Valley of Decision

I stayed in Chiang Mai for a week at the River Guest House where I had originally planned to stay before Calvin helped me out with my visa.  The River Guest House is just outside of Chiang Mai about 20km from where I stayed before and in fact it still part of Hang Dong.

The 12 seater bus bringing me down the mountains from Mae Sariang dropped me just up the road from my destination as I wasn’t quite sure where exactly to get off.  There was a bit of a walk to the centre which is on a large plot of land with quite a few buildings on it.   I’m told it used to be a hotel for prostitutes until the bank took over after the economic crash.

When The River team took over the rent, there were many changes including the ownership.  The hotel was converted into a guest house where teams visiting from all over the world can stay.  The pool was scrubbed out and although I haven’t swum there it looks amazing!  There are other buildings where team workers, both foreigners and locals live, as well as a hall used for church services and meetings and a large outside dining area where we have our communal lunch after church on Sunday.  Behind this dining area is another large room, it was here that we held a mothers group.  There were about 12 women who attended after church.  They had babies from a few week old to 18 months.  I spoke on babies sleep needs and routine then ended with some easy toys to make and showed them ones I had made from empty plastic water bottles.

The next day I received lots of positive feedback from the mothers who attended.  One mother looking after the counter at the guest house has her baby with her who was playing with a new toy she had made from a bottle.  I wondered was this an open door the Lord was leading me to?  I spoke to Bronwyn, another Aussie, who was at the mothers meeting and is also with The River Team, she suggested I pray about staying to continue the mothers group.  I asked if she thought there was anyone on the team who might like to be trained by me as a parenting coach.  I explained I had thought of franchising my business and that I had all the teaching manuals and material to start a training course.  She was very interested as the team was in the process of starting a training centre for leadership, among other things, and this training could be one of the courses they offered.  She suggested I check if I could fit it in with my dates and promised to get back to me after discussing the possibilities with the team, many of whom were going to Bangkok on Tuesday for the first year anniversary celebration of The River Bangkok.

All Monday I was in the valley of decision.  Was this a door opening for me to impart my gifts?  Should I stay on if the opportunity arose?  Was this why the Lord had brought me to Thailand?  I had told Bronwyn what ever happened I would go to Bkk for two weeks and then what ever they decided I could either come back to CM or continue on my adventures in another direction.   I then left it in the Lord’s hands or so I thought!

I looked once more at my calendar trying to decide where I might be and when to fit things in IF I happened to stay in CM for the rest of my 3 month visa.  I’d done this several times since arriving and wondered, really, was this time going to be any different?  Will it just change again in a couple of weeks?  My visa would expire 23 July, if I was in CM I could fly to KL, Malaysia and stay with friends as promised.  I would then bus north to visit my good friend Dr Wong in Ayer Tawer before heading for Phuket to spend a few weeks with friends before flying to India via KL.  I had planned to meet my sister in Indian and catch up with my good friend Zameer and his family. If I needed another 3 month visa before returning to Thailand I could apply in Delhi before flying back to CM which means I could be back in Perth by mid-January 2016.  Hmmm it’s a bit longer than I planned but then again all is in the Lord’s hands so we will see what eventuates.

That night I looked on line for a cheap fare to Bkk.  After viewing a few sites I decided the cheapest was 990 Baht + 330 for extra luggage.  If I was sure I would return to CM I could leave the bulk of my stuff in CM but at the moment I had better make provision to take the lot.  It worked out to be about $55 Aust.  I chose the option to pay through PayPal – WHAT!!! $99.55!!!!   Oh what the heck!  It was getting late, there weren’t many flights available and I was not in the mood so I did what I normally don’t do and paid the ridiculous price!  Well, I know I won’t be paying through PayPal ever again!!!

