Arrival in UK for 3 month home assignment Tuesday 6th April; intended return date to Madagascar Thursday 8th July...
So yes, here I sit, in London, missing Mandritsara, refreshing my inbox eagerly hoping for news that the borders have finally opened and that I finally make my way back. I am acutely aware how short staffed the medical side of the hospital is just now (Hang in there Lucy/Hanitra/Rado!), waiting, and praying, and pacing the living room, trying to concentrate on my Malagasy verbs and tropical medicine notes, but really just wondering if maybe today or tomorrow will be the day I finally get permission to join one of the Sunday night diplomatic flights to Madagascar; or if I’m going to have to just wait until the borders, closed for over a year due to coronavirus, finally re-open. I’ve been wondering that every Thursday/Friday for the last 7 weeks and so far the message from Tana every week has been “no, sorry, you’re not on the list, maybe next week”.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful to God for the enormous efforts that the Tana office (Rija and Bao, with assistance from Hilde, DG and various others) have been making to try and persuade the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- the endless emails, phone calls and trips to the Ministry that they’ve made on my behalf as they try to navigate the process for getting special permission to fly. I’m hugely grateful too for the extra time I’ve had at home and all the wonderful things that’s allowed me to do (a cousin’s wedding, some awesome birthday parties, a couple of days exploring in the Highlands with my brother, and of course just hanging out and spending time with friends/family/church), but at the same time I’m better when I’m busy and although I’ve not gone completely crazy, never being able to plan more than 3-7 days ahead is a deeply weird limbo to be living in and I really would love to be back in Mandritsara now.
If you’re a praying person, please pray:
That I would get a seat on a diplomatic flight as soon as possible really. Or that failing that the borders would open in October (as currently hinted in the Malagasy press).
For the medical team in my absence: the hospital really is short staffed at the moment and this is usually the busiest part of the year. Pray in particular that compassionate care and taking opportunities to speak of Jesus doesn’t fall by the way-side even when things are super hectic.
For me as I wait. People keep sending me Psalm 27, which has been très helpful at putting my own waiting into context and stopped me getting too self-pitying (despite all my whingeing above!) but it is weird/difficult in some ways.
Since the time of writing, God has opened the door and Nathan’s flight departed on Sunday 19th September. There will be many others due to fly in the next 2 months who are likely to be facing similar times of waiting/uncertainty so please continue to pray for them.