Well, all I can say is that my mind is a jumble of thoughts. So many times I have thought of blogs to write, but put them off. Now when I take the time to sit down I have no idea what to say. I have no idea where to start. We leave Asia tomorrow and are heading to Africa for 3 months where we probably will not have much internet access, so I feel like I have so much to tell you about my time in Asia, yet so little time.
For a continent I have never intended to travel to, I have fallen in love. 6 Asian countries are imprinted on my heart forever.
In India, the orphaned children with special needs and their lack of care have broken me. I have never felt so helpless before. Wanting so bad to snap my fingers and allow these children and their caretakers to be given a lifestyle that was much easier, more full of love and with the care they deserve. Realizing all I can do for now is pray, and remembering the power of prayer. The day will come when light fills the darkness of India, especially in Ongole. This I know.
In Nepal the persecuted church gave my heart a reality check. Witnessing people who love Jesus so much that they are willing to put their lives and the lives of their family members on the line to follow God and share His greatness with others, wow. People think it is great what I am doing, but trust me…The World Race is nothing compared to what so many people around the world are doing every single day to love and serve the Lord, no matter what the circumstances may be, no matter what the risks may be.
Thailand was a place where I saw Jesus in the hearts of children so young. I saw so much hope in the lives of those children who without the ministry we worked with would have been at high risk of terrible things such as exposure to the sex trafficking industry, drugs and alcohol and lack of education. Not only have they been given an opportunity to go to school and live in a healthy and safe environment, these children at such a young age know Jesus. They trust in Him to be what gets them through each day and every circumstance. When they sang worship I got chills and my eyes began to tear up. It was the most beautiful and amazing sound.
Malaysia was quite the month. Being able to sit in on meetings with pastors and various organizations and hearing where their heart lies was so uplifting. The hospitality we were given from each pastor we came in contact with was incredible. Being welcomed into their homes, treated to meals, given a place to stay, having an incredible homemade meal prepared for us, and the list goes on. We were blessed over and over, undeserved but so much appreciated. After leaving these beautiful people we met up with a couple that opened their home to us. We helped them with a ministry that in some ways is illegal considering the laws regarding religion in Malaysia. It was a lot of really hard work, but knowing the service that it was to not only our contacts, and to Malay people…but the service to the Kingdom. Incredible. Our contacts were very knowledgeable and we were able to learn so much from them in so many areas. I met a power of the Holy Spirit that I never knew existed during our month in Malaysia. This was definitely a month that will impact the rest of my life.
I loved everything about Cambodia. I loved the place, the people, the villages and the city, and the ministry. I learned of my passion for teaching English as a second language and my love for the people of Cambodia. The biggest impact that this country had on me was a 17-year-old boy who is an incredible man of God and who has so much to give to others. Witnessing his walk with the Lord and the way that he lives his life has truly been a testimony to me of how someone should serve. His trust in the Lord and seeing the Lord’s provision to him has been such an encouragement to me.
Last but not least, Vietnam. This month was very different whereas we did not have one specific ministry contact but rather many in which we tried to help in any way we could. Helping with the first ever Christmas pageant where the gospel was shared in Da Nang was a great experience and definitely lifted my spirits, as being away from home for Christmas was quite difficult. We spent much time at a restaurant, which benefits the deaf. Almost all of their employees are deaf. Some of us were able to build great relationships with them during out time here. A few of the team members worked for SEADEV, and some of us others did a few sessions of English conversation with Vietnamese students at UCSI as well as at a coffee shop called Easy Talk. The biggest impact this month has had on me was a family living in Da Nang that were from America, having 2 daughters adopted from the US and 3 from China. These girls for whatever reason have grabbed a hold of my heart. I would love to go back just to minister to them. I am truly going to miss them, along with their sweet parents!
There is so much that I have left out about the last 6 months, but as a recap to fill you in this is what has seemed to stand out the most to me.
I don’t think I realize how much Asia has impacted me and how much I am growing. I am changing, for the better of course. Just learning so much about the world, about God, about myself, and the way I live my life, about others and about ministering to others. I wish I could put into words everything that is floating around in my brain, but I am still processing myself so much of it.
