Adventure - Pages-3francisgray.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Adventure-3 … · Vientiane and were known for holding seminars on the bene0its of communism in an attempt

The Adventure Year of Drama

THE ADVENTURE

�1

3. Year of Dramaby Frank Gray

www.francisgray.com/adventure


OurtimeinLaoswassoontocometoadramaticend.BytheSpringof1975thesituationwasbeginningtogetquitetenseinVientiane.Communistelementsintheshakycoalitionweremakingtheirpresencefelt.

Bynowthecapitalwasin0iltratedbyhundredsof‘ainong’cadresrecognisablebytheir0loppykhakifatigues.Manyofthemwerejustyoungboys.Theylivedtogetherinthelarge,Frenchcolonial-stylehousesinthedowntownareaofVientianeandwereknownforholdingseminarsonthebene0itsofcommunisminanattempttowinheartsandminds.

DuringmyyearsatLaoNationalRadiowehadmonitoredthewireservicesofKhaosanPathetLao(KPL)whichcontinuallylambastedthe'USandtheirlackeys'.ThePathetLaowereLaopeoplewholivedinthemountainsofSamNeuaandXiengKhouangclosetotheborderwithNorthVietnam.Butnowtheywereintown,onourdoorstep-literally.OneplacetheytookoverwastheSetthaPalaceHotel(todayaluxury'boutique'hotel),rightacrosstheroadfromtheC&MAof0ices

(andnowwithourstudiosonthetop0loor)andWorldVisionafewdoorsaway.ThePathetLaohadmovedintotown!(TheKPListodaytheof0icialnewsagencyoftheLaogovernment).

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The Pathet Lao were Lao people who lived in the

mountains of Sam Neua and Xieng Khouang … now

they were in town, on our doorstep -

literally.


Ourhalf-hourEnglish-languageradioprogramswerenottolastlong,andaftersixmonthsonairhadtobediscontinued-byorder.IwaspossiblytheonlyEnglishmaninhistorytoeverhavearegularradioprogramontheairthere.Itgavemeavaluableglimpse

ofwhatitisliketohaveabroadcastwithinone’sowncommunity.

OneeveningIwenttooneofmyfavouritenoodleshopsinChinesecinemastreet-thePiuKy.SeatingwaslimitedsoIsatacrossfromayoungfellowwhowasalsoenjoyinghis'fer.'WegottalkingandhediscoveredIwasEnglish.HeaskedmeifIknewoftheEnglishradioprogrameverynightonLNR.Heenjoyedlisteningtoit.Isoakeditup,butreally,thiswasgettingabitheady-especiallywhenItoldhimitwasmyprogram,andhenearlyfelloffhisstool.Itwasavaluableinsight.Butitalsogotmethinkingaboutbuildingbridges,relationships,breakingdownbarrierstobelief,andallsortsofrelatedissuesthatshouldconcerntheChristiancommunicator.

Ialsolearnedaveryvaluablelesson:asChristiansinmediaministrywelearntoworkwithinwhateverparameters

�3

as Christians in media ministry we

learn to work within whatever

parameters are given, including in situations that are not sympathetic or even hostile

Studio staff Chanthalom, Nya and Her Neng


aregiven,includinginsituationsthatarenotsympatheticorevenhostile.Ifwearenotallowedtodowhatwewantwedonotgiveuporwalkaway.Insteadweexperimentto0indout–creatively-howmuchthelocalcontextcantakeandthenmakethemostofthat.WhateverwedoasSpirit-0illedbelieversisaChristianwitnesseventhoughwemaynotrecogniseit.Asoneofmymentorsoncetoldme'Nothingyoudoissecular.Becarefulhowyouusethatword!'

AmongLaoChristiansandmissionariesdiscussionswereunderwayonwhatthefutureheldfortheChristiansthereandhowwemightpreparethemduringthecomingmonths.Weevenaskedourselvesifwemightbeputtingthematriskbytheirassociationwithus.Wehadnotanticipatedthemajorexodusthatwassoontofollow.

