A different type of adventure...

Today I had the opportunity and privilege to be a small part of the Red Frogs team. Backtracking a little, yesterday I spent the day, preparing, baking and packing a bunch of goodies to take down to Byron, in the attempt to 'fuel' the team of young volunteers, who have selflessly given up a week of their time, and their incomes, in order to serve others.

As I left Home early sunday morning, I was blessed with a beautiful sunrise, and continually blessed as I enjoyed the stunning countryside between Brisbane and Byron Bay. Just me and some tunes,

awesome way to start the day, right there. I also spent some time chatting to God, thanking Him for this opportunity I was able to take, despite a few rearrangements I needed to make to be able to get a few days free in a row.

And asking Him to guide every 'word and action' that we as a team would make over the next week.

Blessings to keep us safe, and a compassion for those around us, as a team and as His hands and feet.

Once in Byron i met up with Simon and Ali. All the logistics of the day set into place, I shopped, prepared lunches for 25, and headed down to "the hub"...on the beach. 

I met the crew, and we all ate and got to know each other.

A bit later in the day, we all meet up again and our team of 25 squeezed into one room and shared worship together.  A few of the team prayed and I felt the Love and passion in these kids. I felt so super blessed to be in that room, a part of something so real and giving. Eyes closed and hands went up in prayer and praise.

This is the reward of belonging to the family of God.

Then after a quick dinner, we headed to the Red Frogs Tent...on the beach.

This is where it got real, got crazy and got Loud...but fun.

Slowly the crowd gathered as the music started and the smell of hot pancakes wafted through the air.

Young people and old, from all over the globe, seemed to be in Byron. Some for schoolies, some just passing through. The opportunities to share and love on people were endless.

Some just wanted free food, some needed a chat, some had other questions. We made connections and hopefully friends, and an impact.

Just after midnight the music stopped, the crowd dissipated and the frogs went in different directions, seeing if anyone needed to be walked home, or helped in any way.

It was so much fun being a part of such a vibrant team of young people on fire for what they believe in..LOVING PEOPLE!!!!

Today was Definitely a "good day"....

Totally Blessed !!!

WOW...no longer am I in Hoi An, the ancient town, tucked away in the middle of Vietnam. Waking to smells and sounds of the magical place we called home for four precious months. Living a very simple existence. Filling my days with sunshine, friends, co workers who had come here with the same purpose as us. The hope of making a difference. Food glorious food. Magical bicycle rides through the most stunning rice fields, villages, fish markets, neighbourhoods, still filled with as much awe and wonderment as when I first arrived. A huge part of me cannot let go of all the magic I felt while I served others in such a beautiful part of Gods world. 

Yes it was Hot, extremely hot, and yes there were some long days. And yes there were times when we wondered if we were actually making a difference at all. These precious people have so little, and need so much, and we were just a small small part  in the grand scheme of things.

And now I'm back..and no matter how I try, my words just don't seem to be coming out right, in the attempt to share all of our stories and feelings with others back home.

It's only in the journey and the 'being' that one can truly appreciate what you went through. And my task now is to take what I've experienced and what I hope I've learnt, and use it as a new skill, and move forward in my journey in the most positive way possible.

And while I attempt to emerge myself back into a society that is so far removed from the one I've just left, I am faced with even more new experiences. New chapters in our lives are unfolding. FAST!!!

Not only did I come home to one beautiful daughter filled with the excitement of an engagement, and all the wedding plans that follow, BUT............

Within two weeks of being home, we seem to have attracted TWO Amazing young men, that want to become part of our family.

Really, I don't know why I'm surprised.......who wouldn't want to be a Cresswell.....we are a pretty AWEsome bunch....

All jokes aside.....I feel like the 'most' blessed person right now....

Not only have we 'officially' gained two sons..... We have linked ourselves with two of the most Amazing, God filled families, we could have  ever, prayed for.

Mandy and Greg. THANKYOU so much for loving Lauren over the past three years. She has found a home and family at your place that is all and more than I could have prayed for for my beautiful big girl. Elise and Nathan and Tom, have all made her feel so welcomed. You are truly Gods precious people. There is not one member of your immediate or extended family that has not made Lauren feel completely welcome and adored in your family circle.

