Month 6 has arrived and I can’t
believe how the time has flown. Presently, my team is in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, or as the Malays call it, “KL.” This month is a very unique month
compared to the other 5 so far. First of all, I must be very vague about some
of the details of my accommodations, my contacts, and friends. This is because
I’m Breaking The
Law.
We are involved in several ministry
areas while in KL, but one of them is evangelizing to the Muslims. This is
where things get tricky. There is freedom to practice your own religion here,
but it is illegal for Muslims to convert to another religion or for people to
convert Muslims. If people here knew that I was a missionary or if someone
thought that I was trying to “convert” them and was unhappy about it, they
could report me and I would be asked to leave the country immediately (which is much better treatment than if a Malay converts- beatings and imprisonment). It feels
weird having to tell people that I am on a “cultural exchange,” because I feel
so bad being deceptive, but that is what I have to do if I want to remain here
for the rest of the month…Christian missionaries are not welcome here.
One
part of the ministry that I have really enjoyed is working in a restaurant. It
makes me feel at home since I did a lot of waitressing in the US right before I
left. Its fun running around the restaurant at the peak lunch hour taking
orders, clearing tables, delivering food, and running a cash register with
foreign currency. It’s nice when it is slow too, being able to chat with the
customers and staff and be intentional with conversations.
Another
ministry that has been awesome is going out and talking with women who
prostitute themselves. We walk along some of the touristy areas at night and it
is so strange because it is so easy to miss what is going on. Prostitution here
is so subtle, yet right in your face! Many of the women aren’t dressed super
scandalously or anything and the hotels along the way for “some reason” get
most of their business from one hour stays. We usually just walk along the
street and pray for the women we pass by and sometimes stop and have
conversations. The other night we also bought some groceries and brought them
to a Chinese brothel in some sketch back alley to give to the girls.
We
have also connected to another ministry here, which I cannot name, that helps
some of the women on the street and those involved in prostitution. The women
are taught to make jewelry as a way to earn a little money and learn a skill.
There is also a women’s home that some of the ladies have moved into to get off
the street and try to move forward. I have gone a few times and made jewelry
with the ladies and have gotten to know a few of them. I have formed a
friendship with one of the girls in particular, whom I actually met our first
day doing a street feeding, and then saw again at the jewelry-making. I sit and
talk to her while she works away and she has asked me to share some of my
favorite Bible stories even though she is from a Muslim background.
“Ironically”
enough, after meeting the Free Burma Rangers last night and becoming passionate
about the cause of the Burmese, we are working with Burmese Refugees this
month! We teach English and other subjects at different refugee schools most
weekdays. We trade off working either at the restaurant or teaching at the
schools, so my first shift at a school will actually be on Monday and I am
extremely excited! (This was my week to work at the restaurant).
My
team has also been really blessed to join in on some cell groups at a Christian
church in the area. It is awesome to get poured into and learn from some of our
elders. We have been putting on a lot of bible studies lately, preaching, and
sharing our testimonies. It’s always funny because the programs often keep us
on our toes. We usually don’t really know what demographic we will be speaking
to or what things will look like so most of the time we speak impromptu. In
fact, just today, Christina and I went to a Christian college in KL and were
given an hour to share something. Its always very exciting to see how the Lord
is going to work and trust that He will give us the right words to share.
