The month of December was a busy one for us, as I’m sure most of you reading this can relate to. During the holiday season, schedules seem to fill up with increasing invitations to parties and ever-transforming to-do lists. This year we experienced an even different perspective as missionaries in a Muslim majority country. Even though Malaysia does not celebrate Christmas, there were still evident elements of a commercialized Christmas throughout the country. Our focus during our time there was to bring light to the true reason for the season beyond the colorful lights and decorations. We learned it was illegal for Malays to convert to Christianity but this did not stop us from maximizing each and every opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas throughout the month. We also had the chance to reflect on this for ourselves, especially as many of us spent our first holiday season away from home. One night after making Christmas decorations for our host house, I began to pray before going to bed and felt God checking my heart that I could be content with Christmas even if there weren’t any decorations. It was a realization that the Holy Spirit ought to outweigh Christmas Spirit. If we know the Holy Spirit is living within us, it is always with us, so we have something much more filling than any commercialized Christmas spirit. This mindset is for everyone but can especially apply if we are away from family and friends, or working or serving during the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, we can still be grateful for the blessings of Christmas decorations, music, and other traditions but we can check our hearts that the simplistic fulfillment of the Holy Spirit is not taken over by commercialized Christmas spirit. After all, this is what gives us true joy, even after the holidays.
Throughout the month, two of our teams partnered together for ministry allowing the 12 of us to serve 4 different across four different schedules. We had exposure to serving the street-based community, Kids Ministry, volunteering as camp counselors, and even partaking in Christmas carols and a flash mob. We were able to meet both believers and non-believers, local Malays, and people of many other nationalities. Malaysia is quite a melting pot of cultures and at one point during the student Christian camp I counted almost ten different nationalities that were represented in one room. What a glimpse of what heaven will look like as Revelation 7:9 paints for us “and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” All of these interactions that God planned were a complete blessing but also caused a component of challenge if I’m being real and vulnerable. It has been an ongoing theme in my life that I like plan but am learning to let go and give God control. If I don’t do so, it can cause me anxiety but Matthew 6:27 asks us “and which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” This is something I am growing in and certainly had the opportunity to put into practice this month. Although I‘ve heard this verse before and have always been drawn to it, this month it really sank in that not only am I not gaining any hours but that I also am wasting hours already given. Instead of getting caught up in my schedule and the three other schedules that were also happening, I was reminded that “many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” Proverbs? ?19:21???. As schedules often changed at last minute as well, I challenged myself to go with the flow since God was still in control. I thought to myself that Jesus probably never questioned where He served or why, so why should I. My mindset shifted as I realized God has ordained us to be where He wants us and we have no reason to question that. Instead, we should arise to the occasion without hesitation, just as Jesus would have. We should not let anything distract us from being in the moment. There was a time before serving at Kids Ministry this month that I felt I was being pulled away from being present and into distractions taking me away from the moment. I offered to pray for our group before we got started and asked that any evil energy from the enemy be left at the door. What a promise that He will provide peace upon prayer. May we go into 2019 realizing that He is enough and that He has chosen each of us to honor His plans.
As we wrap up our time in Asia and begin our adventures in Africa, fundraising is also coming to an end. Please consider making a financial contribution toward The World Race before January 28th. Thank you & much love!
