I am nearing the end of my time in Malaysia and it has been nothing but wonderful. I have enjoyed every minute and it feels as though I got here yesterday. I have not blogged much here, which is largely due to the fact I have a hard time putting into words my experience here. On top of that lately I have been realizing that I am actually on The World Race. This may sound strange, considering I have been gone for almost 6 months, but it is now becoming real. With America on the horizon I have begun to appreciate this incredible adventure I have been on. It still doesn’t seem completely real, but I have had the adventure of a lifetime. With that being said, this blog is simply going to be a life update (part 1) consisting of 5 of my favorite memories from Malaysia. I have too many to write in just one blog so part 2 will follow next week.
1) Arrival day. I am living in a town called Sungai Petani and I arrived here on December 11, 2015. My team and I had to take a 6 hour bus ride from Kulala Lumpur to get to SP. On that bus ride I sat next to a Chinese man named KC. KC is an english teacher that comes to SP every weekend to teach English to the local Malay and Chinese. We became very acquainted on the bus ride because he talked to me for the entire 6 hours. We talked about everything from Malaysian history to the upcoming election in America (FYI KC would vote for Donald Trump). KC was my first taste of Malaysian culture and when we parted from the bus he gave me his business card and English lesson, both of which are now glued into my journal.
2) Indian. I did not know what to expect coming into Malaysia. I didn’t know where I would be living or what my contact would be like. I was walking into a big hole of unknowns. I remember getting off the bus when we first arrived in SP and grabbing my pack from the bottom of the bus. It was pouring-down rain. I watched as my teammates all ran to this white van that was parked over to the side of the parking lot. Each of them was seated in the van when I walked over and they pointed me towards the trunk. I walked around the edge of the van and there he was. My contact. I was expecting, well I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it surely was not what I got. There he was… Thomas Raj…A 6’2” Indian man with a long beard and flowing hair. He flashed me a big chipped tooth smile as he grabbed my pack and loaded it into the car. Little did I know this man and his big family was about to change my life forever.
3) Caroling. December 19-21 my team and I went caroling with the church we are working with, Bethel Assembly. The church has about 100 members, most of which belong to the Raj family. Caroling was unlike anything I have ever done before. We went to about 30 houses over the three nights. We would move around 9pm and get home around 2-3am. We would dance, sing, and then eat at each house we visited. It was less caroling and more of just a moving and continuous party. It was exhausting, but it was filled with abundant joy and laughter.
4) Christmas. I had my best Christmas ever this year. It was filled with family, a 4 hour church service that started at 10pm, and traditional Indian dresses. It was not my usual Christmas. I had no tree and no presents. I had no bed and no Christmas morning blueberry coffee cake. I didn’t have Christmas lights or snow on the ground. BUT I was surrounded by a family that has loved me beyond compare. I was surrounded by so much joy and celebration. I experienced a lot of emotional healing throughout Christmas that will leave me changed for the rest of my life. This Christmas I received something that money cannot buy. Best. Christmas. Ever.
5) Dances. While in Malaysia my team and I have become preachers, worship leaders, English teachers, babysitters, but most importantly a dance team. We perform most everywhere we go. This has been a favorite of mine, but that cannot be said for my entire team. My team and I often laugh together because many of my teammate refused to dance before coming to Malaysia. We have had over 10 dance performances, two of which are tomorrow night at a wedding infront of almost 2,000 people. Pray that we remember our moves and that my traditional Indian Sari doesn’t have any wardrobe malfunctions.
Malaysia has been the adventure of a lifetime. I don’t want to leave, but it will make coming back that much sweeter. Praise God for this adventure and the sweet memories along the way. Part 2 of this blog should be coming in the next week. Continue to pray as I prepare to have extremely difficult goodbyes here in Malaysia. Pray for safe travel as I leave and go to meet my Mom in South Africa!
PS. HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
Blessings,
Darby
