1973 our first travel to Asia 1973 was very differant. We travelled one month overland in a Thames Trader Truck from Belgium to India.
Now Oct 2020 the travel for me to Asia was also very differant. Even though I have visa, workpermit and re-entry permit I needed an extra permission: CoE (= Certificate of Entry) from the Thai Embassy i Stockholm, needed 2 health certificates and to travel on an expencive special Thai repatriation flight. Repatriation = returning to their own country. 
The flight attendents on the Thai flight had protection cloths. 
And at Bangkok airport there were 5-6 checking points by many officials all in protection cloths.
Now I have to stay in a quarantine room 14 days without meeting a person. After these 14 days I can go out and continue to travel to Anna in Ubon. The aim of this strict controll is to stop all Covid-19 at the borders. Inside the country we can move freely, with face masks.
We are well and have many open doors of ministry in Isaan and Laos. But we feel extreamly sad for all local people both in Laos and in Thailand who now have very little work and struggling to survive. They have little or no money for food or for children`s schooling. Teenagers are asked to go out and work.
The projects right now is helping many, not to give up. The word Innovation came to us very clear in the beginning of 2020. Now is time to stand with the local people to find new ways to have income. The tourism can be late to pick up again, or never come back up to the same level. 2019 Thailand had 39.8 million tourists.
2019 Laos had 4,6 million tourists.
Even if travelling can be interesting let us never never in Missions forget that: 
God Bless You.
Ingvar (Fred)
