So this blog is really three blogs in one but all about Malaysia. So I put some headers in to kind of separate them if you want to skip around or read and come back later. It truly was a changing month for me. So hang in for the read! I had so much to share!
Entering Asia
As we left Africa I had the sense of flying into the unexpected and very unknown territory. I had no idea what was to lie ahead but I was excited. I knew Southeast Asia was going to be completely different from the rest of our experiences but I was not sure how.
We landed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late at night and made it to a hostel where we stayed the night. Many ventured out though it was the wee hours of the morning, but I face planted the bed awaiting me and slept the hours away. We had to be out by noon the next day and I awoke at 11:25 to shower. I was wiped. The flight from Zimbabwe had a stop in Zambia and Dubai and you cannot sleep through Dubai.
Later that day we walked all over KL with our packs from train to train then to the bus. We boarded the bus to travel to our final destination. We had read our guidelines for the month and realized we were in for a challenge. We served in a ultra conservative and Islamic state of Malaysia which I will not name.
Although there are very peaceful Muslims, which I have met, there are those who strongly dislike Christians and will not even tolerate them. That is the state we were going to. Well, they would tolerate the Chinese Christians and most of the Indian Christians, but as a Malay you are born Muslim and that does not change. If a Malay does convert the costs are high.
In short about our rules for the month the ladies had to dress very conservatively. We could not wear anything with a Christian symbol. We could not say we were Christians or witness to the Malays. We could only say we were there to teach English.
I will not mention our contacts names, but they are of Indian descent and third or fourth generation in Malaysia. We will call them Mr. and Mrs. K. They are a couple who have four beautiful children; two boys and two girls.
Part of our mission on World Race is to just give aid to ministries already in place and sometimes that means ministering to the contacts themselves. The K family had been in a car accident about a month before our arrival. Mr. K was the only one injured. He broke his knee and they had to go to the doctor every other day which was about three hours away.
With a full-time ministry, four kids, and having to go to the doctor three hours away, Mr. and Mrs. K were a bit stressed to say the least. So we taught English classes and tutored their kids.
I seriously only taught English class two times the entire month, but that was not my primary ministry. I got to teach the two oldest kids who are fourteen and fifteen.
The Ks had some missionary friends who are from Mexico. These friends are fluent in a few languages, but the K kids wanted to learn Spanish. So I got to teach them Spanish! I taught Spanish for an hour and a half everyday. After that I taught voice.
I was so excited to teach Spanish and I loved every minute of it.
Each person on the team had a different subject. People usually paired up to teach the kids. English classes were in the evenings.
My ministry was to the K family. Our team alleviated some of the stress in their lives by working with and teaching their kids.
I built great relationships with them, was reminded of my love for Spanish and foreign languages in general, and learned even more still about how to love my family in Christ.
When it seemed as though there was no point to our ministry or when frustrated that we could not openly share our faith with the people in the community we had to remind ourselves that we had to be the light and we had to be the Gospel. We could not proclaim it but we had to live it.
What would make us different from other travelers or other people in general apart from our skin tones and our language?
We, especially Ben and Tom, became really good friends with a few of the guys that worked at a restaurant we went to every day. The grocery store was at least a two mile walk one way and there was never enough time to go and come back to the grocery store as much as needed. We called the restaurant “Opi’s” because of one of the guys that worked there. That is what we called him.
I reminded myself of Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
There is another verse in the New Testament (if you know where please tell me because I lost it) that says something along the lines of “they will know Me by the love you have for one another.”
GROWING TOGETHER
We obviously had a lot of down time but it was very hot so going out was never really a want and there was nothing in the area to really do. So it was an awesome month for our team. Malawi and Zambia we were still getting to know one another and we were with another team in Zimbabwe. So it was a great month to invest in one another and grow deeper. Which is what we did.
Everything between us happened naturally and intentionally. It was a beautiful thing. We laughed, prayed, worshiped, and cried together. We were joyful and encouraging. We also reached the level to where we truly respected and valued one another’s input and could correct one another lovingly.
