Thailand
Or as I would describe it, taailand. Because as one of my team mates would say - "The team leader got this crazy idea of cycling from Bangkok to Phuket". Yes, we got the cheapest bicycles we could find - half of them single speeds - and we travelled, with our luggage, for 6 days from the capital to the renound island of Phuket.
We had a week to spare before we would join with the Asia Centre Foundation. So the idea came to cycle from Bangkok to Phuket. A gruelling 860 kilometers.
After coming overland from Laos, we only received 15 days in Thailand - 10 days short of that which we had planned. We didn't have enough money for bicycles, plane tickets to Vietnam or accommodation in Vietnam and not even enough to get an extension on our stay in Thailand.
So the next day we went to a second hand bicycle shop, with the hope to get a good deal on 8 bicycles. With a little help from our personal budgets we got 8 bicycles and started out faith journey to Phuket.
Getting out of one of the busiest cities in the world, in the middle of afternoon traffic, was a crazy experience. Finding ourselves in one of 5 driving lanes. To make matters worse we got 3 flat tires on our first day and after an eventful 42 km we decided to call it a day.
During this time the team was really challenged. Everyone facing their own personal battle. The closest comfort far away, sleeping on beaches without drinking water and eating bread and pilchards 3 times a day is what some would call character building. 6 days later we arrived at our destination. We didn't cycle all the way to Phuket - high temperatures and very tough terrain ( especially with a single speed and 28 kg's luggage) made it quite difficult, especially towards the end of the trip. We were lucky to get a few lifts along the way.
A day in Maynmar/Burma
On the fifth day we could enter into Burma for a short stay and we got another 15 days added to our stay in Thailand. It was amazing how everything just fell into place . . .
We got cheap plain tickets to Vietnam, really cheap accommodation and more than enough money left for food in Phuket.
Asia Centre Foundation (ACF)
We served and stayed at the ACF for just short of 2 weeks. The director Roelien Muller started ACF about 13 years ago.
Their mission is to help disadvantaged children and children-at-risk by providing care, training and education so that they will fulfill their God-given potential.
The ACF’s vision is to restore children to God, transform and develop them into leaders influencing their world.
They mostly work with Burmese children.
We helped to put up a fence around one of their premises, built a bathroom, constructed shelves for the kitchen and did some maintenance work. We also had time to play with some of the Burmese children and shared our stories with them. It was amazing to see how disciplined they were.
We really had an amazing time with Roelien and the ACF staff. They blessed us so much and it was sad for us to leave so soon. If you want to volunteer/help or contribute in Phuket, Thailand visit www.asiacenterfoundation.org for more information. I can really recommend it.
So now we are in Vietnam with new challenges, new excitement and an expectation that the Lord will do His work, in us first and then in others. We are here until the 29th of May. Then we will leave for Australia with a 3 day stay over flight in Singapore.
Thank you for everyone's prayer and support. All the messages and interest.
Regards
Henri