I had originally written a blog similar to this one about our ministry here in Malaysia (intending to post it long before now), but due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to post it. (You will find out why in my next blog!) So, I sincerely apologize that this is getting posted so late! I promise to try my best to post more next month! Just as a brief update, here is what has been happening here in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia!
Our ministry here in Malaysia has looked quite differently than what we had “expected,” the very word that Adventures in Missions tells us NOT to use. “No expectations” is one of their slogans, but a lot of the times, we don’t realize we have expectations until they aren’t being met. Well, we expected to be busy, we were ready to serve and do tons of “hands-on” work for the Kingdom. God had very different plans for my team…
We have been blessed this month, without a doubt. We have had the opportunity to team up with a church working alongside our wonderful pastor and going with him to pray in hospitals over children and others in the ICU and maternity unit. We have also had the opportunity to attend church family’s houses and pray with them, sing with them and share life with them. These ministries have been amazing and we have learned a great deal through them. Reading this, it sounds like we have been busy, but reality is, we have had more downtime than any of us ever expected.
In the last two weeks, my team has been in a season of stillness more than anything. STILL. Do I even know what that word means?! All of you that know me probably understand that sitting still is one of the most difficult things for me to do and one of my most disliked activities ever! I’ve always been a busy bee – school, work, internship, Bible college, volunteering at Church, and squeezing the remainder of the lack of time in to spend with family and friends. How getting my grub on and sleep fit in there, I’m not sure? But it happened! This month has been a challenge for me in that we have had to learn to be STILL and wait on the Lord.
Among the hands-on ministry, the stillness has served our team in great ways. We have had the chance to grow close to one another, share our testimonies and struggles, and just get to laugh and encourage/challenge one another in our faith. The Lord has also pressed me to learn that it is okay to sit still in His presence and allow Him to do work through the silence. It is no coincidence that I was reading a book called “The Waiting Place” before I even arrived to Malaysia and this particular quote stood out to me:
“He’s arranged this meeting place to have some ‘one on one’ time with you, in order to show you things about yourself and your faith that are critical for the rest of your journey.”
This month has been one of the most challenging times for me, but through it, God has been able to reveal to me areas that I must grow in, especially in the area of leadership. Being a leader of a team has taken me completely out of my comfort zone and has forced me to grow in relying not on my own strength to complete the tasks at hand, but rely upon God to pull me through. Ultimately, God has used this month to reveal my insecurities in leadership and has given me time to understand why they are there and how to overcome them so that I can grow in my faith and as an individual. God is teaching me the true definition of servanthood and even though this month looked nothing like I had imagined, His plan has proven to be immensely greater than my own. (As always!)
Overall, our month here in Malaysia has been amazing. The quality time we have had with God, as a team, with our ministry contact and the families of the church, and the invaluable hands-on opportunities we have had at the hospital and in attending a youth conference in Penang, are all priceless. I am SO blessed and thankful for what God has done in this month even if it’s not what I expected.
Speaking of priceless, stay tuned for my next blog that will explain why I wasn’t able to post sooner… 😉
