While serving in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia, one evening we headed down to the Kelantan River and waited for a boat to take us across to the Tako Plantation. Unfortunately it wasn’t a taco plantation, but rather a rubber tree plantation. Sorry Thomas (lover of Taco Bell).
I have discovered that although I enjoy the water, I do not particularly enjoy muddy water of unknown depths nor crossing said water on a rickety boat with no life jacket or safety briefing. It was a great feat for me just to cross the broken, wobbly, make-shift bridge from the land to the dock. It required lots of deep breaths and prayers on my part and patience from my teammates. I’d say by the end of the race, I’ll be a pro at these things, just keep praying for me!
Once we disembarked at Tako Plantation, we began walking to the house where the Pastor would be handing out milk powder to the locals. My team and I were asked to prayer walk the area, particularly praying for the Indian Malaysians in the area. As we began our prayer walk I noticed there were tons of children and motor-scooters on the plantation. The children were quite curious about us, and before too long we each had a rather large following.
Most of the little boys flocked to Danny, and he entertained them like a pro. Thomas and Samson found the futbol field with a crew of locals playing ball and quickly gave themselves positions on the field. Caitlin and Cindi talked with the little girls and cuddled the babies. Sheri walked and sang and worshiped and went as the Lord led her. I found myself surrounded by a group of young girls on motor-scooters. It was one of the most memorable moments on race for me so far. My explanation doesn’t give it justice. Seeing the joy and light in the faces and eyes of those children gave me such hope and peace and I wanted to pour God’s love out all over them.
After about an hour we headed back to the house where we left the Pastor. As we arrived he asked that three girls accompany Samson to a home a few doors down to share the gospel with a Tamil woman. Samson can speak Tamil, so he would speak and help translate for us.
When we walked into the house it was evening prayer time for the family as they were practicing Hindus. The home was filled with burning incense and there was a heaviness in the room that could only be explained as spiritual darkness. Each breath I took was labored and shallow as it was difficult to even breathe.
As Samson started sharing the gospel with Shonti, an older Tamil woman, I began praying that God would open the eyes of her heart and take the scales of her eyes. That the powers of Satan would be bound up and cast out of this place.
After Samson spoke, Shonti said she accepted Jesus and would pray to Him. However, Hindus usually pray to hundreds if not thousands of gods, so she would just be adding Jesus to her list. I told her God is a jealous God, and that all of the other gods are not real and that she doesn’t need to pray to them.
Then we began praying for her. We prayed boldly in the authority of Christ claiming her life and the life of her family members for Christ. We prophesied that she would rise up as a beacon of light in her community and bring others to know the One True God.
Once we finished praying she told us that while we were praying she saw a bright light and she was filled with peace and joy and it felt like a giant weight had been lifted from her. Then she opened her eyes and saw a bright light on each of us as we were praying for her. She knew that what we were telling her was real. After praying the Holy Spirit had radically transformed the atmosphere of that home. It was no longer dark, heavy and difficult to breathe, but rather bright and filled with love and joy.
Be bold and remember, we ARE the light of the world! No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl. A lamp is always put on a lamp-stand, so that people who come into a house will see the light. Luke 8:16
Shine for Jesus! He made YOU, just one YOU, to be the light in your family, your community, and your workplace.
Pray for Shonti and her family and for those in the Tako Plantation that God would continue to radically reveal Himself to them and their response would be to follow Him.
Love,
Laura
