We’ve been in England for around three days at a YWAM base. We’ll be starting ministry soon in London. A ticket to London was our only way out of Thailand. There’s a lot of logistical explanations that I won’t be going into, but let’s just say that it’s a blessing to be here. A bit more expensive than planned, but due to how the economical downturn rippled into the EU, the pound is no longer worth twice the dollar and has lost strength. So this means warm clothes purchases which is splendid. What else does this mean? It means Christmas in London, winter coats, absence of incessant sweating, wreaths on doors, British accents, holly bushes, hot tea and savoury crumpets, and basically, more smiling. I cannot express enough my overall gratitude to have been delivered from Asia, and not only that, but to have been given the opportunity to serve here. It’s a whole different scene in the 1st world. But the Lord is already revealing a lot which I’ll talk about more in later blogs.
From cleaning in one of Bangkok’s slums to flying on one of the more luxurious airlines in the world within a span of 24 hours, can really give two contrasting portrayals of poverty. One of spiritual poverty and the other physical poverty. Sometimes it’s overwhelming to understand that reality and to experience those distinct environments within such a short span of time.
December 3rd (I believe) the leaving process began from Thailand. We went to a conference center where we received handwritten plane tickets where a bus shuttled us to an old Vietnam military base. Once we arrived there, we were told to remain on the bus since we didn’t technically have authorization to walk on the base’s grounds. Eventually we boarded Etihad’s Boaing 77 for Abu Dhabi, UAE (United Arab Emirates). During our five hour layover, we stood in line for nearly the whole time and then it was off for London’s Heathrow International Airport. It was about two days of travel up to that point and we still had to make it to the YWAM base where we were going to stay for around three days. They were kind enough to take us in for that time. Half the time we feel homeless, but at the end of the day I feel so privileged and blessed to be doing what we’re doing. Ha, it’s a treat to have tea and toast readily available for breakfast, and even better, to be able to put a piece of toast with jam on the counter and not worry about it being attacked by a colony of ants that come crawling from the walls.
Thank you all for your prayers regarding getting us out of Bangkok. The Lord heard them all and He ended up extending His grace much more than I deserve.