MeanwhileforHennieandmeourthoughtswereturningtobecomingmoreofafamily.HenniewaspregnantandtheduedatewasinearlyMay.Moreover,myMumandDadwereplanningoncomingforChristmasandwewantedtoshowthemaround.Again,wewouldseelaterhowthatthiswas

perfecttiminginthelightoftheunfoldingsituation.ChristmascameandmyMumandDadbroughtafewmemorablegifts,likeateddybearforthenewbaby,andan

�4Hennie with Mum and Dad


electricdrillforme.HennieandIwerealsoinvolvedintheChristmasplayatchurchwhereweplayedthepartsof(guesswho?)MaryandJoseph.

1975wassettobecomeapivotalyearinmanyrespects.Itnotonlysignalledthebeginningoftheend-italsobecametheend.Andanewbeginning....

WetookMumandDadtoLuangPrabangandshowedthemtheroyalpalaceandthecharmofthatclassicalLaocitynestledamongthemountainsonthebanksoftheMekong.Afterthatwe0lewdowntoSaigon,asHoChiMinhCitywascalledbackthen.InJanuary1975thoseweredesperatedays.WearrivedonJanuary6,thedayPhuocLongprovincefelltotheVietCong,alossthatsignalledthebeginningoftheend.SouthVietnamwasplungedintothreedaysofnationalmourningandpagodasandchurcheswere0illedwithpeople.

TogetherwithmyMumandDadwevisitedthelargeTinLanhchurchinthecityandjoinedintheservicetoshowoursolidarity.WeevenfoundourselvesonnationaltelevisionastheTVcameramoveddowntheaisles.WestayedattheC&MAGuestHousemeetingupwithsomeoldfriends,andalsoourfriendDonandhiswifewhonowlivedoppositetheUSEmbassy.Withinafewweeksthiswastoseesomedaringescapes(includingFEBCVietnamesestaffIwastoworkwithlater)viahelicopterastheend0inallycameattheendofApril.

Outonthestreetspeoplewerebeginningtopanicandtherewasasenseofdesperationintheair.Wehadbeenwarnedto

�5


lookafterhandbagsandcameras-andthankfullyweheededthewarning.Amotorcyclecamefrombehindaswewalkeddowntownandahandreachedouttosnatchmycamerabag,butIwasholdingontoitandtheyonlygotawaywiththeshoulderstrap!

BackinVientianethetime0inallydrewnearwhenHenniewoulddeliverourbaby.Forher0irstbirthitwasrecommendedthatshegotoThailandwherethereweregoodhospitals.

OurpreferencewasfortheOMFmissionhospitalatManorominChainatprovinceofCentralThailand,afewhoursnorthofBangkok.Thehospitalwantedhertocomeingoodtimeasitwasalotoftravelling.SoitwasthatonApril18ItookhertotheferryatThadeuatoseeheracrosstheMekongintoNongkhaiandfromtherebytraintoBangkok.(ItwasthesamedaythatPhnomPenhfelltoPolPot).Dutchmissionaryfriendshadarrangedforhertotakeataxitothehospital,aboutafour-hourjourney.TheduedatehadbeenestimatedtobeMay10,soallIcoulddowaswaitinVientianeandplanforourreturnasafamily,aswellas0iguringouthowIwouldgettherebycar.Therewerenotelephonesatthehospitalatthattime.Mobilephoneswerenotyetinvented.HennieandIwerenowcutoff!

InVientianethesituationwasdeterioratingfast.ForseveralmonthswehadbeengivenCitizensBandradiostostayintouchintheeventofemergencies.TheUSEmbassywasinchargeofanyevacuationproceduresandwewereallissuedahandbook-BendwiththeWind!Ittolduswhattodo,ifand

�6

A motorcycle came from

behind as we walked

downtown and a hand reached

out to snatch my camera bag


when.MeanwhilewehadbeenbriefedattheendofAprilbytheC&MAregionaldirector,GradyMangham,whohadjustcomefromVietnam,thatnothingwasgoingtohappenquickly.

