I really did not know what to expect coming to Malaysia or what ministry would look like and today I realized how “American” my month has been.
The Rumah girls are well taken care of during the month of December. Many organizations reach out to them. We went to banquet dinners, Mama Mia, the mall, and had dinners brought to our home. We had McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken donated to us. We had cupcakes and cream puffs dropped off and two puppies! The puppies lasted a day until a new home could be found for them. It was a nice gesture but not well thought through. Interact Club came one day with presents, food and games. (Interact Club is like Key Club.)
I have been to Starbucks more this month than I think I have been in my life. I recommend the chocolate chip/banana muffin! I also ate at Burger King this month. I do not think I have ever eaten at a Burger King in the States.
I have been to two movies this month, thanks to the $4 price of a movie ticket. I enjoyed Mockingjay, but am sad that they made the final book into two movies instead of just one. We made dinner for the household one night and thanks to Bethany our Mexican dinner night turned out excellent. They never had eaten Mexican food before, so it was fun to give them a new food experience.
I helped out at a food bank, a community day and serving the homeless dinner. It reminded me of volunteer work I have done in the States. It reminded me of 4-H, high school church youth group, National Honor Society, FCA and all the other times I volunteered with clubs in high school.
I was able to have dinner with Iowa State friends. I can’t tell you how nice it is to share a meal with people that know you and your family. When you are always traveling you constantly have to start at the beginning with friendships. It was so wonderful to pick up where you left off and be able to Skype your sister and brother-in-law too. It felt like we were all hanging out together.
I met a man at the hostel the other night from St. Louis. After talking for a bit we realized that we had both been at game six of the World Series. We both replayed the rain out day and the game day. So cool to be in Penang, Malaysia talking about a shared experience with a complete stranger!
This month I learned a lot about what it looks like to be on the other side of charity. I usually am on the giving side, not the receiving side. We were treated like the Rumah girls, therefore the recipients of the charity; free meals, free show tickets, and goodie bags. It was hard for me at times. I couldn’t tell if some of the organizations truly wanted to give to the girls or wanted their picture in the newspaper for “doing good.” The media was at all of our events.
This month I learned how truly sad it is when you take Jesus out of Christmas. Malaysia is a Muslim country and I have never seen such elaborate Christmas decorations at the shopping malls. People wishing you a Merry Christmas everywhere you go, yet knowing that the celebration was commercialism and not the birth of our Savior.
This month I learned what hospitality really is. A man from church invited my team to his house on Christmas. He invited us to the family Christmas dinner and treated us like queens. We were served lamb, rice, noodles, jelly, lasagna, salad, drinks and cookies. They let us be a part of their family and they didn’t even know us. They knew we were sisters in Christ and that was enough.
Today is January 31st and as I think about 2015 I hope I don’t forget all the little lessons I have been learning along the way. I hope I come back to the States with new eyes; that I am able to see who needs an invitation to a holiday meal, who needs to hear the story of Christmas, and who needs a helping hand.
Thank you for being a part of my 2014 journey! Now on to 2015!
