This month is what we call MANistry, where all the guys on the squad come together for the month and serve. We had the privilege of serving the Siloam House in Pahang, Malaysia. Siloam House is a home for intellectually challenged adults, men and women.
When we first arrived at the house, some of the residents were standing outside. Some of them were anxious to greet us, some were skeptical, and some of them avoided us. Getting to watch them open up to us over the course of the month was awesome. Some of them were not even able to look at us when we first arrived, and by the end of the month they were running out of the front door to come greet us when they heard us coming.
During our first day of ministry, I knew that month 4 in Malaysia was going to be an experience I would remember for the rest of my life. Being able to interact and connect with the residents and just being able to do something tangible (harvesting limes) to benefit the home filled my cup to overflow.
Month 4 was a glimpse of heaven for me. The joy that came from getting to watch 11 of my brothers interact with the residents and love on them everyday cannot be described with words. Looking into the eyes of the residents and getting to see the joy in their hearts was even more amazing. I will cherish those memories forever.
One resident in particular, named Carlvin, was literally one of a kind. This guy was 90 to nothing from the time he woke up to the time his head hit the pillow at night. He was always positive and just a great example of what the joy of the Lord looks like in a person. Telling him bye was one of the hardest goodbyes I will experience in this life.
My hope leaving the Siloam House is this: If I was just a fraction of the blessing they were to me, my heart can rest.
I may have left The Siloam House, but my heart did not.