NeverthelessthemissionariesheldameetingonSaturdayMay3rdatwhichwedecidedwhatourplanofactionwouldbe,whatthingswemightneedtotakeout(ourstudioequipmentwassomethingIwantedtogetout,butthiswasturneddown),andhowtobehavetowardthenationalChristianswhomweassumedwouldnotbeleavingwithus,intheeventthatwouldindeedbecomeareality.MissionarieshadhadtoleaveLaosanumberoftimesonpreviousoccasionsbuthadalwaysbeenabletoreturnagain.Somehowthistimecouldbedifferent.

AlsomeetingthatSaturdayweretheyoungpeoplefromthechurch.ImetwiththemonelasttimethatafternoonastheymetatChanthone'shouse,whereIusedtohavemyLaolessons.ChanthonewasBig

�7

Missionaries had had to leave Laos a number of times on previous occasions

but had always been able to return

again. Somehow this time could be

different

Youth group at prayer


Sister'solderbrother.TheyoungpeoplemettoprayfortheircountryatthistimeofneedbeforetheywentoutintothestreetstobewitnessestotheGospelandthehopetheyhaveinChrist.Iwashappytotakesome0inalphotosofthem.

MeanwhileIwasplanningtoleaveonTuesdayMay6th.The5thwasaThainationalholiday,CoronationDay,sothegovernmentof0icesinNongkhaiwouldnotbeopenforprocessingpapersforthecar.IwouldbedrivingtheoldmissionVWBeetlewhichwehadbeenassigned.Iparticularlywantedtokeepsafeourmanyphotos,slidesandnegativessoIwouldtakethoseandsomebasicbabysupplies.

Photographyhadbecomenotonlymyhobbyeversincehavingmy0irstcameraatelevenwhenIwenttoGermany.In1974IhadbeenaskedtogotoBanHoueiSaidintheextremenorthwestofLaostodocumentsomeofthepioneeringworkbeingdonetherebyJerryandRoseTorgerson.Irememberonedaytrollingthroughthejunglewithmycameraandutterlyenjoyingmyself.ItcameasarevelationoutofthebluethatIwasenjoyingthissomuch-anditwaswork!OvermysixyearsIhadamassedalargecollectionofphotosandthoseincludedinthewritingofthisbookareatestimonytothehundredsthatIhadsaved.

ThatMondaymorningImetwithourstaffinthestudiobrie0ingthemontheworktobedoneinmyabsence–perhapsthreeweeks,Iprojected.InotedthatIwasinanespeciallygoodmood(gonnabeadad!)inspiteofthependingdisasterthatwasabouttostrike.Ievengotthecargreasedandoilchanged,andarodforthejacksothatIcouldchangethe

�8


wheelifneeded.ThenIstartedpackingtoleave.Twoothermissionaries,GeorgeWoodandOllieKaetzel,wouldcomewithmeasfarasSaraburiontheirwaytoBangkok.

TryingtoworkatthestudioabovetheC&MAof0icehadbecomehazardousasyouthsonmotorcyclestriedtorunusdown."CMA,CIA–what'sthedifference?"theytoldus...Dutchfriendswereintownandcametovisitourapartment.TheytaughtmeaDutchlullabytosingtoournewborn."Slaapkindjeslaap..."Cute!"WelcomehomeHennieand____"IhadputonabanneroverboxesofPampersandothergiftsHenniehadbeengivenatthebaby

showerbeforesheleft.Littledidweknowthenthatneithershenorourbabywouldgettoseethem.

TuesdaymorningIhadanearlybreakfastwithournext-doorneighbour,Doris,thenpickedupGeorgeandOllie-andwesetoffforThadeuaat7.30.BythetimewehadgotthecaracrosstheMekongandhadpaperscheckedinNongkhaiitwasaftermiddayandwehadalongwaytogo.Around6pmIdroppedoffmypassengersandwasheadingnorthintotherapidlydarkeninggloom.Thecarwasbehavingwell-butthe6-voltheadlightsleftmuchtobedesiredonthepot-holedThairoads.Especiallychallengingwasavoidingtheunlitox-cartsthatsuddenlyappeared.

