Muslim, follower of Jesus.

population: 27 million

 

religion: 52% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 12% Taoist, 8% Hindu, 8% Christian

 

 

Well, I don’t know about you, but before hearing that Malaysia was one of the countries I would be living in this year, it had never been given much thought.  In fact, even after I heard that it was going to be on the route I didn’t give it much thought.

 

I remember telling one of my roommates before I left that I really didn’t think that Malaysia would be that trying of a country, I just kind of lumped it with the Philippines and I don’t know, assumed it would be like Central America.

 

I don’t know where I come up with these things.

 

I am defiantely not in Central America.  Or the Philippines.

I’m in Malaysia. 

 

A predominately Muslim country.  and to be honest with you, I love it.  As soon as I got off of the airplane I knew that my expectations of this country were way off and I immediately started getting an excitement that didn’t quite make sense.  As I started learning about the country and who it’s made up of…I began to understand.

 

I have a huge heart for Muslim people.  Unfortunately I have had very little opportunity to spend time and befriend any at home.  Now, to be in this country, I feel like I’m getting my first glimpse of what it would be like to be a full time missionary in a predominately Muslim country.

 

We have spent some time learning a bit about the Islam faith and have begun to maybe… understand their faith.  We even had the opportunity to visit a Mosque.

 

                   

 

 

anyway I’ve learned a few things about Islam.

 

1.  They are just people.  duh.  and just like there are crazy fundamentalist Christians who, scare me…there are crazy fundamentalist Muslims.  but, for the most part, they’re just people.

 

2.  Being a Malay, you are a Muslim.  and you really have no choice.  You are a Muslim, your children will be Muslim and your children’s children will be Muslim.  that’s just the way it is.

 

3.  Muslims pretty much think that all white people are Christians.  They also have full access to all of our Hollywood movies.  Therefore, Christians look like a pretty morally corrupt people group.

 

4.  It’s not about being a Christian.  It’s about being a follower of Jesus.   1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Paul talks about becoming all things to all men in order to save some.  It’s starting to become really real now.

 

Anyway, the heart that I had for the Muslim people before coming on this race has grown incredibely.  The spirit of Islam is thick and these people have no idea how enslaved they are.  My heart breaks, but at the same time, I know that if my heart is breaking, my God’s heart is breaking more and He is doing extraordinary things in order to reveal Himself. 

 

There is a growing number of Muslims, followers of Jesus, throughout this country.  Men and women who though they are Muslim have experienced Christ and have given their lives to Him.  If they become ‘Christians’ they are no longer effective in their community, oestracized and thrown out.  If they continue to look like their brothers and sisters (on the outside) they get to be a witness because of what’s going on on the inside.

 

I love it.

I love our God.

I love the Muslim people.

I love this country.

 

please be praying though…the enemy does not like that we are here.  😉