And now we find ourselves doubly Blessed, with Ali, about to become a part of the Bell family, whom, from the moment we met you all, felt a warmth that only comes from having Gods love in all your hearts.

Rick, Maria, Lauren, Tim and Mikey and Jess, You ALL are truly Gods angels walking on earth. THANKYOU for accepting Ali into your world, your family, and your hearts.

I am SO overwhelmed with Gods BLESSINGS right now.

TRISTAN WE LOVE YOU TO BITS... And have from the moment we met you.

You will be the perfect partner for Lauren, And we are so excited to watch you grow and plan together....please know that we are always' here for you, no matter what the question. Nothing is insignificant, everything is do-able, and You two are 'always' worth it. No matter, what it is.

And SIMON...you are a Treasure.. You have turned Ali's world upside down, and inside out, she adores you...and so do we.

We are so excited to watch you two grow together, following Gods lead, and see what AMAZING Adventures He has in store for you, as you walk through this life 'together' bringing love to a world that so desperately needs it.

He is going to BLESS you abundantly.....and surrounded by your amazing brothers and sisters in His house.....

It's all just so exciting...

RICK and MARIA...we thought we were truly blessed to have found friends like you guys, only to find God has multiplied our Blessings by making us 'family' ....

We are So excited and filled with Blessings.....

"HE IS ABLE TO GIVE US IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE HOPED FOR..."

Oh yes He is....

SO BLESSED...........

Grounded...

In the last 36 hours I've visited the dentist and an eye specialist...I hate going to the dentist, even back home. Always have..partly because it hurts and partly because it costs a freaking fortune.

So yesterday straight after a street breaky of fried opla (eggs) and banh mi (small baguette). I decided to be brave enough to visit the local dental clinic. I did however, ask my friend Susie to come with me. Not only into the reception in case it took two of us to explain what it was I wanted done. But I also asked her to follow me up stairs and sit with me while I had my procedure done.

Not like it was a tooth pulled or a root canal..

Just a chipped tooth getting capped...

Still..if you're scared of the dentist, you're scared of the dentist.!!

So without an appointment, and without asking how much it was going to cost, I found myself sitting under the bright light of the dentist chair...

This time I was nervous of him not understanding what I wanted. But the whole procedure seemed to be exactly like the last time I chipped my tooth in Brisbane, and needed to get it capped.

So I sat back and tried to relax.

Around 20 mins later, I was back down at reception paying the exorbitant price of 200,000 vnd...roughly $10.00.. 

Then later that day, while I was swimming in a public pool, I decided to get in some cardio, and started doing laps. I'm not very good at steering under water, so I generally wear goggles, or open my eyes in the water..

Well this water must have had a bucket load of chlorine in it, because within seconds of opening my eyes, they were stinging like crazy. My right eye in particular. About a week ago, while I was riding my bike flat chat home from an evening out. A bug flew into my eye, and hurt like heck. It took about a day for it to settle down. Using drops and saline solution. So I'm wondering if the old wound hadn't quite healed and set the eye off again. Closing my eye killed with pain. But it was fine if I pulled my eyelid away from my eye, so I figured there was either something stuck in there, or a mighty big scratch under the eye lid.

Either way, it was so painful it was hard to breathe.

This morning I woke up hoping it'd be better. But no.. So I started to google stuff, and then I started to panic. Then I thought, how will i ever find an eye doctor, and get him to understand me. Idea..!!!

I went and found Tan, my landlady and asked her if she knew anywhere I could go. And of course ...there's one 4 doors down the street. It's 7am..and she has her hair in rollers, as she's going to two weddings today. But she takes me down the street to what looks like a mobile phone shop..and out the back is a small room. She explains what I said to her, and leaves. And now I'm lying on a table with another "really" bright light shining in my face....

The doc does speak English, thankfully, as he said..." Your left eye" and I said " no, my right eye".. .

I'm fairly certain that the next thing he did, was to turn my whole eyelid inside out...I wouldn't say painful, but a very strange sensation..then I'm sure he ran something resembling a crocheting hook around the upper rim of my eyeball, back and forth, back and forth. Now that was too weird..