FinallyIarrivedaround9pmattheManoromOMFGuestHouse.Iparkedthecar,thenventuredtoknockonthedoor.ItwasansweredbyGwen,themanageroftheguesthouse.

�9

Little did we know then that neither she nor our baby would get to see

them


"Yes...?CanIhelpyou?"shegreetedme."Iamlookingformywife,HennieGray.""Oh,sheisnothere!"shereplied.Iwasshocked."Nothere?""No,sheisoveratthehospital.""IssheOK?Hasshehadthebaby?"Iaskedanxiously."Oh,yes!Shehadityesterday."(Whydidithavetobesuchhardwork?Iwasthinking...)."Isitaboyoragirl?""Aboy!"Shereplied..."CanIgooverandseeher...?"

WhenIgotthereIfoundHenniesittingdrinkingcoffeewithsomeDutchnurses.ApparentlyshehadbeenoutcyclingonSunday!Shewaspleasedtoseemeandproudtoshowmeournewbaby.Malcolmhadarrivedearlythedaybeforeandnowherehewasinacage-like,mosquito-proofcot.Hewasdelicatelymadewithperfecthands,nose,mouth,feet-andthe0inestof0inger-nails.Itwasasurrealmoment!WebothwelledupwithjoyandthankfulnesstoGodforaseeminglyperfectbaby.

SincethedeliveryHenniehadbeensendingtelegramstokeypeople,anditseemedasthoughI

�10

Malcolm in his cot at Manorom Hospital

Selfie pic that says it all!


wasamongthelasttoknow!Henniefeltsorryforme,sogaveMalcolmthesecondnameof‘Francis’.Well,hehadarrivedafewdaysearly,andMondayhadbeenaThaiholiday.Iexcusedmyself.

Thehospitalstaff,manyofthemmissionaries,wereverykindtousandwestayedintouchastheweekprogressed.HavingnotelephonewasnotseenastoomuchofaproblembutweweregratefulforourtransistorradioforkeepingintouchwithBBCWorldServicenews.OfspecialinterestweredevelopmentsinLaoswherethingswereturningevenmoreugly.ForeignerswereleavingasdemonstrationstookplaceinVientiane.ItwasaspecialmatterforprayerinthechapelservicethefollowingSunday,butitwaslaterthatafternoonwhenDrAnneTownsend,thewifeofDrJohnTownsendthehospitaldirector,cameknockingonourdoor.HennieandIhadalreadybeendiscussingthesituationandwhatweoughttodounderthecircumstances.WedecidedthatweneededtogetdowntoBangkoktogetconnectedwithC&MAagain.Annecon0irmedthat.

Bythattimewehadalreadystartedpackingourthingsandby7pmwerereadytoleave.Itwasathree-hourdrivetotheC&MAGuestHouseonthenorthsideofBangkok.Wehadbothstayedtheremanytimesbefore–butthistimeitwasdifferent.Insteadofawarmwelcomewefoundtherewas'noroomattheinn.'Wepointedoutthatsurelytheymusthavesomewhereforuswithoursix-day-oldbaby,eventhe0loor

�11

…this time it was different. Instead of a

warm welcome we found there was 'no room at

the inn.'


woulddo.Butno,weweretold,thatwasnotpossible.Theywerefull.Wewouldneedto0indahotelnearby.

Theseweredaysofgreatupheaval.TheGuestHousewasloadedwithmissionaryfamiliesescapingfromVietnamandCambodia.AndnowmissionarieswerearrivingfromLaoswhilewaitingtoseehowthingswouldpanout.Theysoondiscoveredtherewouldbenoreturnthistime.ThecommunisttakeoverofIndochinawasnowmovingtowardcompletion.ItwasstillMaybutbytheendoftheyearnearlyallforeignershadcomeout.

SowedrovealongPradipatRoadtotheLibertyHotel(nowknownasTheElizabethHotel).HappilyweonlyneededtostaythereonenightbeforetheyhadroomforusatC&MA.ThenwehadtostartmakingplansforHennietoreturntoHollandwithMalcolm.Her30-dayvisahadalreadybeenrenewedonceandbyJuneshewouldhavetoleave.WesoondiscoveredthatifIwasnottravellingwiththemMalcolmwouldneedtohavehisownpassport.Sohehadthephotoforhis0irstpassporttakenwhenhewasjust10daysold.HewouldsoonhavehisownBritishpassport.