Colossians 3:12-17 says this:
“Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
That is what our team reached during our month in Malaysia and that is the best I could explain it. We genuinely began to care for one another and love each other. We became true friends and a true family. We truly were The Fellowship.
LIBERATION
I did have a rough time in Malaysia though, and not because of the heat, ministry, or my team. It was because of an idol in my life. It was a person and I had begun to put them before God. I knew it was there and I knew God would remove the idol from my life if I did not put Him first. However, I did not trust God with the issue and I relied on myself.
So what did God do?
He removed the idol. I was saddened at first but God woke me up through it all. I was filled with such great joy and excitement for the rest of the race. I had complete liberation! I became a completely different person. It is difficult to write in a blog what change took place but it did happen. My team witnessed it and I must say rather enjoyed the change. Something sparked within me.
God took that person that had become an idol in my life because I had put them before God as far the time I invested in the relationship. He removed that person long enough so that I could refocus on God and make Him the centre. He made me stronger and better through it. The person has since come back into my life but they are no longer an idol nor will they ever be.
My whole outlook for the rest of the race changed. I knew in that moment that God had so much in store for me for the rest of the race. I knew the last three months would be the months with the most growth. I knew that I would changed more in the last three months than I did the first eight. I knew God was going to work in mighty ways and rock my socks off! I began to expect great things from God and that is how I entered into the beginning of the last three months of the World Race.
Oh, and about a week after that lovely liberation celebration we got to serve in the Chinese community where we were. We got to do a little Kids Club like program with the kids on a Friday morning. It turned out really well and was so much fun. The couple over the program is amazing. I instantly clicked with Aurora. She is incredible.
Because of a buddhist funeral procession taking up the streets we were unable to leave in the vehicle. So we walked over to a Chinese restaurant and had the best food I had all month. It was so delicious not to mention we had awesome fellowship. That evening we went to the Chinese church. All month we had gone to the Indian church. All are very different and such a great experience. Although it was the Chinese community and church this service was in English. It was beautiful. The Holy Spirit was in that place and the warmth of our new friends just made it even better.
We spent a long time chatting away with them afterwards. Just from all our conversations during lunch and after church I knew I had to come someday and work alongside them for at least a month.
We made yet another friend at Chinese church who works for World Vision. He drove Tom, Kaiulani, and myself home afterwards but not before stopping and having real Malay food. We had unknowingly been eating Indian food all month. We ordered and shared about five different dishes. I love Asian food. It is all delicious. Malaysian, Thai, Indian, Chinese, I mean, they have it going on.
Through some people we met we were able to go into the jungle and meet with another Chinese missionary. I will call him Mr. Shepherd. He ministers, illegally, to the indigenous people. He gives food at church and they teach English. If you would like to hear his story ask and I will tell. It is definitely one worth hearing though it would be better coming from him.
As soon as you see him you know he is a Christian and that Christ lives in him. There was no doubt. There was no doubt in his words or actions. His presence was so peaceful yet stirring and oh the joy that seeped through his very being. I honestly have never experienced anything like it.
I was moved beyond words and the only option was tears. I have never been so loved, encouraged, and challenged so much all at once ever before in my life. Yet there it happened in the jungle in the middle of Malaysia.
We were able to see part of the village and hear about the ministry there.
Again, I knew I had to come back and serve alongside Mr. Sherpherd. An overwhelming sense came over me.
Kaiulani also had the same sense. Here we were being moved by our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ in Malaysia. We both know that we will come back. We thought this fall and then maybe right after the race and not go home until first going back to Malaysia, but that is not the case.
We have prayed about it and God has not made it clear when we should go but we both know it will happen and we cannot wait. For it will be a beautiful thing!
I fell in love with Asia through the month. It caught me by surprise. I always thought it would be South America, but it was not. It was and is Asia. I came alive in Malaysia and Southeast Asia is still a place bringing life and vibrancy to me.
Do not grow weary in reading my blogs but persevere through all my words and details! God is so awesome and He did change me even more during my time in Thailand!
