we walked out, I saw a furious young man sitting on the little wall outside. We both remembered him as we came through the first border post that morning. He kicked up a fuss there because they demanded him to show his passport in person. He thought his wife could take care of it for him. He gave them a mouth full and grabbed the passport he thought was his. Now he was waiting for someone else to bring his passport from the other side. To make the miracle even bigger and better, was that there were two border posts out of Botswana and into South Africa. Thank God that he went through the same border post as us.

Oh, ye of little faith.