Read Online The Angel of Bang Kwang Prison by Susan Aldous, Nicola Pierce - Free Book Online Page A

floated into my mind’s eye. Bingo! I would ask him for the money. Philip was a well-to-do Chinese-Malaysian professor who owned a nightclub and restaurant and drove an expensive Jaguar. He used to come in for a quiet drink and we soon started having regular chats. We had enjoyed many a deep discussion over the bar. He had gone through a bad divorce and was missing his young son. After two weeks of talking to him he broke down one night in the bar and asked me to pray that he would discover the meaning of his life and what he was meant to do next. I liked him and felt sure that he would support my venture. I don’t usually like to ask people for help or money but this was different. The very next evening I walked into the lounge and found the professor at his favourite table. He smiled at me in welcome. I gathered myself together and headed over. I would just be upfront and not bother with the small talk.
    ‘Hiya, guess what? I’m off to Malaysia to do good things and God told me that you would pay for my plane ticket.’
    He looked at me to see if I was joking. I trembled a little and he said, ‘Oh, I see! Right! Well let’s talk about this, why don’t you sit down.’
    He ordered a bottle of Champagne and we talked until 4am. I told him my entire life story, including the drinking, drugging and rock ‘n’ rolling. He listened gravely without interrupting me once. Then he asked me why I wanted to go to Asia and what my plan was. He seemed very touched and asked me to let him think about it. He came back to me the next day, and said:
    ‘I feel that you have been completely honest with me and for that you have my trust. So, yes I will buy you your ticket.’
    I flung my arms around him in thanks and relief. Now I could start to make my preparations. I was definitely going. Oh my sweet Jesus!
    My parents were determined to hear me out and only raise valid, mature points about this new direction of mine. They knew very little about Asia and worried that I could end up being mowed down by a herd of raging, stampeding elephants or drink dirty water or fall out of the tree-house that I might be living in. Their biggest concern was what would happen to me if I fell ill; was there adequate medical treatment available? Philip did me another great favour in agreeing to visit them and explain to them what I could expect in his neck of the woods. They were very taken with his genteel ways and the fact that he was also a parent. He assured them that it was easier, and much cheaper, to get a doctor in Asia than it was in Australia; and that all the latest treatment was widely available. His visit had the desired effect and they were a lot easier in their minds about my going. I was always completely up front with them. I told them that this was something that I had to do and that I was prepared to give it three months. If it didn’t work out by then I would be happy to return.
    So Philip was buying my air ticket but I still needed money for everything else. I decided to do a little personal fund-raising and approached both everyone I knew and strangers on the street holding up an empty coffee can that I needed filled with coins. Folks were fascinated by my story—that I was going to be a missionary in Asia. I suppose I really didn’t look the part and I was still very young of course. I bought a one way ticket, which shocked my family and friends, but that’s the cockiness of youth. I had complete faith that things were going to work out just fine! Maybe the excitement had me run ragged but I managed to come down with bronchitis with only a few weeks or so before my flight. My parents eyed me anxiously as I coughed and hacked my way through my final preparations. However, absolutely nothing was going to stop me getting on that plane. They took me out for a lovely dinner the night before I left and made me a present of much-needed cash. Rose was there too, almost as excited for me as I was.
    Inevitably I didn’t sleep much