It was only a passing glance and no more than half a second long, but her smile was genuine, and the warmth that exuded from it brought joy to my heart. Her head was covered by the Islamic hijab, reflecting her Malay heritage and the governing law, which stipulates that all Malay must be Muslim. We had just passed by her house while on a prayer drive through her village. Many curious eyes had looked our way, but it was her radiating smile that will forever leave its mark on my memory.
Truth be told, however, her smile is only one of hundreds we have received since we arrived in the town of Kuala Krai, Malaysia, almost a week ago. The last time I was in Malaysia was twenty-three years ago, when I was six years old. From what little I remember, Malaysia was (and still is) an Asian melting pot where Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, and many other ethnic groups claimed their home. I remembered Malaysian food being a scrumptious smorgasbord of flavors and spices, and being back in Malaysia has definitely left my mouth watering constantly for all of the delicious food that beckons to be eaten.
This month, we have the privilege of working with a Tamil (ethnically Indian) church, leading Bible studies and church services, visiting homes, tutoring local Tamil children, and also traveling to other areas to partner with Chinese and Tamil churches. Our local contact, Pastor Y, has such a powerful passion and love for this community. He has an incredible testimony that I believe God has used to challenge and encourage other World Race teams that have come through. We, too, have been blessed and encouraged by his ministry and his deep faith, and I strongly believe this is going to be a month when we see God moving in new ways
Throughout the World Race, we have met so many people, from diverse backgrounds and with countless stories, who have helped to define our journey. But one thing that has remained a common thread, no matter where we have gone, is the power of a smile to bridge across linguistic and cultural barriers. The one difference this time, though, is that rather than being the one to initiate the smiles, I have instead been blessed by the beautiful Malaysian smiles on the faces we encounter along the way.
I think I’m going to like it here.
