~Romans 12:1-2
We walked in the bakery, hoping they would give us the 13 cupcakes for 20 ringgit (almost seven American dollars), planning to grab the cupcakes and head back to the house to finish up our Valentine’s Day plans. We had a lot to do and not much time to do it!
But God’s plans aren’t always our plans…. And I’m so glad!
Within minutes of entering the bakery, Meg and I were sitting at the baker’s kitchen table, drinking some juice and finishing off a Red Velvet cupcake. They had insisted we each taste one…. For free! We sat and chatted with the bakery owner, her husband, sister, and daughter. They asked us about life in America and what we are doing here in Malaysia. We enjoyed the time getting to know them and by the time we left a half hour later, we had been treated to three different treats, had a full glass of juice, received free “medicine” for Meg’s sore throat, had a box of 13 cupcakes, had our picture taken, and been invited to the daughter’s wedding (which we unfortunately won’t be able to attend because we’ll be in Cambodia).
Rewind to earlier that afternoon. A couple of us were having a conversation that basically asked, “What are we doing here?” This month, we’re working in a kindergarten with children who don’t speak English (or at least not much of it). Malaysia is a closed country. We are not allowed to share our faith, or even tell people about the World Race, unless they specifically ask us if we are on the World Race. How can we be missionaries if we can’t share the Gospel? Shouldn’t we be bold and be willing to share the Gospel no matter what, even if we are thrown in jail for it? Shouldn’t spreading the Word of God be more important than our personal safety?
I pondered this question for a long time, even long after we finished the conversation. I still don’t have answers. But one thing I do know is that, while I can’t share the Gospel with my words, I can share it with my life, the way I live each day. As a Christian, others should see that I am different. I should be going above and beyond what any person can do simply because it’s not of my strength, but the Lord’s. I should be living in such a way that people notice such a difference in me that they want to know why, that they are willing to ask why I’m different!
And that’s when I wondered: Did the family in the bakery notice that I was different? Do the teachers notice when I spend each day loving on the kids with them? Do the parents notice in our short interactions when they pick up their kids from school? Does our fried rice chef down the street notice?
