So, today, I took a little tumble on a fairly steep, VERY slippery slope on the Mount of Olives. At first, I was just embarrassed, since it did occur in a main tourist area. But, as soon as I tried to move, I could tell my left ankle was in some serious pain. Not your normal - "wow, that's gonna leave a mark" sort of pain...but more like "wow, something might have just snapped in two" sort of pain...Several of the guys helped me up and as soon as I put the least little bit of weight on my left foot, I had excruciating pain.
We were on the slope down the side of the mountain, so not even close to the bus, and there was no way I was going to be able to walk down. There was a car pulling out of a nearby driveway and our guide was able to get them to stop. A couple of the guys helped me over to their car and they drove me back to the bus. Once there, they were so nice - even though they did not speak English - and they helped me get back on the bus.
I waited on the bus for a bit - thinking I'd hold out until the rest of the group got back. But Avi (tour guide) called the bus and asked if I could stand on it all. Not a chance. He wanted to know if it was swollen. Only to about the size of a softball...about twice the size of my other ankle.
Thus, he made the decision that I needed to go to the hospital.
I won't bore you with the details of how that happened...but I got there. Luckily, Charlie Wilson made the decision to leave the group and go with me. Thank God for Charlie - he was so calm and handled everything. I'm pretty calm - but couldn't have done a lot of what he did for me (getting cab, walking all over hospital trying to figure out where to go, etc) since I couldn't walk.
The ER experience was actually quite nice. Unfortunately, they're not much into drugs, so I got nothing for my pain. But once we got to the right spot, they took me right back. After looking at my ankle, they sent me for x-rays, then sent me back to wait for them to read it. The longest part of the entire process was getting to the hospital and getting picked up from the hospital to get back to the hotel...but the entire process was about 3 hours.
X-rays showed no broken bones, but the doctor did point out that many times hairline fractures don't show up right away. He asked what my plans were for the next couple of days.
Hmmmm.
Let's think about this.
I'm on a tour of the Holy Lands...sooooooooooooooo, my plans are that I would be TOURING the Holy Lands.
"Well," he says..."you see...dis is going to be a bit of a problem, because jew mus keep jur leg up ober yer head fer de next sebenty two hours."
"I can use crutches," I said with a smile. "I'm practically a professional at it...seriously."
"Jew may not understand. No crutches fer jew, because jew will not be getting out of jer bed. Jew understand now?"
Clearly.
Are you freaking kidding me?
I'm in the middle of the Holy Lands. I have been on a pilgrimage now for the last 7 days. I've been through the desert...climbed mountains...walked in places where Jesus did miracles...seen where disciples lived...sailed on the very water that Jesus walked on...touched the very spot where the manger sat with him in swaddling clothes...the list goes on and on. And ALL of this has been leading up to the pinnacle of the trip...going to the Garden of Gethsemane, the path which Jesus carried the cross, Golgotha and then the Garden Tomb.
Today, at the top of the Mount of Olives I actually got to SEE the garden and these areas from afar...but apparently, I will not be going through these sites unless there is some miraculous healing between now and Wednesday morning. Tomorrow's tour sites, I will definitely miss, but that's OK. Wednesdays sites - I will be TOTALLY bummed about missing:-(
Aside from feeling a little sorry for myself (and feeling like a complete loser for being the youngest person on a trip with 45 people - many over the age of 60 - and I'm the one who gets hurt!!!), I'm feeling a bit like Moses. I went through the heat and hiking and deserts, etc, all to get to a mountaintop where I was able to see the "promised land"...yet, I'll not be crossing over. Luckily, I did my wandering in 7 days, not 40 years. And hopefully, just because I'm not crossing over to the promised land does not mean that I have to die now and hand off my legacy to some new young whippersnapper.
It just means God has something else planned for me over the next couple of days. Maybe there will be a spiritual awakening of some sort...right here in my hotel room overlooking the city of Jerusalem. Or maybe, I WILL be miraculously healed (stranger things have happened in these parts...for real). Or maybe...
Well, who knows. Guess we'll all find out soon.
Fortunately for you all (because I know there are so many of you reading this [ha, ha]), I will be laying around in the hotel atleast all day tomorrow...so I will have PLENTY of time to Facebook and blog and upload pictures.
For now - I should probably get some rest.
Love,
Angel
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3 comments:
Forget reading books. You should WRITE a book. You're hilarious! And, I will pray for a speedy recovery.....
what an amazing time to soak in the Lord's presence. He is now forcing you to slow down and take it all in. Every smell every sound every image. Rest and embrace it :)
Wow! Sounds like something that would happen to me!! :-) I'm so glad you have had such a wonderful trip so far, though...I'll be praying for some quick healing! Love ya!
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