This month, our squad met up with another World Race squad. The guys joined together for MANistry. Manistry is when all the men on both squads serve together for two weeks. It was an awesome opportunity to meet other guys that are seeking the Kingdom and following the voice of the Lord. In true Fusion style, we didn’t have a set ministry so we were free to go where God was leading us.
We spent some time in the city getting to know each other before we went out and served as a team. After praying about it, we decided to head to the North-Eastern part of Malaysia. God led us to a city called Kuala Terengganu. It’s not a tourist destination, so it was cool to be immersed in a culture without western influence. We got to know some of the locals and after spending two days in the city, we headed to Pulau Kapas, an island just off the coast of Kuala Terengganu.
Because of our budget, we decided that camping was our best option. We stayed at LongSha campground and tented on the beach for about $2.25 a night! It was a beautiful place with crystal clear water and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. We played volleyball with the locals every night before sunset. I also set up my Eno between two palm trees overlooking the water. It was a great place to read and relax during the heat of the day. Our meals consisted of hot dogs, beans, eggs, and Ramon noodles for the three days we were there. Talk about living on a budget!
It was fun getting to know the guys from the other squad during our time together. We shared our testimonies on the beach which was such a cool experience. We also got to worship together. As we were worshipping, we saw a shooting star. It was just a small reminder that God is always with us and that was a special moment. An owl also came up and joined us. Every time we played a song he would get closer and closer. I could feel God’s presence. Again, another reminder that He is always there with us.
However, our time was not only a relaxing time to get to know each other. We made sure we were intentional with the people we met. We talked to people who were traveling alone from all over the world. It was interesting to hear everyone’s story. We also had the opportunity to share our journey with them and share all the amazing work God is doing through us. They were genuinely interested in the stories we were sharing. My prayer is that God uses the conversations we had to plant seeds in their hearts.
At dinner one night, we met some awesome people from an organization called Ocean Quest Global. They travel the world working on coral reefs, saving aquatic animals, and caring for the environment. After our conversation, we decided to stay on the island an extra day to help them propagate the coral reef. Ministry through nature is something that’s overlooked but we’re called to steward the land and take care of God’s creation, and that was a unique experience! We met some amazing people through this encounter as well. It was encouraging to see people making a difference through nature. They invited us to go snorkeling with them the next day, and in the morning, we went out with them. Although we didn’t see any sharks, it was still a cool experience. I saw a stingray, Nemo, and a bunch of other cool fish and plants.
I knew that I would have to explain myself when I told people I was going to an island. I’m on a mission trip, I don’t have time to make fun trips to an island, right? That is something I struggled with when God put Kapas Island on my heart. When people think of mission trips, they think you have to build churches, or work in orphanages, not camp on the beach on a beautiful island. I talked to my coach about the struggles I was having with trying to justify my trip to people back home. I said I wanted to go to an island and my coach said, “Why not?” God loves the people on Kapas island just as much as He loves those in remote villages or the children in orphanages around the world. The people on Kapas need Jesus too and that shouldn’t get overlooked because it is not a popular place to serve or share the love of Jesus.
Going back to the theme of my trip; life is ministry and ministry is life. There are ministry opportunities everywhere we go. God is continuously telling me to start small and serve where ever I go. We had opportunities to share Christ with those on the island, and while no one publicly got saved, it doesn’t make the trip a disappointment. We showed people Christ by simply listening to their stories. We gave them room to talk about their experiences, their beliefs, and sometimes that means more to people than you know. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and just listen.
Many of the people on the island are traveling because they are searching for something, or trying to run away, and what an awesome opportunity to share Christ with them. I would like to challenge anyone who questions the idea of doing ministry on a beautiful Island such as Kapas to reconsider what it looks like to serve Christ. He loves everyone, everywhere. God created these stunning places so we could enjoy them and take in his wonder. So, if you want to go to a beautiful island, to breathtaking mountain ranges, or somewhere that doesn’t fit the ministry mold, I encourage you to do it! We serve a creative God that works in the most unexpected places, so be bold and follow His voice wherever He is taking you.