MeanwhileIhadtotravelbacktoVientianetotaketheBeetleback.ItwasnotgoingtobeaneasyjourneyasIwouldneedtosellup,packuphouse–andgetout.IhadalreadybeenuptoNongkhaioncetocollectbabyclothesthatourLaofriend,BigSisterKeodouangsy,hadcollectedforusandbroughtacrosstheriver.NowIwasgoingtoneedtogoinagainmyself.Infactthreeofuswentintogether.Wefoundthatourhomehelphadevaporatedsowewereonourownwhenitcameto

�12


food.SothatMondaynightwewenttoeatattheACArestaurantontheUSAIDcompound.Weleftsoonafter9pm.ThenextmorningweheardthattheUSAIDcompoundhadbeentakenoverbythecommunistPathetLao.TwoAmericansweredetainedthereforaweekbeforebeingreleased.Anothercloseshave!

Wordgotaroundfastthatwewereleaving,soitwasquitechaoticasLaopeopleshowedupatour0latwantingtobuyourthings.Howmuchwesold–andwhat–wastemperedbytherealitythatInowhadtobeabletocarrywhateverwesalvaged.Snapdecisionshadtobemadeonwhattoletgo,someofthemweddingpresents.Someofthembabyclothes.

IalsoneededtogetexitpapersfromtheImmigrationOf0ice.Finally,onThursday,itwastimetoleave,withsuitcases,boxesandbags.AtaxitookmetotheferryatThadeua,acrosstheMekongfromNongkhai.AswenearedThadeuaweranintoamilitarycheckpoint.Itwasmannedbytwosoldiers,onefromtheoldguardandonefromthecommunistcoalition.Thelatterdidallthetalking,askingtoseemypapersandthereceipt.Thatwasnotenough...I

�13

Kheum with Big Sister and suitcases they brought to Nongkhai


wouldneedtogobackformore,hetoldme.DesperationtookoverasIthoughtofHennieandMalcolmwaitingformeinBangkok.IopenedmytraveldocumentsagainandhespottedsomeThaimoney(baht).Hiseyeslitupandhepointedtothepapernotes.HisintentionswereclearsoIgavehim200baht.Heletusproceed.Thetaxidriverlaughed:'See,theyarenobetterthantheoldguard!'hegrinned.

ItwaswithsomereliefthatIgottoKhonkaenthatnight,andthenreachedmysleeperberthfortheovernightjourneytoBangkok–andtookadeepbreath.Henniewasgladtoseeme.Malcolmwasprovingtobeabitdif0icultashedevelopedcolicandcouldnoteasilybepaci0ied.Usingdisposablediaperswasanewexperience(learningtouseanykindofdiaperforthatmatter!),andIaccidentallyblockeduptheGuestHousesewagesystemwhenI0lushedoneofthediapersdownthetoilet.(Ithoughtthatwaswhatdisposablemeant).Veteranmissionary,ElmerSahlberg,intheroombelowourswasnotverypleased!

TheGuestHousewasalsoextremelyrestlesswithmissionariesconstantlycomingandgoing.Moreover,Malcolmwashavingdif0icultygettingtosleep,nottomentionthesteeplearningcurvewewereonasnewparents!Newarrivals,especiallyfromCambodia,weretellingtheirchillingstoriesandsharedwithussomeoftheCambodianbanknotesthattheyfoundblowingdownthestreetsofPhnomPenh.Onefamilyhaddonemuchtohelporphans;theirstorieselectri0iedusallandmovedustotearsandprayer.ThentherewerethetripstoDonMuangairporttosaygoodbyetodepartingcolleagues.Wouldweevergettoseethemagain?