It was a hot night, I tossed and turned unable to sleep with the anticipation of what might be ahead.  Would I be coming back to CM?  If not, where will I go after Bkk?  If I did come back to CM will 6 weeks be enough or will I need to come back for another 3 months?  Do I have all the material I need to train people, do I have the ability? I’ll have to read through all my material and make it relevant to Thailand and who will translate it?  If I did stay in CM could I fit in all the other things I still wanted to do like visit friends in Malaysia, Phuket and India, and then what about my plans for next year would I be needing to push these later in 2016?   Aaahhhh I couldn’t switch my mind off sooo many exciting ideas …. lots to think about and lots of possibilities going around and around in my head.  I don’t know what time it was but I finally I fell asleep exhausted.

Tuesday I woke before dawn and decided having not jogged since Hod, that it was time I got back into my running shoes even if it was the last time before leaving for Bkk.  So before 6am I dragged my sorry self out of bed, strapped on my shoes and headed down stairs.  I love this time of the day it’s a great time to clear my head and spend some time with the Lord.  I enjoyed the quiet before the rush of the day began.  It was a good feeling pounding the pavement again although I did try to keep to the grass which was very uneven.

Today a group of team leaders left for Bkk and after breaky I headed off to the River Café for a cappuccino and the air conditioning.  The past two days had turned hot again and it was nice to veg out in front of my tablet in the cool with a good coffee.  I went over all that had happened in the short time since I had arrive last Thursday.

On reaching the guest house early Thursday afternoon, I found my bags at reception which Ps Sombat had delivered ahead of time from Hod, collected my room key and hauled my bags up 3 flights of stairs.  The first room I’d been given didn’t have a fan so I moved to one at the end of the hall which was much better as it also had windows on two sides which with the door open into the room and at the end of the passage onto the small balcony. I had a lovely through breeze, when it was cool.  The balcony was also idea for drying my clothes.

Rudy, who I’d known since my WHI studies in Katoomba NSW, in Dec 1995, picked me up to meet Erik at The River Café.  The café is about a 20min walk from the guest house, how do I know?  One day at 2pm I walked back to the guest house just to see how far it was.  I also got sunburnt which was silly!  I like walking though, as you get to know the area better.  That same night I met Bec another Aussie who showed me the local market and took me shopping.  I bought durian after bargaining with an old woman.  The next day I returned to the same seller but she refused to drop the price, I didn’t argue as I know I had bargained hard the previous day.  I retuned again later in the week as she was the only person to sell durian in small amounts and ripe.  I like durian soft and creamy not crunchy like some Thai’s prefer it.

In the other direction not far from the guest house is another BigC shopping centre.  I wasn’t impressed with the food they sold at the food court here but it did have a big supermarket for milk and yogurt for my breaky.

I tried to make it a point to visit The River Café most days to help support the work they do here.  The girls here are trained by the centre to not only run the café but to cook amazing western cakes.  What a shame I’m on a gluten free diet.  The Monday before I left the girls cooked especially for me, my favourite Chiang Mai dish Khao Soi (which is similar to Malaysian Lukas).  Erik and Mariaana came in to enjoy it with me.  It was amazing!  So much so we all took seconds home to eat later.

Yes, much had happened since arriving in Chiang Mai and now I was leaving again.  Most of Tuesday I was chatting to Bronwyn on a chat app while she was in Bkk.  She was sitting with one of the Thai girls discussing the possibility of me returning to train some of the staff.  We chatted back and forward most of the morning, she could think of 12 who might be interested.  Eventually I asked “So shall I say I’m defiantly coming back?” Bronwyn replied “I’d say it was definitely on as long as you are willing to go ahead with it!!!”  “Oh I’m willing and excited”, was my reply.  And with that I returned to pack my bags.  One to stay and one

Pictures:   1. Road from Mae Sariang    2. Orchids from The River Guest House    3. Lunch   4. Khao Soi

Prayer & Praise Points:
Please continue to pray for all the Lord’s workers here both the locals and the missionaries who are faithful to His calling.

Praise the Lord for the opening to impart and train up workers here with the skills to help parents.

I continue to praise Him for all the open doors since coming to Thailand and all the places He has led me, it has truly been as blessing.

Praise the Lord for ongoing good health and safety while I’m here in Thailand.

Please continue to pray for my mother’s ongoing health.

Thank you all for standing with me in prayer as I continue on my adventure.