memorablemeanders.blogspot.com

Monday, January 25, 2010

Commit everything to the Lord

Our home in South Africa

Above is the front view of our home in South Africa. I took this photo the morning I left to fly up to North Africa. Even though it is heart-wrenching to leave all your "home" comforts, family, friends and pets, it is my place to be at my husband's side.

The Word tells us in Genesis 2:18
"And the Lord said, it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him."

For those women who live normal lives with their husbands coming home after a day's work, this may not seem real. But it is. There are expat wives all over the world who are not able to join their husbands who work away from home. Often these are young women who raise their families on their own. They deal with the household bills, the car problems, the school head's summons. Everything.

In February 2004, I was blessed with a job on the gold mines of Guinea where my husband was managing the contracting company's plant division. I spent three blissful years on an exploration camp with my husband and sixty other expats. At first we were only a few women on site. Gradually more men were encouraged to bring their spouses over to live with them. I made many friends and even ran a health/weight-loss club every Saturday morning at my home. Not only did the club member's weigh-in at my home, but I gave a motivational talk on how to maintain a healthy life-style. It was also part of my job to edify and uplift the women who stayed on camp all day. This took the form of intra-active discussions around the table on my veranda.

In 2006, my contract ended (the company changed hands and I, along with a number of other expats, were not part of their future). My husband's company also did not renew their contract with this new mining concern and his site was in the throes of breaking up their workshop. I flew home alone and spent the following three years in South Africa. During this period I spent many precious hours with my children and their children (we all lived in the same town then) and really got into my passion of gardening.

In August 2009, exactly three years since I'd left West Africa, I flew up to the Sudan to be with my husband. Back here in Khartoum, in North Africa, life is very different. Different to my life in South Africa and very different to the expat life I lived in Guinea, West Africa. My husband is the only expat working for his company so we know no-one at this stage. However, I am with my husband (as my dear friend Betsy commented yesterday) and with a little innovation, am settling in to life in an African city.

I hold onto God's promise in the Psalms:

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you. Psalm 37:5

Amen, Lord, amen!

10 comments:

  1. I admire you so much Jo--and KNOW that you are doing the right thing. My best friend doesn't have a very good marriage but it's because she nor her hubby put EACH OTHER first... That's what marriage is all about.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. Thanks for sharing this. I found it so interesting. I think you are blessed to be able to have the "freedom" to go and be with your husband and it makes your union that much more special. Where he is, you are. Blessings <3

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  3. Thanks for sharing this Jo. I know that it is difficult to be way from our children, family and friends, like Joyful said, you are blessed for having the opportunity to go and be with your husband. Not all expat can do that. I've seen lots of expats here that they are not capable of bringing their wives and/or families.

    Have a nice day and regards to your hubby.

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  4. It's raining softly outside, and your garden is beautiful.
    Jo, you're the woman that Proverbs speaks about…
    Proverbs 31:10
    Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
    SPREUKE 12:4
    'n Knap vrou gee haar man hoƫ aansien.
    SPREUKE 31:11
    Haar man steun op haar en pluk die vrugte van haar werk.
    SPREUKE 31:28
    Haar kinders prys haar, haar man bewonder haar.
    (((Ida)))

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  5. Thanks, Betsy;) it's quite a challenge until we (well, I) really get settled here. You're so right: you have to put each other first. Bless you, my friend. (((Hugs))) Jo

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  6. You're so right, Joyful;) I belong at his side; it's already bearing fruit that we're together again after being seperated those previous 3 years and then a large part of 2009.

    Thanks Misalyn;) I am truly blessed, not just in this case but also with all my caring blogger friends!

    Ah Ida, you make me see my garden by letting me know this. Dankie my vriendin vir jou wonderlike woorde en al jou hulp en ondersteuning. Liefjo

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  7. Wow, Jo, you have had some exciting adventures. But I can also sense the loneliness you feel when you are separated from your husband for long periods and also now, when you know no one in Khartoum. I'm glad that you are now with your husband, able to be a companion and a help to him. God bless you.

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  8. Hi Jo, you are a remarkable lady to 'up sticks' and set a new home in what is really a foreign country even though you are on the same coninent. You make light of the problems but I am sure there were some that you took in your stride.
    I did not have a lot of time for blog reading this week but did log on yesterday for a few minutes. I saw your blog update pic with what looked like a pair of legs stretched out...I clicked in to find the 'legs' were your challah loaves!

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  9. Hi Jo,
    I can't tell you how much I admire your strength and devotion. It seems your life presents many challenges and you handle them so well. You are truly an inspiration.
    Sunny :)

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  10. Shalom Jo. Thanks for your visit. I'm glad to meet you. You have quite a life story!
    Wishing you many new blessings.

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Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate your feedback. Jo