We started off our sixth month in Kuala
Lampur, Malaysia with a cultural briefing. Malaysia is an Islamic country, so we learned more about the Malaysian culture as a whole, plus the Islamic beliefs. We also had the opportunity to visit the national mosque. On the fourth, the teams went our
separate ways, with mine traveling about forty-five minutes outside of KL, as the
locals call it, to a small town of which I am not even sure of it’s name. We
learned we would be working on an organic farm which is part owned by our
contact Pastor Tony.
(Left) Outside the mosque, and (Right) inside the main prayer hall.
Me getting dressed in the traditional “hijab”, or covering, at the mosque.
Malaysia, for me, has been the first
country that makes me feel as if I am truly on the World Race. The World Race I
expected at least. We are living in very close quarters, with a very limited
food budget and no way to cook, no transportation, showering with buckets,
squatty potties, hand-washing clothes, very limited communication etc. With
that said, it is somehow still not at all what I expected. We began working
right away, the day following our arrival. My team and I suited up in our best
idea of what suitable farming attire resembles when living out of a backpack.
Let’s not forget the additional purchase of a large straw hat, which resembles that
of Little Bo Peep.
Now let’s get to the “farming”. We
expected to be tilling, planting etc. That’s what we get for having
expectations. Our first two work-days looked a little like this:
- Clearing a hillside with machetes and/or
bare hands. (Obviously the safest way to deal with thorny limbs and mammoth
roots.) - Transporting trees and brush into huge
piles, which resemble monstrous tumbleweeds. It was a true reward seeing these
piles burn. - Dodging creatures I have never seen
before, while keeping balance in order to not roll down the hillside. Hearing a squeal
relays an unspoken message of a new leech bite and/or ant attack.


One morning we arrived to work and the
agenda had changed. Our next three days of work looked a little like this:
Deforestation. (of a bamboo jungle)
This work is very monotonous and very
tiring. I seriously feel like I spent three days at the gym because hiking back
and forth through the jungle with bamboo posts for six hours each day is
similar in many ways. See my teammate Allan‘s blog for a good outline of the
process.
I tell you all these things for humor
mainly. It is definitely not to complain, because my team and I have enjoyed
the manual labor, which is a nice change of pace. While working everyday, we
are surrounded by the most beautiful view I have seen the entire race. We have
had the pleasure to work alongside some of the most joyful, hardworking people
I have ever seen in my life. These men come from Bangladesh in order to make
better money to send home to their families. They commit to working up to five
years on the farm, without seeing their families most times. These men are not
Christians, which is another reason we are here. While I cannot really talk
about that aspect, I would love to introduce some of them and their stories to
you throughout the month. I will do the best I can to convey our relationships
with them in a safe way. Malaysia is an Islamic country, with most people
claiming to be Muslim. However, it is much like Christianity in the States,
sadly where many claim, but don’t actually live it out. It is illegal to
evangelize in Malaysia and to convert someone to Christianity.
Kokon and Manik, two of the men from Bangladesh we work with.
My team and I have switched with team Pneuma for the week and are now in Kuala Terengganu, a coastal town in Malaysia. We are building relationships with the members of the church our contact pastors and have helped clear out a building they are moving from. This week is a huge blessing to our team for us to get a little rest before going back to the farm next week. We will be working alongside team Pneuma on the farm for the remainder of the month. Pray the fourteen of us can be a light
into the lives of the workers and work in a way which makes them want to know
more. More about where we get our joy, what empowers us, and why we are here.
Despite the language barriers, some of us have had good conversations with some
of the men already, so pray for acceleration in that. How awesome it would be
for these men to come to know the Truth and go back to their families changed
men.
More stories from the farm coming
soon-ish! Remember my living accommodations don’t exactly include the convenience of a
Wi-Fi internet zone.