�14


Whatbelongingswehadbetweenthethreeofusdidnotamounttoverymuch.Wefoundtwooildrumsusedforshippingbelongingsandpackedthem,onetogotoUKandtheothertoUSA(willexplainlater).Whatwasleftwe0ittedintothreesuitcases,oneforHennie,oneforMalcolm,andoneforme.AswesatinourroomwegavethankstoGodforwhatwehad.Itwasn'tmuch.Itwasallweownednow.Wehadallthatweneeded–eachother,babyMalcolm,andJesus!Thatwasade0iningmoment.

Itwasthenthatthebigquestionhitus:whatnow?WehavetalkedaboutthismanytimessinceandareamazedthatwedidnothaveaPlanB.WebothknewwemighthavetoleaveLaos,buthadnotgivenanythoughtwhatevertowhatwewoulddoifthathappened.Uponre0lectionitispossiblethatGodwaskeepingusfromhavingtoworryaboutwhatwewoulddoif...helpingustotakeonestepatatime.Wehadgainedawonderfulnewbaby,buthadlostalmosteverythingelse–ourwork,ourhomeandmanyofourpossessions,includingourweddinggifts.Also,mysupportfromtheInternationalChurchinVientianehadevaporated.WhatevermoneywehadintheBanqued'IndochineinVientianewasnowoutofreach.

Whatwouldwedonow?HennieandMalcolmhadticketstogotoHollandprovidedthroughC&MA'sDutchof0icebutwedidnothaveenoughfundsavailabletobuyaticketforme.Wherewouldwe0indthat?HappilyHenniehadsomegoodcontactsin

�15

We had all that we

needed – each other,

baby Malcolm, and

Jesus! That was a

defining moment.


Hollandandwasableto0indfundsfromOpenDoors.Butitwouldtakeawhiletoprocess–andtherewerestillthingsIneededtobedoingonceHennieandMalcolmhadleft.

ThistakesusbacktotheverypositiveencounterIhadhadwithDrEngelinHongKongthepreviousyear.Althougheducatedasanengineer(somethingthatwillneverleaveme)IwasnowprofoundlyinterestedinChristiancommunications,especiallyinthecontextofmissions.IwrotetoDrEngelandsaidthatIwas

interestedinstudyinginthepost-gradCommunicationsprogramhehadstartedafewyearsearlierattheWheatonCollegeGraduateSchoolinWheaton,Illinois.Hewrotebacksayingthathewouldlovetohavemeandwouldbeableto0indascholarshipformetostudythere.AndsoitwasthatwithinafewweeksitseemedalmostcertainthatwewouldbegoingtoWheatonforthenewschoolyearbeginninginOctober1975.Thetimingwasperfect.

�16

Saying goodbye to Hennie and Malcolm at

Bangkok’s Don Muang

International airport was tough

Jim Engel in Hong Kong


SayinggoodbyetoHennieandMalcolmatBangkok’sDonMuangInternationalairportwastough.Itseemedsowrongthattheyshouldbegoingwithoutme,butwhatelsecouldIdo?AtthatpointIdidnotknowhowsoonIwouldbeabletojointhem.

TherewereplentyofthingsformetodosoIkeptmyselfoccupiedbyvisitingtherefugeecampsthatwerespringingupalongtheThaiborder.IwenttoPuainNanprovinceinthefarnorth.ItwastherethatImetChongLeeandhisnewly-wedwife,Pai.TheyhadbothbeeninBibleSchooltogetherinVientiane.Afterschool0inishedtheygotmarriedandspent

theirhoneymoonescapingthroughthejungletotherefugeecamp.Ittook11days.WhenIfoundthemtheyhadamakeshiftshackonthehillsidemade

upofbranchesoftreesandcoveredwithblueplastic.ChongLeehadfoundhimselfajobteachingatthenearbyBibleSchoolandwasgivenaspecialpermitfromthecamptodoso.

ChongandPaiLeewereverypleasedtoseeme–afacetheyrecognised.LikemanyotherHmongpeoplewhomImetthey

�17

Pai and Chong Lee in Pua camp


askedformyhelpingettingthemtotheUSA.ThewholeideaseemedincongruousasItriedtoimagineHmongtribalpeoplefromthehillsofLaoslivingintheaf0luentwest.Howcoulditbe?IusedtopointoutthatIwasnotinfactAmericanandhadnocontacts.Itwasalet-offforme,butitdidposetheverypertinentquestion,too,aboutwhattheirfuturemightbe.

