So as you can see we’ve clearly and thankfully moved on from serving in Malaysia. I just wanted to give you a glimpse into my month before I tuck the little lessons I learned away down in my heart and put the intense experience behind me. I don’t really know how to describe it, besides Malaysia was TOUGH. Hot, painful, and uncomfortable in more ways than one. With each new month on this mission, comes a load of change. At the beginning of this month there seem to be much more change this time around and the change seemed to carry a heavier weight than ever before. Without going into much detail because I have no to desire to revisit the place I just came from really, that heavy weight seem to carry on with me throughout the month. All month I was tired to the point of exhaustion, couldn’t sleep at night and then couldn’t get up on the mornings. My heart was stuck in the Philippines, I was painfully (to the point of physical) homesick, began really missing my old teammates and the call to prayer that rang 5 times a day, as well as the Indian temple ringing it’s bells all day and night just about drove me crazy.
Leaving the Philippines and our awesome ministry there was the first and hardest change, I would have stayed there the rest of the year had they let me. Then upon leaving the Philippines, just as my team was starting to figure things out and enjoy being together, our small teams got changed with up in our squad so I went into Malaysia with a whole new group of 6 people, virtually strangers. On top of that I was painfully homesick, exhausted and unsure of how our new busy ministry schedule was going to work out.
Of course, as always, throughout this dry season the Lord remained faithful and showered me with Rays of Hope from time to time just when he knew I needed them most. Those little rays of hope looked like : a fun, late night attempt at trying to form a worship band with 3 of my unmusically talented teammates, speaking to my Grandmother for the first time since I left home, helping a young Vietnamese immigrant learn how he can share his faith in Jesus with others, and the biggest one, allowing me to be a blessing to a little school called Ray of Hope.
Ray of Hope is a school for kids with Autism and Down Syndrome. It’s a non-profit org set up by St. Peter’s church in Ipoh. It was established with the objective of bringing hope to people with learning disabilities. Their mission is to help students reach their full potential, encourage greater parental involvement in their educational and social development and increase the public awareness and support for these people with learning difficulties. They do this through several different programs which include academic classes, life skills, and pre-vocational training.
I spent my days from 10 am to 5 pm at this school. It gave me hope and purpose each day. I was able to help teachers plan and evaluate their lesson plans, love on and encourage the precious children, as well as help the director catch up on some administrative/office stuff she has been trying to get done for years. It was so fun to walk in the building each morning and see the kids gleaming smiles. On our last day they had a vocational training for serving. So they set up a cafe in their classroom and three students got to practice their skills as a server. They invited us to be their guests. It was so kind of them and really rewarding to watch them learn and see the growth they made in such a short period of time. They were filled with excitement for what they were getting to do. We had some yummy Lo Mein noodles, Vietnamese spring rolls and an interesting pink drink called rose tea. (The only way to get it down was to chug it all at once!)
Alisa and I with Ray of Hope staff and students on our last day after eating at their Cafe!
” Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”
James 1:2-4
This month I certainly had some hard lessons in learning to find joy amidst the misery. I pray I never pass by opportunities for my endurance to grow and character to develop. Thank you Father, for showing me how me how to walk with you upon the waves.
