My first impressions were… made at 4:30 in the morning when we got off the train. At that moment the town looked old and run down, rather eerie to be honest. Everything was locked up and pitch black, except for this one place in the middle of town that had trees lit up like Christmas. Now they have changed to…this town is much bigger than I realized. During the day and late afternoon the town comes alive. All the stores open, there are open air restaurants on every corner, and we live next to about 15 car repair shops. This town in Pahang, Malaysia is settled on a river in the middle of a jungle. So needless to say there is beauty all around.
The weather here…is mostly sunny and hot. However, the nights are very pleasant. It cools off some and makes it rather enjoyable to sit outside. We are in the start of rainy season, so at about 4:00pm everyday we have gotten a nice shower.
The best thing I ate was…roti. Roti is round, soft, flat unleavened bread, which we ate at the Indian restaurants all around us. There are many kinds, but my favorites where roti canai (plain), roti bom (with condensed milk), and roti telur (with egg). I can say without a doubt that I ate at least one or more roti a day for three weeks.
My favorite moment in this country… was our unexpected first day in Kuala Lumpur. As stressful as I thought it was in the moment, I look back now and truly enjoyed the little moments of that day. We were able to visit the Petronas Towers, visit a butterfly house, and take my first ride on a sleeper train.
My favorite moment in this town… was teaching the adult English class. All three students in this class were so much fun to be around. Even though Rachael, Erik, and I were completely unsure of what we were doing I truly had a great time.
What satisfied me the most? The most satisfying part of the month was being able to find rest in God. To truly begin to sit quietly and listen for his voice was very fulfilling. I can’t say that I totally got the hang of it, but it was a great start and something I will continue to work on.
What frustrated me the most? The most frustrating part of the month was that we were unable to talk in public about our faith. Even though Malaysia is not a closed country it is highly frowned upon to share the gospel. So, it was a month long journey of remembering when and where we could and could not speak about God. However, I can say that I learned what it meant to “walk” the gospel and that was satisfying.
I see God at work here…in the lights on the street, the smiles people greet me with, and the amazing generosity the people here have shown my team. We may not be able to talk about God openly here in Malaysia, but God is working.
If a friend travels here they must… go to the milestone that marks the center of the Peninsula of Malaysia. Though there is not much to see, I still think it is pretty cool to say that I have stood in the middle of Malaysia.
Also, I would take a trip to Cameron Highlands. The weather is cool and rainy (which is not my favorite), but the area is beautiful. Go to the top of a mountain, walk through the Mossy Forest, visit a tea plantation, or a strawberry farm. There is a lot to see and do, I wish we would have had more time to spend there.
ROUTE UPDATE
So here is the final route…Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa, Swaziland, Ireland, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania
