This month my team and I are in Kuantan, Malaysia. We do not have a set ministry setup or host family. We’re solely relying on the Lord to give us direction and present us with opportunities to share our stories, serve, and truly just love the heck out of the people here in Malaysia. We’re praying big prayers and having faith that God is going to do some incredible things through us this month. We walk the streets talking to store owners, stroll into “Grannies” (old folks home) to do puzzles and hangout with the elderly peeps, make friends at coffee shops, eat with random people at the mall, and my favorite – hangout with the local skaters at the skate park.
I’ve had my skateboard with me for the entire race.
I built it month one in Costa Rica.
In Nicaragua it was practically glued to my feet. I shredded up and down the tile sidewalks making friends with security guards and local skaters. I listened to a local skater’s dream of someday owning a shop and building a skatepark in Granada. I even prayed over one of the local skate spots with my team.
In the Philippines I turned our basketball court into the perfect skate spot. I would purposefully leave my board in the middle of the floor so the kids could play with it when I left. Sometimes I’d sneak back up to the court and just watch them scoot each other back and forth across the floor giggling.
In Vietnam I bombed every single hill I set my eyes on.
Last month, I visited a non-profit that uses skating as a tool to empower the youth in Cambodia, Afghanistan, and South Africa <>.
Through skating in all of these countries the past 6 months I’ve realized that my board is a pretty great tool for ministry. It hasn’t always been a space I invite God into, but I’ve learned that skating and my walk with the Lord coincide.
Unfortunately, the skate kids sometimes get a bad rep. They’re identified as the misfits, the rebels, the trouble makers, the wild ones, the kids without direction, and lacking discipline.
But that’s not what I see.
I see children bursting from the shackles of conformity. Children who are probably a little weird and reckless, but they embrace it because who wants to be normal. Children who fall over and over and get back up because they don’t fear failure, they thrive off of it. Children who have a special community and bond with one another. Children who have broken the mold and have no desire to go back to it. Children who may not have it all figured out, but have found something that makes them come alive.
I see myself in these children.
I see children of God.
This month we are 5 minutes from a local skatepark where tons of people (all ages) come to skate and hangout. I’ve made some friends, received help with new tricks, and laughed as my teammates try to stay on my board for longer than a few seconds. God has presented a cool opportunity to use skating as a way to get to know the kids here and share some of my story. There’s only one girl who skates among all the boys. Her name is Niesa. Of course she’s my favorite. I help her with tricks when we meet up, and she took me to have dinner with her older sisters and brother a few days ago.
I’m already in love with the park, and the skate community has been more than welcoming to us. My team and I are planning a skate tournament with a local skate shop in a few weeks. We plan to have food and prizes for the kids who come out to take part in it. PLEASE be praying that this tournament gets organized and is coordinated smoothly. Also, if you’re interested in donating to help us purchase prizes (skateboard decks, trucks, and wheels) don’t hesitate to message me. I can’t stop thanking God for such a sweet ministry this month. Just having the opportunity to use something I’m passionate about to engage with youth and simultaneously bring glory to His name is truly something special.
Here’s a handful of the kids I’ve been getting to know at the park! I’ll post more pictures soon.
