Month 11. My final month. Malaysia. My final country. ATL. My final ministry assignment.
The view from our Malaysian home
Yep, my last month on the race and my team does not have an assigned ministry, location, or host. This month our “assignment” is to ask the Lord for direction and follow where ever He leads.
When I first learned this I was momentarily taken aback. Really? No assigned ministry to fill our time this last month before we hop on a plane to head home? I was hoping to be kept super busy this month! Then, before I went too far down this rabbit-hole of thought, God gave me peace about the whole thing.
He reminded me of the ways He’s grown me this year. In South America He gave me a strong desire to share His hope and love, the Gospel, with others. In Africa He led me in putting that desire to practice. In Europe He showed me how the gifts and talents He has given me can be used to grow His Kingdom. Last month in Thailand He led me to step out of my comfort zone to find ‘ministry’ outside of assigned ministry. All throughout the year He has grown me in reliance and relationship with Him. Looking back over the past 10 months I could easily see how “Ask the Lord” was a very fitting way to spend my last month on the race.
Then I found out that Malaysia is a primarily Muslim country, under Sharia law. All Malay people are Muslim, and it’s against the law for us to evangelize and for them to convert to Christianity. My heart broke when I heard this and I became discouraged. If my team wasn’t allowed to share the hope found in Jesus, what could we do to help people spiritually this month?
I prayed about it and God gave me peace – but no clear answers.
After several days of prayer my team decided we would go to Penang – and island city on the western coast of Malaysia. We’d heard about some Christian groups here so we thought it would be a good place to start. Through these organizations we hoped to find some volunteer work to do.
Thus, upon crossing over the boarder from Thailand, my team hopped on a train bound for Penang – and we discovered that 3 other teams from our squad were headed to the same place. The other teams already had assigned ministry in Malaysia. They would be partnering with the organizations my team had found online.
So, our first day in Malaysia, my team was left wondering if we were headed to the right place. With 3 other teams in Penang, would there be any ministry for us to do? We prayed that God would give us a sign upon arriving in Penang that this is where He wanted us to be, and He did.
We stepped off the Ferry onto Penang island, and headed to the Air B&B which would be our home for the month. Our hosts helped us carry our bags up to their apartment – which happens to have a fabulous ocean view – and asked us what why we were visiting Penang. We explained that we’re missionaries, and they got excited. They’re Christians and were thrilled to discover that we are too! With less than 10% of Malaysians being Christian, this was not something we expected! It was just the confirmation we needed that we were in the right place.
The view from our balcony at sunset
In the past week we’ve learned more about Penang and why God led us here. Our Air B&B hosts have explained to us that the Penang population is unique to Malaysia. Over 70% of the population on the island is either Chinese-Malaysian, or Indian-Malaysian. All Malay-Malaysians are Muslim, and legally can not convert to another religion, but the Chinese and Indian Malaysians are Buddhist and Hindu and there are no laws against evangelizing to them! Also, our Air B&B hosts have introduced us to a friend of theirs who is involved in a couple different churches and organizations here, and she has given us suggestions of some things we can do and places we can volunteer. God has provided exactly what we needed for this final month on the race!
