Australia, my new home

anthropology, Islam, and principles of scripture translation by Euan Fry from the Bible Society, to immensely practical and helpful subjects, such as what to put into a first aid kit, Sister Mary Lukiss a Professor of Tropical Medicine gave us helpful hints of what to do for malaria, tropical ulcers, and even suggested a few useful handbooks on medicine to buy. We were even told how to preserve books in the tropics. I found most of the course relevant and very helpful.

The devotional life at the college gave us also an example of how to care for our own spiritual well-being. We were all invited to participate in leading the morning devotions, and the ordained ministers were asked to lead the weekly communion service. Frank White invited me to conduct the communion service after my ordination. It was an event that remained deeply engraved in my memory.

My ordination took place on 19 February 1969 in our home congregation of the Presbyterian church in Pymble. The Presbytery had organised it and it was a most memorable occasion. All ministers participated in the laying on of hands, and I still remember the weight felt on my head at the same time as some extraordinary power or strength flowing through me. I was deeply moved by this experience. Jim Stuckey preached a challenging sermon, and I became impatient to go out into the field and serve my Lord.

But unfortunately, things do not always turn out the way we would like. I had to finish the course first, and then even wait longer for our visa to Indonesia to arrive.

As the visa had not arrived after the course had finished in June, Jim Stuckey asked me to help in the office to sort out some of the old records from early missionary days and prepare them for the Mitchell Library. I learnt there quite a good deal about the early history of our church's involvement in Vanuatu and with Aboriginal mission stations in the north of Australia. I also observed the gradual change of mission theology, and thought of Allan Loy, whose lectures had prepared me so well to understand this. The church rejected paternalism in any form and advocated more a partnership in mission.

Apart from the work at the office I continued with my Indonesian language studies at Sydney University and spent as much time in the language laboratory as I could. I knew the importance of actually practicing to speak the language, and that is what I did.

There was great jubilation as a phone call towards the end of August told us that our visas had arrived. Our departure was set for 22 September 1969.

We had some luggage to go by sea, such as a gas and electric fridge, quite a lot of kitchen items, and all my theological books. I would need them in Timor as I knew that I would be teaching at a Theological school near Kupang. We also packed items such as a baby's bath, and all our Persian rugs. Grace Brothers were going to put all our sea luggage into

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