What a blessing to have lovely neighbours. My neighbour, Greg who lives next door, has kindly given me permission to connect my reticulation box to his WiFi so I can, if need be, turn off and on the water while I’m away. This means I will be able to turn my reticulation on and off while overseas, or even while in NSW, if there is low rainfall at home.
Most of my fruit has gone, only mandarins which will ripen while I’m away and two lovely navel oranges which praise the Lord ripened before I left. They were delicious. I thought the rats had gone too but then I saw something had been eating a hole in the trunk of my papaya tree where there was a wound from where I had cut off a limb. I kept an eye on it for a few days till I noticed that the hole was right the way through to the hollow core of the tree. I was now concerned. The following day I cleared around the hole and nailed a plastic yogurt top over it and sprayed it with a tar which is used for grafting hoping that wouldn’t smell nice and act as a deterrent. I also refilled the two rat poison stations and over the next three nights topped it up as it was being eaten, confirming my suspicion that it was rats!
Lots to do before leaving Perth, not only in the garden and around the house but also booking my overseas travel. Having been in a difficult situation during the last few weeks in April I was not taking the unknown re my visit to Thailand very well. I still didn’t have any leads on where to go other than my visit to Mae Sot. With a step of faith I booked my flights knowing the Lord will open the door where He wants me to go.
Packing was a bit of a challenge as I needed winter clothes for NSW but not for Asia, where I was entering into the Thai wet season. Hot and humid! I decided I’d take some old cloths which I could leave behind if needed but also old clothes I could layer for wearing on the plane, in NSW and for my return to Perth in August.
Then there was the due diligence for what kind of SIM card, do I get a local Sim or and international e-SIM? From past experience some countries will permit you to buy a local SIM but it will be a lot more expensive than what the locals pay and may only work for 30 days. There are also international e-SIM’s which will cover many countries or specific areas like Europe or Asia. These are often cheaper than the tourist SIM’s bought locally and can be recharged monthly or topped up if needed. Hmm, which to choose?
During our prayer breakfast on the first Saturday of May, I shared I was taking a step of faith, trusting the Lord to open a door for ministry in Thailand and my pending trip to Mae Sot. Frances came up to me afterwards to say there were people in the church who had contacts with missionaries in Mae Sot and I should contact them before I go, so I did. We had a chat about what I was hoping to contribute and how long I wanted to stay, I then left it up to Glyn to make contact with those he knew, to see if there was anything I could contribute to and for how long. Unfortunately before this happened the Lord opened other doors through Baptist Mission.
Then on the Monday I looked up the flights to Mae Sot, booked a flight and a hotel near the airport for the night I arrive in Bangkok. Then I had a phone call from a missionary who I had contacted in Albany who was home on furlough from Chiang Rai, Thailand. We had a lovely chat ending with her promising to look into things with her team members. This is getting interesting. The following day, I received an email from the head of Baptist Missions Australia who said he would contact the Chiang Rai team leader Muana, to see if there was any opportunities for me to help there. Muana then emailed me to organise a zoom meeting, he said Liz had been impressed with my Thai. I said I only spoke what I remembered, and laughed. I’ve lost much of the vocabulary as I don’t have the opportunity here to regularly practice here. The following few days things moved really fast. I received papers needing to be filled out and documents to complete including a medical and police check. Praise the Lord I had already booked a doctor’s appointment so I could add this request to the list.
The Thursday before I left was a very full day; my friend Mia visited in the morning for a catch up and a coffee, then en route to the doctor’s, I returned my WiFi modem as I wouldn’t be needing it for over three and a half months. No point in paying for something you’re not using. Then stopped in at my favourite Vietnamese coffee shop for a Banh Mi, then off to RAC in West Perth, having been taken the wrong way by the GPS, but finally arrived and received my international drivers licence before visiting my doctor. I was exhausted but pushed on to wash my car before covering it ready for my time away.
I now had a signed doctor’s form plus medications I might need while overseas, including anti vomiting and antibiotics if needed. That night I received an SMS regarding the police check. My heart dropped to my stomach. Was there a problem connected with the previous incident? Praise the Lord, it was just to clarify what role I was going to be volunteering in. I received the clearance the next day which was a huge relief.
