Kampong is the Malay word for "village". If you've been creeping my Facebook pictures at all, then you know where our team has been this month – in the rainforests of stunningly gorgeous Malaysia!
Our team had been expecting to do some manual labour this month, but due to some circumstances we were re-assigned to visiting villages instead. In total this month, we visited 6 villages, staying at each for 2-3 days, and encouraging adults, youth, and children through Bible studies, discussions, worship, and games.
I really loved this month, because even though it was hard to do so much travelling, and having limited time to prepare things because they were being planned as we went along, I feel that I have grown a lot from the experience. At the beginning of the month I felt so dry – how could we come up with Bible studies and teachings for so many people? And the heat completely sucked us of energy! It was difficult to be in the villages.
However, God really refreshed and renewed my heart. I realized that, given the choice, I would rather be nowhere else than here. There was nothing I wanted more than to be used by God as His Kingdom-builder. It was just like one time, last year, when I went running in the mornings to train for the Sun Run, a 10K run back in Vancouver. I ran by the river, and my arms would always get red and chapped and sting painfully from the wind. I felt so frustrated until I realized that even though it hurt, I would rather be running than not! The same case applied to me here. Though tough, I would rather be here than anywhere else. I also realized that though I felt dry, God always supplied my team with a word, teaching, or testimony that matched our needs for the day. I learned to depend on Him more, to supply what we would do and the energy to do it.
One of my favourite things this month has been hearing the praise songs rising from the hearts and lips of the orang asli (indigenous people). The people we visited had only been Christians for a few years, but their worship is so beautiful and heartfelt – made even more so by the fact that they have braved the opposition of their own neighbours and government to proclaim their faith in Christ. It was obvious to us that they really loved God and had their lives changed by Him. Below is a video I've complied of worship in the different villages we visited.
I've also added a "waterfall special" video of our very first day in the village where the kids took us to a beautiful swimming hole. We swam a lot in the villages – not least because it was the best way to take the drugging effects of the heavy heat away!
Below that is a third video of one of my other highlights of the month – skyping with our Nepal kids from Happy Home! Hannah, Taryn and I were almost moved to tears as we heard them sing song after song about Jesus that we had taught them – as loud and sure as if they had sung them every day. It was one of the most amazing moments I'd ever experienced – skyping with Hindu kids in a Muslim ice cream shop, shouting and singing about Jesus! It was great to be able to see them again and we hope to keep in touch with them often!
