Another Ordinary Day (a long story)

Anyone remember the post I did a few months ago about the Ginny Owens song, "Ordinary Day?"  Those days seem to happen a lot here.  Just a few in the past week include....


* all of my receipts and important documents (including my WORK PERMIT) getting accidentally burned with trash by my staff,
* a country-wide power outage and a few local ones,

* leaving the house to go shopping (good kind of shopping) and getting called in to the Childrens Dept District Office, but the ladies outside the door not letting me through and making me stand in the rain with a baby, (the Childrens Officer yelled at them when he realized what happened!)
* getting to go on a surprise trip/mini safari with an amazing team, 
* going to take a shower and realizing that the contractor forgot to reconnect my water after doing work and having to wait until he comes back the next day.


Those things happen. TIK. Oh, and yesterday.  Well, it also fits the song....

"Since You write the script, I must confess
I don't have a clue what will happen next
Takes my breath away, Takes a lot of faith
Cause I don't know what to expect

You keep me guessing
Holding on tight for the ride of my life
With You, all I can say is
There's no such thing as an Ordinary Day."

After an hour drive across Nairobi I checked in at Gertrude's Childrens Hospital for Hope's appointment with the pediatric cardiologist.  At one of the many counters in the large reception area I confirmed that I was in the correct place for the appointment with this particular doctor and then dutifully signed in on the clipboard.  I filled in the appropriate blanks, including our names, the doctor's name, and the appointment time. As usual, the receptionist's familiar routine words gave the direction, "Please take a seat just there and you will hear the doctor call for you."  (Kenyan English is a bit different than American English.)


Well, as typical in doctors' offices (and EVERY office in Kenya) I knew I was in for a wait.  After being patient for  an hour and 15 minutes, I decided to check the progress and timeline.  (Yeah, the made up one because we all know they will never tell you how long it will REALLY be, more like "they are ready just now" and still leave you waiting for an hour.)  But this time, when I went to the counter I was told, "He is not coming to work today. You must reschedule."  
"Why was I not told when I checked in?"
"Because he is not coming to work today.  You must reschedule."
"I have been sitting here for over an hour and no one informed me of that."
"Perhaps they did not get the information."
"YOU were the one who checked me in and also just told me the information."
"But I HAVE told you the information. He is not coming today. You must reschedule."
"Were you aware of this when I checked in?"
"I was aware but perhaps you were not."


Seriously?!?!  This is the kind of conversation I often have with Kenyans in public offices.  Doesn't it seem to go round and round?!?  


Well, I left.  I drove all the way back to my area of town and stopped to do a little grocery shopping.  After finishing there, I drove down the road towards home.  Just as I was passing Heshima (the special needs center) my car was acting funny. For a short moment I thought I was in the wrong gear. Just then, I heard something, looked in my side mirror and saw my tire in shreds.  Nice.  I pulled over just as Hope woke up and started screaming.  (Although the tiny newborn scream wasn't so loud.)  


So here I was on the side of the road with a punctured tire and newborn.  BUT.....God is good! After driving all across Nairobi today, I am stopped just down from Heshima! I called Julius who is the Administrator of Heshima and on my board for HOH here.  He is the faithful friend who ALWAYS comes to my rescue!  Tracey, my friend and founder of Heshima, happened to be at the center and came to save the day with three guys to change the tire!



As the song says, "I don't have a clue what will happen next."  This time, the spare is flat.  After the last puncture, we DID have it repaired and put on as the spare. Again, God brought Tracey to my rescue.  I was planning to go to her house for supper anyway, so it was all working out.  She took me to the tire place to have it repaired.  


Again, as the song says, "I don't know what to expect."  ....It was unrepairable. The puncture on the spare was on the side, so.....


Looks like new tires for me! Wouldn't you know it though?  The place does not take credit cards.  (Most places do not.)  I only had enough cash for one.  That in itself was another of God's hidden blessings in the day.  The banks had already closed and I had not spent the money at the doctor's office. The tires here are almost double what I would pay in the States, but since I  drive on some pretty horrendous roads, I must splurge for the GOOD tires.  


Finally, as the song says (again)....
"You keep me guessing
Holding on tight for the ride of my life
With you, all I can say is
There's no such thing as an Ordinary Day."


If there were, this was one of them!  There are some "predictables." God is.....
Sovereign - He KNEW the order of the day,
My Protector - He put me in a safe place for a "breakdown"
My Provider - He knew what I needed...the cash, a friend to haul me and my tire around
Faithful - always showing Himself in the details of the day!


Thank You, Lord, for this ordinary day.  I can't wait to see what adventures unfold tomorrow and how You will show Yourself in all of it.