If someone would have told me I'd be using my Interior Design degree on the World Race I probably would have laughed in their face. People who go on the race have useful degrees, like nursing, and psychology, and religious studies, not interior design!
But this month in Malaysia, I have MULTIPLE opportunities to use my creative design skills.
We teach a couple classes a week at the community center where we are living this month, and our contact asked if anyone had a degree in graphic or interior design to teach a class for his children every week. I can honestly say I was shocked when he asked us that question, and a little nervous as well. I graduated almost three and a half years ago from art school, and haven't been using my refined design skills in a professional setting in awhile. But I agreed to it, and accepted the challenge of not only using my design degree but now teaching a class, which I have never done before.
My first class was last Friday night, and I was told at noon earlier in the day that the class was that evening. I kinda panicked at first and blanked on what I could teach them in such short notice. But my administrative skills kicked in and I decided we would learn about the color wheel, different color families, and design and color our own fabrics on paper. The kids really enjoyed the lesson and they asked questions about what I learned in school and showed me some of their own artwork. First class was a success.
This month we are actually living in the community center where we teach and we are one of the first teams to be living here, so we felt led to make some improvements in the center. Since it is a community center first, and a place for World Race teams to live second, the amenities here are pretty minimal. We have a designated room to stack all our bags, a temperamental refrigerator, and a hot water pot. Perfect place for an interior designer to be doing ministry, right? Some small but much needed additions will be happening in the next couple days, and a blog specifically for those changes and stories to follow shortly after.
The last way I can use my creative talents this month is by drawing out and painting a new mural. Previous World Race teams have painted a lot of the walls here but there's a huge blank wall in the dark hallway that leads to the classrooms. My idea is going to incorporate our new team's vision with using our joy to bring God's light to this country and our team name: Colors of the Wind. I'm very excited to start sketching it out on the wall tomorrow and hopefully in less than a week it will be completed and brighten up the hallway.
We feel as a team that the majority of our ministry this month will be focused on the community center, with not only teaching English classes but making as many improvements as we can in the little time we are here. Please pray for my team and our continued enthusiasm for new projects at the center and for restful nights of sleep!
