 |
| Option One for the win @ my favourite street side food shack. |
So
it's about time I did a little pensive look back don't you think?
Like an old man remembering
the “lunch for 20cents” days.
This
time last year, Melbourne morning were getting cold- I'd be driving
over the Westgate freeway at about 6.30am, sipping from my KeepCup
with Earl Grey tea and soy milk & honey- probably listening to Red Symons,
but switching to Triple J every now & then to remind myself how
young and cool I was.
Off to work at an organics store, planning
youth activities or social outings in my head, thinking of my future, God's will
etc, etc..
Northern Thailand was not on my to-do list.
I am
now the manager of a restaurant/cafe in Chiang Rai; I train beautiful young women
and help enable them to have greater job opportunities than their
previous bleak options.
I am starting a dance program to use as
therapy, skill development and a fundraising medium for Destiny
Rescue.
I
own a scooter, fake ray-bans and have not made money for about 9
months. I live with 2 excellent Americans and many geckos.
Life has changed a tad.
I
speak English less well than I used to and I speak Thai more well
than I did.
Just to
highlight some of my Thai verbal skills, I promise that I can easily tell you to put
mint & blueberries atop the crème brulee and that now, you need
to stop talking, turn left and start kneading the bread dough, and no you cannot
have a holiday this Saturday. I can also say you are a fat child and
your eyes look the same as stars.
I
have spent the last 9-10 weeks unwell. I have been bedridden, fatigued,
and enlarged spleen-ed..
I have also been hospitalised twice, most
recently with a virus that turned ugly; causing me to stress the old nervous system out- vomiting so violently that I become paralysed, had slurred speech and require valium to knock me out. 2 nights in hospital and way too many
needles to care about.
My glandular fever of the previous 2 months
obviously robbed me of a decent immune system so what should have
been an average bug, became a massive humbling experience. Thai
Hospital. Thai Hospital food. No energy to even pull up my pants.
Awesome.
But chin up! I have spent the 2 weeks feeling well, ... WELL! Praise the good Lord
above. After 5 days of recovering from this virus, I have honestly
been on the rise. It's exciting! I have started exercising, dreaming
big things and managed to THOROUGHLY enjoy my beautiful little
Stacey Steane visiting me here.
Proud
“youth-leader-slashie-sort-of-big-sister” moments as she gave her
testimony to about 60 young Thai women and taught another few the
tricks of the Macaron-making trade. Joyful times.
I am
being wise about building my health- even my little ADHD mind says GO
CRAZY AND DO A MILLION THINGS RIGHT NOW. I shall not.
I am learning my lessons properly this time.
 |
| "I'm a hipster photographer" oh Gorgeous Frangipani |
I
have been involved in my first Songkran. Please put Songkran on your
bucket list. A nationwide water festival is essential to experience.
Don't
focus on the beer-infused humans, unhygienic water, deaths and
drownings, broken bones (Shout out to my housemate Tina “Whistle”
Cairo who broke her collarbone). Focus on the laughter, smiles, foam
parties, photo-bombing, dancing and motorbike rides down streets with
literally 1000s of people splashing about instead. A 5-day new years
party with no rules. Yay!
I
went down to Chiang Mai with some friends whilst we shut cafe for a
few days and had a wonderful adventure over this holiday. Songkran
participation in fullswing but also many pleasant massages, chats,
night spots, swims and FOOD to bring me into a happy state.
Seriously- I have spent the last few months being quite down,
annoyed, frustrated, angry and tired of all the sickness I've
experienced. It was such a blessing to be joyful and energised.
I
have been emotionally rocked over the past few months, but I have a
specific story I want to share. One that broke my “tough” little
heart once more. It may be just another story to you , but to me- it is about
a young cafe girl under my charge whom I love dearly and desire hope
to be hers. (Please note- it''s a happy ending, so worry not)
She
comes to my office with her bags and tells me she is leaving. Leaving
Destiny Rescue. Leaving the cafe and friends. Leaving her lovely
Christian boyfriend. Through rough communication I ask the problem,
she skirts around the issue. She looks fearful, sad and not straight
into my eyes.
She
soon realises that I am not allowing her to go without truth.
Ok.
She
is going back to her village to marry a 60yr old Japanese man to
clear her parents debt and the hate/shame that her grandmother has
towards her despised and poor family. She is 17. She will marry so her parents
live comfortably and if she says no her younger sister will be the
next in line to be the young prize of an old man. This girl is
already a rescued girl from sexual slavery. She speaks no Japanese and there is no honour in the mans intentions.
I am broken. She is
too. So heartbroken. But somehow willing to do this for family
honour.
I love my parents & family so much. But I cannot
understand this family loyalty, after so much betrayal already.
She loves
God and asks why this is happening. We (another worker and I) tell her that
this is not His plan for her life. I tell her I will do everything in
my power to get her out of this situation. She doesn't believe it.
We pray.
Continuing
in short, others get involved. Our country manager is notified and
members of our rescue team hightail up to her village to speak with
parents and offer aid with the large debt. They accept. The Japanese man
identity is able to be tracked. Immigration is involved now and we
want him out of Thailand.
My
girl is safe. She is so joyful and you can see the light in her eyes
again. She comes beaming into the cafe the following day and hugs me. She's just a kid.
I
don't know where you stand with God, but you need to know this: God
saved that little girl from a fate that many face. A life that would
have taken her light and joy. I believe that the prayers and her cries to
Him were answered. He is victorious.
He
hates this stuff. All this evil stuff that goes on in this world. You
ask why does it happen then?
Well, humanity chose flesh and self over God.
But
He wants us back and He pursues His children.
We can never know all
the why's, but we can know the truths and we can know peace.
I never
knew why my parents discipline, withheld things I wanted, made
certain decisions for my young life, but I now know it was for my best. For
good.
Simply.
God is for the good of those that love Him. That
doesn't always mean shiny sparkly unicorns, skipping merrily to a
boy band song (actually that sounds pretty terrible), but it does
mean for the good of His kingdom. For weak to be made strong. For the
broken to be made whole. For the lost to be found. Simple.
“I
know that you can do all things'; no purpose of yours can thwarted”
Job 42:2
Oh gosh, I have so much more to share, my future plans, my going home
plans, my probably coming back here plans....the fun times, the cafe
stuff, rescue stuff, more visitors, but for now I will just say this
to you, my friend: I hope you are not in the same place this time
next year as you are now. Of course I do not mean your physical
location necessarily, but I hope you are furthered and know joy.
Much
love. B
 |
| Fun with my little friend Fai |
