I want to share with you a little about what we’ve been doing here in Malaysia for the past two weeks. I’ve been very hesitant to share much about our time here so far, mostly because our ministry up until now looks very different from the ministry we’ve had in other countries…and to some may not look like a ministry at all. To be completely transparent, it hasn’t really felt much like I’m doing any ministry, or on a ‘’mission trip’’, but more like I’m back home in a big city or even at times like I’m on vacation. With these feelings of failure and frustrations about ‘’not doing enough’’ have come some important lessons, however, and I hope you can hear my heart when I tell you all that God has been showing me so far this month.
Doing missions in Africa is almost inevitable, with poverty and homelessness being ever abundant and orphans and widows on every street corner. Seeing obvious physical needs that can be met and recognizing ways to pray for healing or miracles becomes a part of daily life. But here it’s different. Here I’ve noticed that missions takes on a whole new identity. The way we might minister or pray for people here is nothing like the way we would minister or pray in Africa. The cities we have been in offer all the same comforts and consumerism that I’m used to in America. You don’t have to go very far to find a shopping mall or a Starbucks or even a crossfit gym. It’s easy to get lost in all the crowds and fall into the familiar routine of shopping and sight-seeing, getting comfortable being a tourist. (I’ve lost count of the number of times I walked through the street markets and stopped to look at a dress or pair of sunglasses before reminding myself that I don’t need to add more weight to my backpack!) But I’ve also realized that maybe that’s exactly why I am here. Maybe God put us in a place just like home with people rushing around, getting lost in the daily routine, for us to really learn how to do life as ministry in a practical way. When this trip is over and I’m back in the states, I will be in a very similar atmosphere. I won’t have a structure or scheduled ministry; I will have daily chores to do and errands to run, I will have a list of things to accomplish and countless distractions to keep my mind off of kingdom focus, all the while with people around me living their life in a similar way. It would be very easy to pick up right where I left off, living a life busy with work, schedules, meetings, and deadlines…but that is not the life I am called to live. It is certainly not the life that I want to have. This year continues to teach me that I was made for so much more. I was made for relationship and community with others. I am here to share God’s love with people, and doing that in a practical way is not complicated or scheduled. All you have to do is meet the people who are placed in front of you each and every day. While you are out shopping, having coffee at Starbucks, or working out at the gym, look for those who God has placed right in front of you to share a smile or friendly conversation with. You never know what doors might be opened or what opportunities might arise just by living everyday as a ministry.
It was through a not-so-random encounter one day at the botanical gardens that we met Alvin, our very friendly tour guide and trolly driver. He has invited us to stay on his farm for the next week, where we will get to help garden and tend to the strawberry and vegetable fields. We don’t yet know much about Alvin, although we do know this…he is Malaysian. We have been told that it is against the law for a Malay to convert to any other religion beside Islam. For that reason, it is also against the law to share the gospel with them. A pastor here told us that it’s not just for our own safety that we abide by this rule, but more for the safety of the Malaysian people, because the repercussion of following any other religion can be very harsh. While we want to respect the laws and be considerate of the safety of these people, we also realize that there is freedom in knowing the love of Jesus and that no earthly consequence could ever replace the joy and peace of eternal salvation. Please pray that our time on the farm with Alvin and the surrounding community will be fruitful (no pun intended) and bring glory to God as we love and serve them through His Spirit. Pray that we get an open door to share the gospel with Alvin and that he would come to know the love of Jesus. We are so excited at this opportunity to serve!
Another big lesson I am learning here is how to listen to God when He speaks. Without a scheduled ministry, we find ourselves with lots of down time. During a conversation with a friend, I was reminded that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself. Sometimes I forget about that first part though…loving the Lord FIRST. This month has given me such a great opportunity to spend intimate time with God and reconnect with Him in new ways. I continue to learn how He speaks, and in the moments when He may seem silent to sit in the stillness knowing that He is still God, and He is ALWAYS good. I know that learning this lesson of loving my heavenly Father above all else will be one that continues for the rest of my life, and I’m so thankful to practice that in the quiet moments that allow me to focus on Him and keep our relationship first. After all… ‘’We love, because He first loved us’’. (1 John 4:19)
As I end this update (sorry this one is so long!) I wanted to invite you to partner with me on this journey as I continue to fundraise in order to meet my FINAL deadline and reach my TOTAL goal…I am only $2000 away! Any amount that you can donate would be greatly appreciated. I am so thankful for all of your love and support, and I can’t wait to update you more on what the rest of our time in Malaysia will look like.