IalsomadecontactwithEricParsons,theinterimdirectorofFEBCThailand.HewasinterestedinvisitingtheCambodianrefugeecampsinthesoutheastcornerofThailand.WordhadreachedhimthatthefamilyofKheamNuy,theFEBCKhmerbroadcasterinManila,werecomingouttoPongNamRoncampnearChanthabouri.ThiswasnowJune1975andheart-rendingaccountsofthingshappeninginCambodiawerebeginningtotricklethrough.

Aswearrivedattheborderweencounteredatragicscene:refugees,the0irstofcountlessthousandswhowouldarriveinThailandoverthenextfewyears.Therewasasombrebut

expectantmoodaspeoplearrived.Irememberonefamilygrouparrivingpushingtheirvehiclewhichhadrunoutoffuel.WefoundPastorKongandhisfamilywhohadjustarrived,walkingall

�18

Eric Parsons interviewing Pastor Kung


thewayacrossCambodiafromPhnomPenhinthesoutheasttotheThaiborderinthewest.Theytoldofthehundredsofpeopleontheroadallstrugglingtocarrywhattheycouldandcopingwithfatigue,sicknessandlackoffoodalongtheway.Theirhardshipwasalsotemperedbytheirjoyat0indingfreedomandthestartofanewlifewithoutfear.PastorKongandhiswifewerelosingnotimeinprovidingpastoralcareamongtherefugeesandholdingservices.WewereabletosendencouragingnewsbacktoKheamNuy.

�19

Cambodian refugees in Phong Nam Ron


ThedaysrushedbyasIpreparedforre-joiningHennieandMalcolminHolland.OpenDoorshadkindlytransferredmoneytomeinBangkokandIhadmyticketfora0lighttoParisandontoBrusselsthatdepartedJuly10.Inotedthatitwasinfactsixyears,sixmonthsandsixdayssinceIhad0irstarrivedinBangkok.Nowanerawascomingtoanend.ItwasanostalgicmomentasIre0lectedonallthathadhappenedduringthatperiodoftransformationonsomanyfronts–notleastformeasapersonandwhatGodhadbeenshowingmeanddoinginme.Ihadarrivedasasingle21-year-oldandwasnowmarriedwithababyson.JokinglyIwouldtellpeopleIhadgrownupinSoutheastAsia–buttherewasadegreeoftruthinthat.

Finallythedaycame.Theairportcheck-inforthatAirFrance0lighttoPariswasgoingtohaveitschallenges.MygreatestconcernwasthelargeamountofstuffIhadtotakeonmystandard20kgbaggageallowance.IrememberwearingasmanyclothesasIcould,inspiteoftheheat.Myjacketpocketsbulgedwithphotographsbutmycheck-inweightwasstillaround50kg.SoIhadtoturnonthecharm.Irelatedtothecheck-inclerkbehindthecountermysob-sobstory–howthatwehadtoescapefromLaos,wehadanew-bornbaby,andthiswaswhatremainedofwhatwehad…ShewasquitemovedandIwasabletocheckinmysuitcaseandcarry-onbagswithoutpenalty!

That0lighthomeprovedtobequitephilosophicalformeasIsatbythewindowlookingatthegroundbelow.Itpassedover

�20

The days rushed by as I prepared

for re-joining Hennie and Malcolm in

Holland


Bangladeshwherehalfamillionpeoplehadbeenwipedoutinatropicalcycloneafewyearsearlier,andoverIndiawhereIndiraGandhihadjustdeclaredastateofemergency.WelandedinBeirutwherethingswerejustbeginningtoheatupinthetroubledMiddleEast.

