Malaysia
Where generosity far exceeds
any cultural norm I’ve ever associated with.
Where others’ dignity is respected by genuine ‘hellos’ and ‘how are yous’.
Where extravagant city life rests in the center
but extraordinary island life is scattered around its edge.
Tioman Island
The place we called home for a month
The place we initially thought was so remote that we’d be showering in waterfalls and spearing our own dinner.
The place we didn’t have a place to stay the first 3 hours we had arrived.
The place God showed up immediately, and never left.
I walked over 100 miles on this island.
I backpacked 3 miles to get 12 liters of water almost every day.
I ate like a rabbit to actually stay in world race food budget.
I met business men, tourists, and locals.
I swam with turtles and sharks and tried fresh caught grilled squid.
I experienced history being made, in an unprecedented overhaul in the election of a new political party.
I defended myself against sun, heat, sea bugs, aggressive monkeys, sneaky sand flies, cummodo dragons and mosquitoes.
We were on our own this month.
No structure. No set ministry.
The skies were the limit.
Until our 3 hour ferry ride back to mainland.
Actual life is what we were living,
on the mission field in Asia.
Our vision was to be a different kind of tourist. Tourist that walked in the light, with the light, to bring new light.
Tourist who didn’t want to buy the merchandise, but rather wanted to come to know the passion in the hearts of the people.Tourist who knew the people in the area by name.Tourists who didn’t need much, just some land to pitch our tents, water to shower off, food, and the rest was extra.Tourist who weren’t coming to runaway from the demands of the world, but rather to find treasures to store up in heaven. Tourist who wanted to prove the kingdom of God was present.
This month we shared the name of Jesus with muslims, atheists, and Orthodox Jews. We talked about things we shouldn’t have been able to talk about and did things we shouldn’t have been able to do.
We formed relationships with some of the least of those on the island.
We used our medical background to bless a scuba instructor, passion for kids to bless the staff of the place we stayed, and desire for discipleship to bring a few lives closer to Christ. We accepted an invitation to help prepare and celebrate a feast before Ramadan, the muslim month holiday of fasting, and borrowed clothes to dress the part. We said ‘life is ministry’ and we did the thing.
And amidst all of this, we managed to experience, near its entirety, the life of Moana
(copy and paste this link to see more >>>> https://youtu.be/A04PZs02R4o)
Indonesia, in 4 days!
XOXO
Tay
