I had no idea what I would find in this country of mystery. Even when we landed the plane and took a two hour bus ride to the capital city, it was difficult to gain a feel for the culture and people. They were hidden inside their surprisingly beautiful houses and behind the large amount of trees growing everywhere. They were inside their air-conditioned cars or inside their mosques, temples, and places of employment. I seemed to not find anyone walking on the streets or working outside their houses. This may partly have to do with the fact that Malaysia has about 95 percent humidity and a heat that can be exhausting.
I kept asking the Lord, and our contacts, and I was soon on my way to solving this mystery of Malaysia. Let me give you several hints that will help you understand why I was so confused. The first night we were here in Ipoh we ate Indian food (delicious, by the way). The next morning as we walked in the city, our conversation was interrupted by the call to prayer coming from loudspeakers on the mosque next to us. Ok, check. All signs lead to the conclusion that we are smack-dap right in the middle of the Indian section of Ipoh.
Yet when we sat with our contacts the next morning they kindly informed us of a delicious Chinese food shop that was not far from the Indian food restaurant. That afternoon the sound of ringing bells assailed our ears as we walked again. They were coming from a Buddhist temple that was adorned with figurines and had smoke rising from candles lit before golden idols. Ok, now things are getting a little foggy, maybe there’s a combination of Indian and Chinese culture here? But where are the Malaysians, isn’t this place after-all called Malaysia?
As we continued to interact with the culture and ask questions, it finally began to come together. Malaysia is a combination of 3 main cultures and multiple sub-cultures. The Malays, Indians, and Chinese mainly make up the culture combined with people groups from the places surrounding Malaysia. The sub-cultures are created by people who come into this developing country to work and earn money for their families back home. While the work is hard, they are paid better here than they would be back home and so they stay for as long as the work is available.
If the cultures are this confusing to pick up and understand, then you can only imagine what it is like to walk into this country and attempt to comprehend what is happening spiritually. There is an over-arching confusion that seems to reign as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism comprise the majority of religious activity. Along with the confusion comes a heavy feeling of apathy. The conclusion that has been reached is that everyone can get to heaven through their own cultural and religious actions. So whatever you believe is not black or white, it’s simply a different road leading to the same destination.
The mystery of Malaysia has been solved. Now what do we do about it?