I don’t know about you but getting ready to leave on a trip can be very stressful. Outside the normal booking and connections to make before going there are people to contact, bags to pack, and schedules to keep. With my acceptance to the Baptist Mission team I had even more things to do. Forms to fill out, check my Working with Children was still valid, do an online criminal check, get my GP to sign off on my health and get an international drivers licence. I pulled out of several activities the week before I left and was going to miss church on the Sunday before my departure the following day but needed to catch up with a few people there too. Sunday afternoon I was still getting the last minute jobs done around the house, making sure things were put away, some locked in my bedroom for safe keeping. Both Kath and Greg promised to keep an eye on the place, water the pots indoors and out and feed my 
worms. I drugged myself up that night and slept well, waking at 4:30 am to do the final pack of my suitcase and carryon luggage which were both under the required weight. I turned off all the power points that were not in use, switched hot water and other electrical utilities off at the power box and was ready for my lift. Rawden had promised to take me to the station as he had recently taken someone to the airport by car and was delayed over an hour, missing the flight, due to road works. The train was so much easier, even with my 22kg suitcase. I had put my small backpack into my carryon luggage so that I only had two cases to wheel around.
Of course I was there early! I ate my prepared breakfast, checked in my luggage, repacked my carry on so I could access my backpack with all my goodies. I had packed not only my breakfast but also lunch and snacks, including my last home grown orange, which I nearly forgot to eat it before landing in Sydney.
Waiting for my heavy bag at the carousel I again repacked my carryon luggage which was much lighter having eaten all the foodstuffs. Before leaving home, I had topped up my Gold Opel travel pass giving me concession travel in NSW. Previously I had to reapply two weeks in advance to receive a new card in the mail! I had only just remembered to look for my card a few days before my departure so was delighted it was still valid.
Collecting my luggage I headed down to the train platform. Hmm! No lifts; only an elevator to the first level! Very tricky with heavy luggage. Praise the Lord there was a lift on the next floor to the lower tracts, as I had to go down two levels. I arrived on the platform safely and was going to jump on the waiting train but didn’t thank God as that one was an express and I needed all stops to get off at 
Padstow. I had rung Vi-Lay confused about the trains but she reassured me, just stay on the next train, no changes, she would wait for me with the car at the station. What a blessing to have such a lovely friend. I chatted to an elderly gentleman from Ethiopia who was getting off the station before me, who was able to reassure me I was on the right train. As he departed we both said ‘God bless you’. I had a feeling he might have been an Ethiopian Christian, escaping his homeland due to persecution.
It was so nice seeing Vi-Lay’s welcoming face as I exited the station. Her place is like a second home to me. I love all her quirky ways, she is so organised, I feel quite at home. I settled into my room unpacking my big suitcase and repacking it with only the things I was taking overseas. I would only be taking my carry on and back packs north with me when I visited Kat. She had left some of her possessions at my place over the years so I was returning some to her and hoping I could borrow some winter clothes while I was visiting her.
Being still on Perth time I stayed up till 10pm organising things and chatting. It was predicted to be wet weather for the week but praise the Lord I had missed the rain on my way here. What a relief to finally be on the first step of another adventure. I know there will be more challenges to face but it’s reassuring to know I am safely in the Hands of our loving Lord.
Photos: 1. Lilly Pilly in flower 2. Blocking the hole in papaya tree 3. Bahn Mi 4. My garden path 5. Sydney’s train network
Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for His continuing leading, guidance and protection in all things.
Please continue to pray that my plans will fall into place for this winter away.
Praise the Lord for open doors for me in Thailand. Pray that He will use me to be a blessing to others there and that I can continue to practice and learn Thai.
Praise the Lord for His presence, peace and strength as I travel around NSW and for my flight and arrival in Thailand on the 29th May.
Pray also that my time with Kat will be a joyful one.
Praise the Lord for my sister Kat, that she will enjoy her new home in Iluka, northern NSW, where God willing I hope to visit this May.
Continue to pray for world peace and countries dealing with major disasters, wars and the unbelievable hardships they cause. Pray for all those caught up in the suffering these events have caused. Pray that God’s peace may be known by all people especially for those who live with despair, that they will find hope in Christ Jesus.
Please keep my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat, in your prayers. Pray that they will come to know the love of Jesus.