Spring Term Sprung

I 'sprang' into the spring term with a mending right fifth metatarsal and it seems to have survived the minibus driving and the exercise demanded of it. The post op check up went well and no screws (there are two titanium ones in there) have come loose. There is still time....but let's hope they stay there.
Now, continuing with the health theme, in order to visit Ghana later in the year, my husband and I have to acquire immunity to a variety of diseases. So, last week we were immunized against yellow fever. We have certificates to prove this - you cannot enter Ghana without the international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever. The down side is that we both have developed flu like symptoms since then.
Also, we will need immunisation against: diphtheria and tetanus; hepatitis A; meningitis; polio; rabies; typhoid and of course take malarial drugs.
We will be visiting four Pastors whom we support, to see how they are and what we can best do to assist them in their labours for the Lord.
I could not help thinking about the courage of those early missionaries - we have covered the life of William Carey in nine talks at our weeknight meetings - they had no 'InterHealth' Consultation or immunisation programme before they went and many sacrificed their health and the health of their families in the missionary effort to reach those who had never heard the Gospel. Their bouts of fever were all part of their great attempts made to translate the Bible into the languages of 'all the world'. William Carey's paired statement: "Attempt great things for God; Expect great things from God" is a challenge to us soft livers today. His family suffered fevers including dysentery and malaria and his first wife was mentally ill, yet he persevered in the work for forty one years to make the Saviour known.
Let us all plod on!

Paramecium Brain

Full marks to the Department of Work and Pensions: I recently found that it was easy to change the destination of a pension payment from the Post Office (P.O.) to the bank - and it only took one phone call. An excellent arrangement! (Not impressed, though, by the recent changing of Pension Books to cards, requiring senior citizens to remember a four-digit PIN number.)
In addition, it seems that some other institutions do not consider the difficulties our senior citizens have when they work out their practices. Let me explain my grief for this week: The next step was to close and transfer outstanding funds from the Post Office into the bank account. (All these changes were made because the senior citizen could no longer walk as far as the aforementioned P.O.)
So... I phoned the P.O. advice number and was told I had to obtain a form from the P.O. This I did. Obtained two forms and completed them for two elderly friends. They must sign the back of the form. This was achieved with difficulty. One lady, aged ninety, is now partially sighted and the gentleman almost as old, is frail and ill in hospital. Still, the next step... back to the P.O. only to realise I did not have enough 'evidence' - needing proof of residence. Back to flat and yes.. that's sorted. So, now, I'm confident and return with the forms and all evidence to the P.O. The hard-pressed counter clerk fills in her forms and all is in train.
My elderly lady phones me about a week later. She has received an official letter saying that they cannot comply with her request to transfer her money to her bank account because 'You did not submit valid information in your application in two consecutive attempts' or words to some similar effect. This makes no sense to me and so I phone the number given. After due checks with the lady to confirm security, we are told that her signature is not the same as the signature used when she opened the account! This account was opened when she was decades younger and in good health and able to see clearly!
I recounted the story to another octagenarian who said, 'That's rubbish!'. I concur.
Now, the only way to manage the transfer of funds is to do a manual transfer - which needs a phone call to obtain a special code. Or, alternatively to arrange power of attorney ..
So, we made the call, got the code which is viable for 48 hours, and armed with cards and documents I set off to the P.O. to effect a large cash withdrawal.. except that the lady could not remember her PIN number and was totally unable to find the card she had written it on.
The only way to get a new PIN number is to make another phone call and wait for four working days. And then we'll have to try to arrange the special code again.
Isn't this unreasonable? Did the think tank who set up the arrangement have any notion of the problems for senior citizens having to remember PIN numbers, or that the signature of an elderly frail will undoubtedly look very different several decades later? 'Paramecium brain' sprang to mind. Another carer dubbed it 'elder abuse'.

Surrounded

Surrounded by the dangers,tempting enticements and snares;
Worn often by the constant drip drip dripping of life's cares;
With meeting many hindrances to seeking help from Him
Who called us, we seem all alone and life seems pretty grim.
BUT
Surrounded by the witnesses who've passed this way before,
Reminded of their testimony,lives and works of yore.
Encouraged by the shining ones who serve Him night and day
We're not alone, We walk with Him along life's tricksy way.

A POME BY MOOMIN