The Only AA Member Writes From Indonesia

HERE in Indonesia, the land of the sun and monsoon rains, I am the only AA member. My name is Mary. We came here in September 1959 from Tucson, Arizona, where I had been a member of a fine and wonderful group for over two years. With what an aching heart and grave misgivings I left Tucson to become a loner. And how fortunate for me I had had good indoctrination into AA by the ever helpful and friendly members in Tucson. If my basic teachings had been less I wonder if I would still be sober as of this writing. However, I know I don't want to go back into that bottomless pit of agony. I want to stay sober. The fact that I wanted to find a way to stop drinking and discovered AA was my only recourse, after the usual thousands of promises that I'd quit drinking or go on the wagon (I succeeded in doing that on my own for three days once) or only drink week-ends, etc., etc., was undoubtedly of great benefit. For as I had lapped up liquor previously so now did I lap up every word I heard and was able, thank God, to retain some of the teachings when I came out here.