For many years now I have wanted to work with people who have disabilities; and last month I got to see that happen. I worked with two organizations called Ray of Hope and Bethany Home which are both located in Malaysia. Ray of Hope and Bethany are schools in which each student is able to have hands on training/education and are also embraced for how God has created them. Some of the different disabilities that are common at both ROH and Bethany are mental retardation, epilepsy, and autism; just to name a few. Both organizations are founded on Christian principles but due to the law in Malaysia, neither organization is able to preach the gospel to the students.

While at Bethany, the whole team was able to sit with the students in each of the classes and help them with their studies and with the talent show that was put on. My team also spent time with the teachers of the school and to be of encouragement and of help to them as well. We had devotion every morning in which my team was part of; I got to share one morning which was a blessing. My team and I also got to share the gospel with some youth and put on a church service at the Bethany church. All in all, we had an AMAZING experience at Bethany Home!

Although I fell in love with each student at Bethany Home, my heart belonged to the young adults at Ray of Hope! I got to spend time with a class of around 13 teens for a good four hours a day for two weeks. Not only did I get to get to know the students on an intimate level, but I was also able to get to know some of their parents as well! These young adults had the most AMAZING personalities I have ever seen and they each had an unfailing love that did NOT go unnoticed! I got to help each of the kids with their studies and even was able to put together the next months’ design for the classroom. I was also able to enjoy the cuisine that the students made themselves and of course there was the occasional outburst to the songs of High School Musical; all I can say is that these kids brought it!

I am truly honored and blessed to have been able to be part of these students’ lives. I will forever cherish the moments I got to spend with each one of them.

 

 Oh! How I will miss them so.