So typical Easter traditions in my house were always waking up early and hunting for Easter eggs while still in our pajamas. After the whole yard and house was Easter egg free we’d head into the living room to find our baskets filled with life sized chocolate bunnies, peeps, and jelly beans. Right before we were about to have sugar crashes we’d then put on our beautiful new Easter dresses/hats and on we went to church. Following church we’d always head to my Uncle Kenny’s house where again we would search for Easter eggs, spend time with family, and then eat way too much food.
Well… Easter is celebrated a little different here in Malaysia…
I was woken up at 1am to Auntie serving us what I thought was bad apple juice but it turns out that she had just popped a fine bottle of sparkling cider. The other girls had just gotten home from a church service (yes, church goes until midnight sometimes) but I had stayed back. So after drinking our sparkling cider to start off the celebration we proceeded to take a 3 hour ‘nap’ before waking up to go back to church. While it was still way too dark and my body not wanting to be anywhere else but in bed, we were at an Indian Methodist sunrise Easter service. We were all dressed in our
Sunday’s best, which now consists of stained skirts and wrinkled tops, but we totally stood out compared to the beautiful dresses these women were in (but hey, welcome to the world race). I have never seen such pristine colorful dresses. Women either had their heads covered in their sari’s or were beautifully decorated in flowers. The service went on from 430-8am, majority in Tamil, but it was a good way to start Easter.
After a quick breakfast/hot milo stop at Pastor David’s sisters house we headed back to Auntie’s house for a nap. I’m used to holiday naps but usually after you eat too much.
The rest of the day did not feel like Easter at all…but here’s how it went. After our wonderful much needed nap we went out with our Indian contacts to a Chinese restaurant to eat lunch, in Malaysia. We filled our much hungry stomachs with sweet n sour chicken, a spicy deer dish, veggies and of course rice. After a run to Tesco (sort of like a Target?) to replenish essential items for the next few months, we went home to get ready for the night activities at the church. We were told there was going to be a church campfire, and somehow we were volunteered to put on a skit, but we weren’t too sure what a campfire actually looks like in Malaysia. We arrived to find a pretty cool prom style arch of balloons welcoming us in. After the arch was rows of chairs, a stage in front and then a massive bamboo filled bonfire greeted us to the right. I don’t know about you, but when I think of a youth campfire I see a fire-pit in the middle surrounded by logs to sit on…well this is Malaysia.
team .APEX with the lovely balloon arch (don’t we look so awake and well rested?)
Moments later the ‘show’ started. There were dances, skits (including ours), songs, preaching, and of course the lighting of the bond fire. This was amazing. The passion that these people have is amazing. They are on fire for the Lord. We danced with the kids and just had a blast worshiping our awesome God. We ended the night with dinner (around 10pm because that’s when they eat dinner). And being at an Indian church ‘cook-out’ we should have thought to bring forks. Well we didn’t so we ate with our hands just like our friends.
This Easter was nothing like I’ve ever experienced but it was for sure one of my favorite days in Malaysia.
Below is a dance that some of the youth put together. I love love love this dance and our team is trying to learn it so we can perform it in India… I’ll make sure to post a video of our version of the dance
