The past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions. First, our dear friend and long-term volunteer, Ross MacPherson, died suddenly in Eswatini. We were all in shock while trying to process why the Lord would move he and his wife to Eswatini, permanently, only to take him home so quickly. His ways are not our ways.
Then we had the high of learning that Rachel and Leah were chosen to join the National Swim team to compete in Namibia in December, representing Eswatini. Wow!
Then came the unexpected death of our 38-year old Sr. Supervisor from the toddler home, Zandile, who had worked with us from the very beginning (12 years). Her loss rocked our staff and children to the core.
After that we had the joy of going to Cape Town to spend ten days with Spencer, Jane and baby Beck. Oh, what fun that was as we watched him crawl, pull himself up and make faces as he tried new food. The day before we left Cape Town our 13-year-old daughter, Miriam, was admitted to the hospital with a severe headache and delirium. Only hours later she died from bacterial meningitis, and left our family writhing with pain. Ian and I flew home the next morning and had to meet with all the staff, and then the children, to explain that their sister was not coming back. I may never recover from that meeting and the pain that the news caused every person in our big family.
While planning Miriam’s funeral, I was also planning Chloe’s Swazi wedding. I recall the florist asking to confirm which flowers were for the wedding and which were for the funeral. A terrible question to have to answer.
After the funeral (which was so so hard) I had to “shelve” my Miriam and focus on my Chloe for a time. But everywhere I looked, Miriam was missing. The spot that she held in the front row of the dance numbers at the wedding, were empty, not to be replaced by anyone. The bridesmaid dress was left unworn and the bridesmaid bouquet given to someone else. The hole that she left was visible to all.
We had the best time at Chloe’s wedding and thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Asad’s family and friends to Project Canaan. The wedding was held at the amphitheater and it was magical, with 12 of the bridal party being our children (minus Miriam). We hosted a delicious reception at the Litsemba Guest house then moved our guests to O2 where we had a dance party with the older kids. Our kids prepared a special Pakistani dance as a gift to Asad’s family, and it was simply AH-MAZING!!! We were/are so proud of them. The evening ended down at the newly built boma where we all danced the night away on the sandy floor, under the stars, after enjoying Ian’s famous filet mignon. The next day we whisked off to Dubai for another week of fun family time, exploration and celebration.
During a family dinner at the best rooftop in Dubai, we got a message that our friend, Robert Smucker, was not doing well. He has been fighting cancer for many years and won the battle over and over, but was losing this time. Ian, Pete, Ralph and I were able to call him and have a nice visit, show him the view, and made sure the he knew how much we loved him. On November 20th, Robert went home to be with the Lord, and once again we find ourselves mourning the loss of a great man who did so much to bring Project Canaan to life.
As I type this our 12-year-old Jack Russell (named Jack) is in surgery for what they think is a large tumor in his abdomen. We have lost a family dog and cat this year, and I’m not sure how much more my heart can take.
Yesterday I was reviewing the test results of a big test that the older kids took a few months ago … and there were Miriam’s results. She is still here, and yet she is not.
Living in Africa ain’t for sissies. Following Jesus ain’t for sissies, but we know that our strength is not our own, it all comes from him.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Janine
PS – Jack update – he is okay. He has a large hemotoma in his belly. This dog has more lives than any cat I have met!