Return to OZ!

It is five in the morning. The house is quiet and I can hear very clearly, the melodic singing of the native birds outside probably sitting somewhere in the mango trees behind the house, or perhaps perched on the moringa tree in the front yard. They like to serenade the sun even before the first rays appear in the horizon. The children are still sleeping in their beds and my dear husband will be getting up soon to go to work. Coffee is brewing in the French press and gratefulness is bubbling up inside me. I am so grateful to God for bringing us back home, to Australia.

After nearly seven months in the Philippines, we have made the decision to return. Certain restrictions were lifted back in June which caused us great excitement and joy; and after observing quietly, we flew back to Karratha at the beginning of August.

With four large suitcases, three small ones, three laptop backpacks, a guitar and a AUD$400 receipt for excess luggage, we got on our flight in Manila and arrived a day later at the place where our children were born. We welcomed the sweet relief of cooler weather, it being the end of winter when we arrived. I went for a run for the first time a couple of weeks after our arrival and took my time observing the winter wildflowers, still in bloom, along the path I had taken numerous times before. What a joy it was to see them, like familiar old friends who have come out just to welcome my return.

Surprisingly, there were no restrictions when we flew back. All one needs now to enter Australia is a valid passport (and visa, if required) and a mask to wear on the plane. And that is it! The airports we went through (Manila, Changi in Singapore and Perth Airport) were abuzz with activity, a far cry from the quiet, gloomy atmosphere we experienced last time we came through. There were long queues of people waiting to check their bags in, restaurants and shops full of people eating and shopping, airport workers going about their duties. It was glorious! It felt normal! Exhausting as it was, the return home gave us a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future. It was quite a nice feeling to have.

We celebrated Father's Day with our customary baked cheesecake! (Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September)

We’ve had to leave most of our belongings in the Philippines. Our ‘balikbayan’ boxes, still sealed and stacked up like a fortress wall, will find a home once our house is built. The children chose a couple of toys they wanted to take with them and put the rest of their things in a box which we also sealed and put in storage. They are getting very good at letting go of material things when necessary, thriving on very few comforts, packing up and going at very short notice. My prayer is that all the sudden changes in our circumstances these past few months will develop in them resilience, adaptability and unshakeable faith in God, who had us in his secure grip the entire time.

I unpacked what books I could from their boxes and stored them on bookcases at my grandparents’ house. I took as many books as possible that are in the Ambleside Online curriculum for my children’s homeschool lessons and covered the rest with blankets, praying that they will be preserved until I can properly set up my library in the house our family is building. I think my children dealt with leaving their favourite things behind better than I did with leaving our books behind. Perhaps it is indeed my calling to start a mini-library in every house we live in. I’m still grieving having to part with my books which I have carefully curated over the years. I guess I’m just going to have to start again (oh, well).

We told all but three of our friends about our decision to return and what a delight it was to see the look of surprise on their faces when we walked into church that first Sunday morning. How absolutely lovely it was to be welcomed back so warmly and so cheerfully. So many mouths agape in shock, such warm hugs, and handshakes, and words of kindness. It was wonderful to see our church family again, beloved and exceedingly missed. We attended Karate training (did I mention we were Karate enthusiasts?) the first week of our arrival and thoroughly enjoyed seeing our Senseis and amazing friends we have missed so much. And although rusty and so much slower (we suffered that incredible ache in our limbs afterwards) from six months of Filipino food and only going to the mall for exercise, we realised just how much we missed Karate training!

Now nearly two months since our return, we’re back in stride. My husband returned to work this week (a new job with a different employer, an answered prayer!) and the children and I are back to our regular homeschool routine. We were able to set up the house fairly quickly too, getting beds and mattresses online and sourcing second-hand furniture from the local buy-sell-swap Facebook group. We purchased household necessities; beddings, towels, pots and pans, cutlery, etc.; from our K-mart in town. I hit the thrift shop for some wardrobe items (we could only fit so many clothes when we flew back, our suitcases were mostly filled with books!) and turned to Amazon and the two-dollar shop for some essential art supplies (I had to leave all my supplies behind, I was only able to bring back a few brushes and my aquarelle set). We’ve also had a couple of dinners with our amazing friends in celebration of our unexpected return and our children have had the opportunity to re-connect with theirs.

We’re so happy to be back. This year has been an adventure and all we feel is gratitude. We are experiencing God’s providence and protection over our family every single day, in every situation. And through it all, in my personal journey, I am seeing how He answers prayers -- how He answers them even before they are uttered. So yes, gratitude. Nothing but gratitude.