A South African holiday

By Lyn Froggatt

In 2004 I was given the opportunity of spending another holiday with friends in Cape Town; South Africa.

Seeking the Lord's direction

I needed to seek the Lord’s direction as I had been quite unwell for some time.

After many months of praying without any clear answer, I thought I ought to reply to the invitation negatively. That evening I told the Lord I was happy just to be in his will whatever his decision.

The very next morning He replied so clearly through his Word. My reading for the day was Psalm 121 and as I reached the last two verses they seemed to leap out of the page: ‘ I will; I will - keep your soul; be with you in your goings out and coming in from this time forth and forevermore.’ I KNEW it was the answer to my prayer. My patience and acceptance of his will had reaped the reward. God had tested me as to whether I had really meant what I had said.

Further confirmation

A further four confirmations then occurred:

1. As I was reading the psalm, the postman brought a letter from Springbok, a South African travel agent, urging people who wanted to visit SA in January to book. There were a few seats left at special prices.

2. I ‘phoned Cape Town to confirm that the invitation was still open, and the dates I suggested were perfect.

3. On ‘phoning the travel agent with the dates, I was told there was one seat available on both outward and inward journeys.

4. My doctor then confirmed that a long haul flight would be OK (I had suffered chest problems and have spinal stenosis) and said the SA sunshine would do my chest good.

The way clear

So the way was clear. The Lord had graciously and immediately given me four confirmations of his will, even though I had not asked for them. BUT he always gives us ‘ above all we can ask or even think’.

Five days before I was due to fly out, I developed bronchitis! Concern all round from family and friends at my insistence to proceed!

I was already claiming God’s promise that ‘he will be with me in my going out’. An early test of trust. I felt quite at peace, though poorly.

So, on a cold and frosty evening, I was driven to Heathrow. 6,200 miles and 11 ½ hours later, it was sheer joy to fly into beautiful Cape Town to a welcoming brilliant sun, shining out of a clear blue sky and a temperature of 30°. Sheer bliss!

From the first reunion and throughout the day, the adrenaline flowed freely and sublimated any feeling of illness.

Clinging to the Lord

But from then onward I gradually grew weaker as the infection took hold, and I clung to the Lord and his promise.

One night I felt all my strength had gone. I asked the Lord to uphold me. He says in his Word, ‘They that wait on the Lord SHALL renew their strength’. I felt I was just getting through each day. I held fast and talked to him often - a time of very close relationship. That was the climax and from then on I gradually improved. What a test of my faith; but he didn’t fail me in my ‘going out' and I knew he wouldn’t in my 'coming in’.

Upheld in prayer

During this time I was upheld in prayer by family and friends at Potton. Pastor Stan Evers faithfully encouraged me through email messages, as did letters from friends. I missed this fellowship more than I can convey and, as a result, trust I shall prize it even more.

‘Blessed be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.’

At the age of 82 years, I felt the experience had been a learning curve in fully trusting my Lord. We are never too old to learn!

Stay extended

As I was ‘out of commission’ for the first three weeks, I extended my stay and moved around to be with different friends, some of well over 40 years' standing.

God's handiwork

It was wonderful to enjoy times of rich fellowship and lots of fun, and to appreciate afresh the outstanding setting of Cape Town on which our Creator has lavishly bestowed such a rich variety of His handiwork.

The incredible mass of rock that is aptly named ‘Table Mountain’ broods over the mother city, sometimes gently displaying the table cloth of fluffy white cloud and at other times menacingly threatening with black heavy windswept clouds from which the locals accurately forecast weather patterns.

The summit offers spectacular views across the Atlantic, which skirts its foot and runs down the complete north side of the peninsular, where, at the southernmost point, it meets the Indian Ocean, and the tip of Africa's vast land mass disappears beneath the turquoise waters at Cape Point.

Looking north there is a spectacular view of the length of the beautiful peninsular, rich in flora and fauna with the Indian and Atlantic oceans on either side. I was privileged to stay in some of the lovely resorts which abound.

‘He gives us daily all things richly to enjoy’ were words most relevant.

And so concluded my stay in South Africa. With all thanks and praise to our great God who certainly was with me in my goings out and my coming in.

‘The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore’ (Psalm 121.8 ).