Nr.17 ended with: “But, Lord willing, there is lots more to come before that happens. Because there was something else I discovered, something quite serious………!”

I haven’t told you much yet about Bible College. Which word describes my life as a new Christian until now? Discovery! I discovered that God is really real, that He is to be trusted, that Christians can really laugh and that we have a joyful and singing faith. The same goes for Bible College. I discovered one thing after another, it was just great! But I was a young Christian and still quite playful. I have mentioned before that I didn’t like studying and now, after having been free on the farm, having to sit in class every day for a number of hours and then doing homework and studying some more, it was a bit too much for me. Thank God, there was a gym and every night there were students playing volley ball. Because I am quite tall, I loved that sport and so every night I was there. Nothing wrong with that except that we needed to do our homework first. Several students talked to me about that as did one or two teachers, but I couldn’t resist the urge to go and play in the evenings. Until one night the Lord stepped in, I believe. I was playing and jumped up to smash the ball over the net, when at the same time a student behind me jumped up and bumped into my back. I fell over and landed on my right shoulder on the floor. I felt a terrible pain and soon discovered that my shoulder was dislocated. One of the staff members and a student drove me the 60 plus km to the hospital in the city, an agonizing and painful drive. But the outcome was no more volleyball, but studying. And so I discovered something new again, the truth of the words of Hebrews 12:6, “Whom the Lord loves, He chastens.” What a lessen to learn! (Go to Musings)