Just some updates

It's good to be back home in Malaysia. No doubt, the weather is real hot and sweaty but Ruth and I enjoyed the food that we missed while in Australia.

At the moment, I am in Sibu. Sarawak. As I had mentioned in my previous post, my gynaecological problems aggravated when I was in OZ . I had a biospy and a Dilatation and Curette (D & C) done sometime in August and the prognosis was not good. The doctor advised me to either to get a hysterectomy done or insert an intrauterine device into my uterus that will slowly release hormones to alleviate my condition. After due consideration, I decided to seek a second opinion from the specialists in Malaysia. So, I consulted two specialists and finally got the hysterectomy done a week ago.

Thank God and with the prayers of many concerned friends that the surgery went on well. So, I am recuperating at home and hopefully, will recover in time to fly back to OZ at the end of January 2011.

Leaving on a jet plane......

Yipee! After being in OZ for almost a year, Ruth and I are finally going home to Malaysia! The packing almost done, with last minute reminders to the neighbours to keep an eye on the house, collecting the mail and arranging to pay the utility bills on online.

Looking back, it had been a roller-coaster and challenging journey. We made many new friends and experienced a different culture and the goodness of our God. I must say that I improved my culinary and driving skills. When I was a FTWM, I hardly cooked or baked. It was all done by my indonesian maids. Here in OZ I had no choice but to cook and bake as eating out is rather expensive and, of course I promoted myself to "the indonesian maid". So, we still enjoyed malaysian dishes and kuih-muih even in OZ.

Ruth also made new friends and experienced many "firsts". Initially, it was a struggle for her to adapt to the method of teaching here, which is different from Malaysia. As a result, she did not do very well in her studies. But, she is willing to work hard and improve herself.

But God is good. My faith was strengthened and spiritual life encouraged when I joined the Disciple I studies and the bible study in the Women's Fellowship at Church.

A visit ...

All my life I have never visited a nursing home. Of course, I have seen pictures and read stories of those old, sick and infirmed folks who were put into the homes so that they can get better medical care and attention. And, also horror stories of the residents being murdered or poisoned for their money, etc, etc.

I had the opportunity to visit one such home today. With Christmas around the corner, our church women's fellowship group organized a visit to a private nursing home to share the Christmas message and sing carols. This is the first time that I had seen upclose and firsthand the residents of home, most of whom are elderly, infirmed and confined to their wheelchairs and beds. I was told that most of them are senile and suffering from dementia. Many would sit still for hours, staring vacantly into space.

The scene touched me deeply. I can imagine that once, maybe not too long ago, these folks were young, strong and able-bodied men and women. The ravages of time, old age and disease does not spare anyone. But they are well taken care of by the staff and workers of the home. Our sharing and spreading of Christmas cheer brought a brief respite and a message of hope. After all, Christmas is indeed a season of good tidings, joy, hope and love.

I also met the owner of the home, who to my surprise was also a Sarawakian from Sibu but married to an Australian.

So to date.......

Alas! It had been aoens since I updated my blog. No good excuses hah!

Time really flies. Ruth and I had been here for almost a year. We had settled down somehow. Our initial adjustments were both difficult and challenging. Ruth had to adjust to her new school and the system of teaching here, which is more interactive rather than rote feeding. I had to adjust to the new environment, the Aussie "slang" and being away from the familiar. During the first few months, I was very tempted to pack my bags and make a beeline for home. It is big challenge to learn to drive here as my driving skills back home in Malaysia were already "lousy".

But we gritted our teeth and hung on. We joined the local Methodist church and the members and pastors were a great help. They helped us settle down and brought us around to get our stuff and things. Thank God for them.

I worked for 3 months as a catalogue distributor but quitted after a fall. It was tough, tiring work and pays very little compared to the other occupations. I was not in good health as my gynaeological problems aggravated. I went for a minor surgery in August and the prognosis is not good. I will be going back to Malaysia for further treatment.

We experienced our first winter and it's blurr.... cold. And the summer is freaking hot. Ruth is still adjusting to school but she is coping. Hopefully, she will continue to improve and do well. That's all for the time being.

A new move,,,,,,

Schools nationwide in Malaysia started a week ago. But Ruth is still enjoying her "honeymoon" holidays which includes her daily swim, watching her favourite Korean movies and doing some homework that I assigned her. Her new school terms starts on 1st February and thereafter, she will be busy with exams, projects and assignments. Something new for her to work on.

In the meantime, we are also busy packing our stuff and things to start our new life in Perth, Australia. During our last trip in December 2009, we managed to rent a 3 room duplex which is within walking distance of Ruth's school. Rentals in Australia are terribly expensive, taking into consideration the exchange rates. Ruth and I might have to look into some part-time jobs to pay some of the bills.