Every night we do hospital ministry in Sungai Petani. We go and pray over all of the patients and talk to their families. I entered in, praying about a lot of stuff. I have been feeling pretty home sick and as most of you know, I LOVE HUGS! I haven't had one since launch and I was feeling pretty down, since touch is one of my love languages. So, I prayed for the Lord to hug me! Then, I shifted onto a more selfless prayer and started praying over the people we were about to encounter. I prayed for the sick children that we were about to lay hands on, I prayed for the hospital staff, and I prayed that every person there would see Jesus bursting out of my pores and be instantly drawn to me.
Alot of our ministry this month has been through little things. Like picking up a little girl who tripped, putting her sandal back on her dirty foot, and then smiling at her mother when she walked up to the scene. Or telling the little kids how cool you think their bikes look and attempting to play football with them, only for them to laugh at you. Or waving and saying hello to the woman watering her plants. A lot of our ministry seems to come from small talk with the locals and laughing with the children who laugh at us because we look different! Doesn't really sound like much and we had been struggling with the feeling that we weren't doing that much.
Then, God shifted my focus and showed me that ministry is the little things. This is mission work and all the small things we're doing are planting seeds for the Lord to grow. Which is something I needed to understand, because I entered into this with some insecurities about not being good enough. I believe the Lord is asking me to be faithful in the small things for this season, while He prepares our hearts for everything He is about to do through us. When we were doing feedback the other night, my team spoke a lot of things over me that I needed to hear. They told me that I am full of a lot of joy and I minister, not even realizing that I am doing it, because it just kind of flows naturally from that. I think the Lord is really building my confidence in His work in and through me, right now. I can't wait to embrace that more and be totally secure in all He has given me. I am nothing, but I have every thing living inside of me.
Our House
When we got to the children's unit, we waited together for a few minutes to figure out who was going to pray for which child. As I was standing there, I felt 3 taps on my shoulder. I turned around and there was a beautiful teenage girl standing there, Faith Michelle. She told me, "You are very beautiful" and then she hugged me! It almost brought tears to my eyes! I told her how much I loved hugs and had been needing one. You better believe she gave me 100 more before I left. Then, I got to meet Faith's 2 siblings: Veronica and *drum roll* Justin Bieber!!! Just so you know, Justin Bieber looks like a 10 year old Malaysian boy in person. Didn't expect that, but he promised me that he was Justin Bieber! It must be true, right?!
Justin Bieber
Those 3 kids really blessed my heart. The Lord has put such a passion for youth and children's ministry inside of me. That is what comes natural to me. That is what I love to do. It's probably the thing I am looking forward to being involved in most this year. I just love to love on kids and help them see their worth. I want to be able to show them that, no matter what their home life is, they have a Father that loves them with a love beyond their comprehension!
　
Veronica
Sorry to every one who was disappointed with the J. Beebs story! Just know that seeing the little Malay Justin Bieber blessed me way more than meeting the real one. It really warmed my heart that I was praying for God to send me a hug and then he gave me more than I can count. God uses so many different things to let us know He is there and wants us to feel His love in every aspect of our lives. Faith Michelle, Veronica, and Justin Bieber, Thank you so much for the hugs!!