Again, not painful, but really freaky.

He poked and pulled. Put in a few solutions. One felt like acid, and I thought.."oh I went to Vietnam, and came home blind"...strange thoughts go through your head when you're nervous.

Anyway, he finally finished poking around, and asked me to sit up. 

It feels better already.

He goes to a glass cabinet and fishes out some tablets, from white bottles with no labels on them ( which all looked the same as each other)...eek... And then gets me two lots of eye drops. He then sits very close to my face and explains to me, how to take them. I repeated the instructions back to him, just to make sure we were on the same page.

He nodded.

So, "how much do I owe you"...

Must be the magic number...you guessed it...200,000 vnd...$10.00

Where in Oz would you see an eye specialist, without an appointment, before brekky, complete with drops, antibiotics and pills...for 10 bucks..? 

I ask you ...

"Only in Vietnam"..... It's the title of my new book...

Watch out for it in all major bookstores...complete with pics..

Because we can.....

I am 49 years old, and today along with my 62 year old friend Monika....we spent the day "puddle surfing" on our bikes......why?..... Because we can.

Why stop having fun just because you reach a certain age..

Why stop enjoying the silly things in life just because we get older..

Why stop laughing and giggling at the simple things just because we're not kids anymore..

Why do we always have to be 'grown up' and serious..

Why not spend the day riding through puddles..

Why not make a big spray and get all wet..

Why not laugh out loud..

Why not make the most of every precious moment life offers you ..

Why not do it with the friends God has privileged you to meet along the way..

Why not pretend to be "12" ......all over again..

And enjoy it...

WHY NOT...

Sitting and waiting

At 7:30am yesterday I headed downstairs thinking I was going to meet Robbie and Al for coffee, and go through some photos together. But when I got to my bike, I noticed I had a flat tyre. No problem, two doors up the street is a bike repair guy. So I walk my bike there, and point to my flat tyre. He frowns and shakes his head. I think this means it's not just flat, but I have a puncture. So off comes the tyre, out comes the tube. The guy indicates for me to take a seat. So I grab the tiny red stool and sit down. I'm hoping it doesn't take long, as I told the others I'd be there at 7:30am...( it's only a 2 minute ride). The compressor comes out, a big tray of water and  a bunch of tools.

I figure there's no point in getting stressed, just sit back and watch. I txt Robbie and told her I'd be there soon, but getting my tyre fixed. 

The compressor is to put air in the inner tube, and then he dips the tube in the water to find the hole, bubbles come out where the hole is. He then roles the tube around a metal pipe and starts filing it, smoothing it and moulding together. Then comes the glue, then the patch. Then he beats it with another piece of pipe so it all sticks. He then puts the tube back inside the tyre and puts it back on the rim. I should've said THANKYOU, paid him and left......but....

I mentioned that my chain was loose and coming off a lot lately. Whether he understood my words or just knew by looking at the chain, he got it anyway.

So out come the spanners. And he simply adjusts the back shaft and bingo it's all nice and tight again, the slacks gone. But.....

In doing this he now notices my back wheel is all wobbly. He looks at me questioningly..

I did a charades version of me on a bike, and another bike ramming into me, and me going flying. I think he got it. 

Now he proceeds to tighten up all my spokes one by one. This takes a long time. Meanwhile I notice a tiny coffee shop up the street a bit on the other side, and I ask him if he'd like a coffee. Again, he got it, and nodded. So I take off to the coffee shop. Over there I say to the lady 'two black coffees' and point to my bike man over the rode. No problem, she makes them and I take them ( in glasses) back to the bike shop. Seems to be the norm here. I guess people get most of their glasses back eventually. 

So I sip local black coffee with an ice cube in it, as I continue to watch and wait.

Turns out my wheel has completely snapped, he shows me, and I nod. A new rim is needed.

So he phones someone, and 2 minutes later a guy rides up on a motorbike with a rim strung over his shoulder. Previously he phoned someone else, and a lady rode up, slowed down, threw him a spanner and took off. 

My bike is now in many pieces, and my coffee date is not going to happen. I can see a clock on the wall in the shop opposite. I'll be lucky to get to work on time at this rate. 9am is approaching.

