What took you so long?!
An account of our 50 hour travel day(s) to Malaysia:
(us girls getting ready to go!)
We left America excited with clenched bags packed at 50 pounds and eager cheesy smiles across our faces. 60 people on the way to the airport by shuttle was busy but there was tons of energy as you can imagine. We left Chicago finding out that our bag weight was limited to 50 pounds and daypacks at 15. Prior, on our way to Chicago our bags were limited to 50.
The night before I weighed my bag I knew that it was 53 pounds but needed everything in there. I told God I needed Him to tip the scales jokingly. Well, they didnt even weigh my bag at all! I was so excited and grateful, way better than tipping the scales! When does that happen in America?!
So this time, I knew it was the same weight and asked God to help a sista out again. Well, they weighed my big bag but I had shifted some things to my daypack, therefore my daypack was weighing in at 20 and they didnt end up weighing it at all!
(chicago airport)
Anywho, we got on our flight to Hong Kong knowing that it was going to be 15 hours, and turns out it wasn't that bad. I sat beside a guy named Joey and got to hear some of his story and I shared mine. You never know who you can impact in little ways, at random times. We arrived at Hong Kong around 1 am, layover until 5 am, and then flew to Malaysia. We arrived in Malaysia around 5 or 6 in the morning (time difference). It was kind of described as "throwing us to the wolves" because we were told to find our way to the address we were given. We rode a bus to a train station where we thought we would connect to our contact. It turns out we had a 12 hour wait. The world race is all about hurrying up to wait 🙂
(on the train!)
(patiently waiting)
(making good use of our time)
So we used this time & went to the city Kuala Lumpur. It was a big city, very different from America, but cool to see culture. We went through market areas where we bought some post cards and crafts locally made. They had everything from knock-off LV bags, to wooden wind chimes, homemade coconut bamboo flakes, to colorful goucho pants. It was a good experience and reminded me of the market at training camp. Also, the money here is called Ringett and is 3 Ringetts to 1 US dollar.
(malaysian market)
(grabbing a bite to eat)
(city market)
(coconut dessert)
(city picture, 3 teams)
We came back from the market and city, and jumped on a train to Sungai Petani thinking it would take us until 6 am the next morning (my birthday! the 11th). We slept a little, talked a little, but the most interesting part was the squatty potty and some guy who was singing to us. I challenge you to use a squatty potty, in a skirt, going 60 mph on a bus, where you don't want to touch ANYTHING. 🙂 it was pretty interesting. I'm pretty proud.
(our last train until our final stop for the month)
(my birthday! best present: peanut butter!)
Also, there was a guy who was mentally crazy and he kept singing to us. Erin gave him some chocolate and he said "yes! good! American chocolate! " He was so excited to have something from America. He kept saying to Erin, "eh, sista! how old?" & "eh sista, what's for breakfast?" He talked to us in english a little but was mainly just speaking tamil, expecting us to know what he was saying, haha! Even though we shook our heads no, he still kept going.
At one point, I was dead asleep, mouth breathing and almost drooling…..until I was jolted awake by his serenade. I got this feeling in my spirit that he was singing something weird over us and could feel a bit of spiritual warfare. I asked the guy next to us what he was singing but he didn't speak good english. Later our translator told us he was proposing Islam to us, based on a couple key words we recognized. My earlier feelings were confirmed. So that night, we prayed over ourselves, the house we were staying in, and against anything spoken over us or coming against us.
We got to Malaysia around 7 am and was excited just to actually BE here. Our contact Pastor Thomas is so nice. We share the same "no legalism, but freedom in Christ" views.
(excited to be off the train)
We are staying at his brother David's house. We have 2 rooms, one for men, one for women. We set up our stuff and marveled at the awesome commodities we have here. We have a bathroom and a fan! Our bathroom is a toilet, small sink, and a shower head, the floor has a drain. Showering while knowing I'm getting the toilet soaked is kind of weird, but I am so thankful for a shower. Our room has a fan and we all screamed with excitement when we found out it works! (the little things in life). David, the home owner, is 20 and is so sweet as well. He was really impacted by the previous world racers who came to stay with him. We hope to build on that impact.
(my sanctuary for the next month)
( best thing ever, except theres no seat, but a shower is a God-send!)
Once we got here, we set up and then went to grab breakfast at a local restaron (restaraunt). We had a thin piece of batter like a crepe, dipped in spices; and another one with banana, and I asked for a little chocolate on top. It was delicious! They have a drink called Milo we are all excited about. It is kind of like hot chocolate, but better and they have wifi too! So we will walk about a mile when we need to use it.
(breakfast)
Everyday, we at 2 pm we will start our ministry. We have already gone and prayed over Thomas' wife, and adopted nephew. He has down syndrome and contracted dingay fever. That was an eye opener to what else we will see while here. Hospital ministry will be challenging, and definately rewarding.
(tea at thomas' moms house)
(thomas & his family, our pastor & contact)
They have church on fridays at 8pm, and monday is a youth ministry. Every day in between will be other ministries. We went to have tea with Thomas' wife and family.
While there, we realized, we are now the VonTrap family from "the sound of music". We were told to sing, on the spot. No guitar, no background music, nothing. We all looked around at each other like…."uhhh". It was humbling realizing that with no warning, no practice or anything, we would be expected to do whatever was asked. Accapello. Exposed and raw. So we decided on "Amazing Grace" (can't go wrong there!) and "Nothing but the blood of Jesus".
We prayed over his sick wife and left for dinner. Apparently, in Malaysia it is rude to not eat ALL of you food. We had 12-15 dishes to consume. We all stared at each other with big eyes. Tums and pepto are going to be life savers this month!
(best food!)
I'm not sure what our internet connection will be like this month but will try to keep everyone updated. So if I don't get back with you fast enough, please just remind me, I will try my best. Keep us in your prayers and you will be in mine. Love you all! -Celeste
(so excited to be with these people this month, what a blessing)
