....hippos, in the distance.) After getting cleaned up Sarah is off to Blantyre (2 hours away). I'm to stay at Hippo View. As planned lead devotions on 2 Cor. 4... "treasure in jars of clay ... carrying in our body the dying of Jesus", which we do every day, surrendering our cherished plans for Jesus' sake.

Thursday 17th. Don't sleep much. Rise to the news of the vertebrae. So we're going to Johannesburg ASAP. Lemon takes me to Blantyre (1 1/2 hours). His driving is average Malawian - heavy on the throttle and the horn. "You did this with Sarah last night.... in the dark?" The mind boggles. Phone Mary. Sarah and I discuss what to tell her mum. Medics arrive from South Africa. The 'ambulance' to the airport is a glorified Land Rover and Sarah's feet stick out the back as it bumps through the road works, the nurse holding the door as tight as possible. The air ambulance has one narrow door. Getting through it gives Sarah "the worst 30 seconds" of her life. On board isn't much better. Two hours of discomfort. At Olivedale Hospital in Jo'burg a sign asks that all firearms are left at reception! I'm in a guest house 5 minutes away but the owner collects me and warns me not to walk it.

Meanwhile the gang all survived the climb to Zomba and a long day on the dirt road to Mulanje where they had a big welcome and a hospital tour on Saturday.

The next four days. Hospital and house are all I see of Jo'burg. Sarah has a 'halo' fitted in surgery to keep her in traction for 6 weeks? She tells orthopaedic surgeon he can always get a job as a barber! Mary calls friends with friends in Jo'burg, who visit and give great help. Sunday we phone and wish Matthew happy 17th birthday. Dour Afrikaans nurses claim they can't sing! By Monday S is propped up a fraction, can see the telly and feed herself. She probably also has a broken rib, but is relaxed and her 'mechanic' says she's making good progress. Boyfriend Alan plans to come soon. To honour the preparations made by colleagues and schools in Malawi I decide, reluctantly, to go back there. Book flight to Lilongwe. Say "See you in Nairn" and swallow hard.

Wednesday Sarah had op to put metalwork in arm. Alan arrived Friday. Following week she can walk with the halo attached to a frame, but at first is warned not to go outside the ward in case people are scared. When she can they are. But the vertebrae won't sit in place so an op on Monday 4th June fuses them together with another piece of metalwork (resulting in a permanent loss of 15% neck movement). By Sunday 10th she is on a plane home. Back at mum's in Wick with neck brace 24/7 for at least 2 months. Right arm is swollen but pain diminishing. Concern over left arm which she can't raise very high (probably nerve damage) but is improving slightly with physio. Insurance wont pay for broken tooth. Normal smile and hair will be restored ASAP.

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