To replace a rim, ALL the spokes have to be unscrewed, the whole thing comes apart, and gets reassembled. Then he puts lubricant on each section, then wipes each section, then checks each section, again and again. Talk about perfectionist. I try to call work to let them know I'll be late, only to find I'm now out of phone credit. Finally after nearly 4 mths, my $5 worth of credit I put on when I first arrived here in May, just ran out!!!

What can you do...

I continue to sit and watch.

Children are being dropped off to grandparents for the day. A bike and cart are delivering a tray of toys to the shop opposite. A man in another shop, loads himself and tall pedi stool fan on a motorbike and takes off, waving to his wife. Then a funeral procession goes by. 2 Floats, followed by a truck with the casket and people in strange costumes and makeup sitting with their legs dangling out the back. Very much resembling a movie set. Then a bus with flags hanging out the windows....all accompanied by load sounding music and drums.

If you can't go anywhere and no one's missing you, you might as well just sit back and take it all in.

Finally at 10am, my bike is back in one piece. He has also managed to tighten my brakes, and my basket. Wiped the bike down from top to bottom, and I think I'm ready to be on my way. 

Now for the scary bit....how much..

He held up some fingers, and I said, can you write it down. Turns out for two and a half hours work, and a complete overhaul.....the price in Aussie dollars...

$12:50.

I'd be lucky to get a new rim for that back home.

I then began to think I might find out how much it would cost to ship it home when we leave.

But later on that day, Andrew and I met for the first time, our new sponsor child. His name is Dat and he's 12 yrs old. He and his father share 1 bicycle, they have no motorbike. No mother, and are very poor. So now I have decided that when I leave, Dat will be getting my bike instead.

At least I'm pleased to know that I'm giving him a good well serviced bike that should last him a long time.

Today was a "very good" day !!!!

Afternoon in paradise...

I guess it's inevitable...that I should keep finding little treasures hidden in and around Hoi An.

After all, I've only been here 3 months....

This afternoon I found a cute little cafe called "Little Hanoi".. On the opposite side of the Thu Bon River.

I started with soda and lemon juice, which later lead to a light early dinner, of stir fried mixed veggies.

I sat there surrounded by an eclectic mix of collectables, including, book stacks, old pots, easels, tea sets, comfy furniture...not always easy to find in Vietnam. An odd collection of lamps and lanterns, candles, a bird cage and a steep winding staircase, which I'm curious about. I want to know what's at the top of the stairs....maybe next time. I've peacefully spent the afternoon sorting through my many photos, deciding which ones to print and leave here for the residents of the homeless shelter we've been visiting regularly.

Soft classical music has been playing in the background, the fan is blowing a light breeze through the cafe, and I wish I could stay here for longer. But my battery is about dead, so it's time to make my way  home. Back on my bike, I ride along the rivers edge, across the bridge, wind my way around a few small streets and I'm home. 3:30pm traffic....NOT A PROBLEM.!!!

No lights, no traffic delays, no school zones, no impatient drivers today, just slow easy riding...

There are LOTS OF THINGS I'm going to miss about this lifestyle......

Relax and enjoy every day, it's a gift. 

Mumma bear..

Magical

How is it, that you can travel the world, and find yourself in some magical place....and strike up an intense friendship with people that you haven't known for a long period of time, but due to random circumstance, you find you have so much in common. It's not about how long you've known people, it's about how you connect. 20 yrs or 20 minutes.

Passion, experience and journeying through life, can afford you the most beautiful new friends, that happen to be travelling along the same parallel as you in the time line of life.

Such moments are to be treasured as wonderful gifts from above, as you meet and connect with wonderful individuals along your path...

Every moment is a treasure, no matter how long it lasts.....something money can not buy and memories that are cemented in our mind as 'highlights' along the journey of life.....

For ALL the people I have met through ALL my wonderful adventures and travels....

Whether we meet again or our paths go in different directions.....you have been a part of 

MY story and you are precious to me...

The people we meet and our adventures, help shape who we are and who we become....take only the " good" and let go of the negative........

Grow and become the best possible 'you' you can be......

..........

Mumma 

Look around EVERY corner .....