It was a good month.
March found Team En Gedi in Penang, Malaysia. This large city, located on the island of Penang, is a melting pot of several eastern religions including Muslim, Buddhism, Sikhs and Taoists. Christianity is practiced, but it is illegal to openly proselytize a Muslim. Through relationships with the people practicing these religions, however, Christians have been successful in establishing their own percentage of believers among the masses.
For our part, En Gedi partnered with YWAM Penang in building relationships with some of the street community members at Kawan and with the hospital staff at the Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH), a Christian charity hospital in the heart of the city.
At Kawan, we focused on preparing and serving the street community food, drinks, clothing, showers and a safe place to sleep during the day three days a week. We sat with them and heard their stories. Some were believers, most were not, but all had a life that was meaningful to Father. One of my friends, Ben, was a lively old chap who told me of his experience with death that brought him to the Lord. According to him, he used to believe that there was nothing after death. He said, “I thought: you eat, you sleep, you breathe and then you die. There was no soul.” Then, one day, he was lured in to a drug house and given cocaine. He had never taken the drug and ended up consuming the entire small package at one time. This, he said, threw him into a state of unconsciousness that bordered on death and, in it, he witnessed his soul leave his body and begin searching for it. “My soul could not find my body, it wanted to return, but could not find me”, he said. Eventually, he awoke from the unconscious state and, as a result of his experience, believed in the existence of a soul. He then began to question what the implications of having a soul meant, that there must be some place for it to dwell eternally and, after coming to Kawan for a while, decided that the best place for it to dwell was with God in heaven.
I do not know if Ben’s story is true. But, it doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that he now belongs to the Lord and I will one day see him again as we praise Him for all eternity.
At PAH, our original task was to fundraise for the hospital’s Heart Foundations fund by selling stuffed animal fish, tin hearts and a CD from a local artist to the many people visiting the hospital daily. This fund provides heart surgeries for children who cannot otherwise afford it. A great cause, no doubt. But, in all honesty, the mode of raising funds for it was a bit out of our comfort zones. However, the Lord was with us and provided not only courage and words to go forth and sell, but gracious people who responded generously with their offerings. All together, between Teams En Gedi and WOW, nearly $2000 USD was raised for the fund.
As the month progressed, we found ourselves being used in other areas outside of the fundraising. For instance, most of my time at PAH was actually spent in the HR office doing data entry, admin work or other organizational needs that the staff didn’t have time to take care of. As a result, I was able to build relationships with the women in that office. In particular, a young woman, by the name of Cat, and I became rather good friends. I love how the Lord allows instant connections to be made with people when He knows there is little time to be shared with each other. In our case, Cat and I realized that we have two major things in common. First, we are both in serious relationships with men who are in the States and, second, both of us have experienced the passing of our mothers; Cat’s being within the last two months. Through these connections, the Lord allowed a beautiful friendship filled with mutual encouragement, understanding and vulnerability to grow. I am convinced that the Lord prompted me to volunteer – rather enthusiastically, I must admit – to help out in the office, rather than with the fundraising, so as to pave the way for the friendship with Cat. I miss her already.
So, yeah. In a nutshell, that was March for me. We now find ourselves in a new city, with new people to meet and new relationships to establish. I am excited for this month and am grateful that, through last month, the Lord reminded me why I am here. And that is to:
Love God. Love People.
(…throughout the world.)
