Sick and Frustrated
We were prepared for many cultural differences when we moved to Japan. Our attitude was to be flexible and we were to remember that even if things are different that doesn’t mean they were wrong. But even with this positive outlook, there were still surprises. One of the biggest and unexpected challenges was dealing with illness.
We arrived in Japan in late October. The weather was slowly getting colder. Our adult southern Californian bodies were not ready for it, but our daughters had an even harder time adjusting to the cold. It left them more susceptible to illnesses. By January Ryli, then one and a half years old, had bronchitis and Abbi, almost four years old, had a respiratory infection too.
Because the girls were so sick we were at the doctors more than anticipated. This brought many unexpected challenges. The most obvious challenge was the language barrier. The thought of navigating through the paperwork, doctor’s visit, and pharmacy seemed nearly impossible. We’re thankful for God’s provision of a church who provided helpers to take us to all of our appointments.
One particularly bad week we were at the hospital three times, and these were scheduled doctor’s visits. An unexpected frustration was the difference in healthcare style. In America I was used to taking my daughters to the doctor, and getting antibiotics for 10-14 days. When we got our first prescription in Japan it was for two days. We had to come back to see the doctor for more a couple of days later. I remember thinking, “My girls are so sick, surely two days of medicine won’t be enough. They don’t want to come back to the hospital and neither do I!”
After one of the doctor’s visits our pastor’s wife empathized with my predicament. I told her about how I was used to getting a prescription that lasted longer, and gently asked why it is different here. She helped me by explaining the Japanese philosophy towards medicine.
I’ve reflected on why all this illness seemed so frustrating to me, and why I still sighed every time I know we have to go to the doctor. I’m left with the question, “Do I trust God to care for me and guide me through the unknown, or am I still trying to rely on myself?”
Living life in a foreign land is challenging at times, but God has used those frustrations to expose what is happening on a much deeper level in my heart. I continue to pray that God would keep showing me the heart issues behind my frustrations.
We have now been in Japan just over a year. There have been many appointments since then for us, our daughters, and our third child who is due next month. In each circumstance I can look back and see God’s provision, but I still find going to the doctors challenging and even frustrating at times.
As I write this, I am sitting, once again, in an emergency waiting room for my husband, Daniel. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem too serious. Thankfully too, we were able to come to the hospital by ourselves today, with a friend on standby if we needed to call for help with translation. A friend is watching our girls for us. This is all welcome evidence of God’s care for us.