ItgavemesomeinsightintohowGodmustfeelashelookeddownonourtroubledworld–brokenbycon0lictandwar.FromParisitwasjustashort0lighttoBrussels.Idiscoveredit

wasgoodtofeelEuropeanagain.ItmadeachangefromSoutheastAsiawhichhadbecomemysecondhome,butwhichwasalsobeingmassivelyre-shapedbyrevolutionarycommunism.AndthereatthearrivalareawasHennielookingstunninglybeautifulassheheldupbabyMalcolm.Thatwasaveryspecialreunion!

ItwasalsowonderfultomeetHennie’sdearmotheragainandtostayinherEindhovenhome.NowitwastimetomeetHennie’sverycurious,extendedfamilywhowereanxioustoseeournewbabybutalsotoseewhatkindofamanHenniehadfound!

Hennie’sauntsarrivedbybicycleinseveralwaves.Iwatchedfromthewindowandcouldseethemcomingdownthestreet.Wehadjustwashedupthecoffeecupsandwereputtingthemawaywhenanotherwaveofauntsarrivedandwehadtoget

�21

…it was time to meet Hennie’s very

curious, extended family who were anxious to see our new baby but also to see what kind of a man

Hennie had found!


themoutagainandsitaroundthediningroomtable.(Mymother-in-lawwasoneof15children!).IdiscoveredthatinHollandpeoplehavesmallcarpetsontopoftheirtables!DouweEgbert’scoffeewasthebestandsowerethecookiesthatwentwithit.

Surprisinglythiswasmy0irstvisittoHolland.IknewnoDutchandmymother-in-lawknewnoEnglishsowehadamostinterestingexperience

communicating.Happilysmilesareuniversalandwebothenjoyedeachother'scompanyverymuch,smilingateachother.Ialsopickedupsomeinterestingexpressions.‘Hijheefteenbolletje’(‘hehasa0inehead’)sheusedtosayaboutMalcolmofwhomshewasespeciallyproud.

FinallyafterthreeweeksinHollanditwastimetovisitEngland.WewentbyferryfromHookofHollandboundforHarwich,andontoReadingwhereIhadgrownupandwhereMumandDadlived.WetookwithusthewonderfulyellowpramthatHennie'smotherhadgivenus,whichalsocouldbecollapseddown-muchtotheDutchtaxidriver’ssurprise!WewouldlaterbetakingittotheStates.

�22

Hennie’s mother with Malcolm


Itwasatimeofintroductions–tofamily,friendsandchurchfolk.AmidstthecuriosityofseeingwhomIhadmarried,andseeingour0irstbaby(itlookedasthoughMalcolmwouldbearedhead),therewasalsoadegreeofsympathywithourfamilysituationandthefactthatwewereonthemove.LivinginMumandDad’shomewithanewbabydidnotcomeeasy,especiallyforHennie.MyMumwasveryhouseproudandherkitchenwashersoledomain.Iwasnolongerateenageroruniversitystudentbutnowahusbandandfather,newrolestheyweregoingtoneedtoadaptto.

ItwaslovelytostrollbytheThameswithourpramduringthoselongsummerevenings.Theriverevokedgoodmemoriesfrommychildhoodandschooldays–notleastrowingwiththeReadingSchoolboatclub.AfterafewmeetingsandvisitsitwastimetotaketheferrybacktoHollandaswesetoursightsonWheaton,Illinois.Itwasgoingtobeabigstepintotheunknown,butthroughGod’sprovisionitlookedasthoughweshouldbeabletomakeit0inancially.Amazingly,everythingseemedtohavecometogetheratjusttherighttime.

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Grannie Harrild with Malcolm, Mum and Dad


WehadourticketsonLoftleidir–theIcelandicAirways–andweresetto0lyfromLuxembourgtoChicagoviaRijkjevik.WewereboundfortheNewWorld!Anotherchapterinouradventurewasabouttobegin….

——Note:Thisisadraftofthethirdchapter.YoucanreadtheotherchaptersandalsoviewtheextensivephotogalleryforeachchapterifyouvisitthededicatedAdventurewebsiteathttp://francisgray.com/adventure

Coverphoto:NyainstudioatLBTC(1973)

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Adventure - Pages-3francisgray.com/adventure/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Adventure-3 … · Vientiane and were known for holding seminars on the bene0its of communism in an attempt