Our ministry here in Malaysia is SO GREAT! It’s not often Race teams are blessed with both a wonderful host and an amazing ministry but we here in Changlun have been!
There are a multitude of things that my team has been helping with here but I am going to fill you all in on what I am doing first!
Every Sunday- Thursday I help teach a class of 4 year olds in the Kindergarten. I’m with these kids everyday for at least 3 hours and I love it. A typical day in the Kindergarten looks something like this…
8:30- 9 Action songs: These are songs like Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes that get the kids
moving and awake
9- 10 Workbook: All the kids have english booklets that we help them work through
10- 10:30 Snack: Milo (similar to chocolate milk) and Crackers! Everyday without fail someone
spills their Milo!
10:30-11:30 Stations: My teammate Gabbi and I each run a different station 2 times for 30 minutes each time. We use fun interactive lessons that we plan every night to help the kids learn colors, numbers and new english words.
I absolutely love these kids. Most of them are from the Middle East and their families have moved here to go to the University in Changlun. The Kids at this school also are not all Christian. We only have one Christian student and the rest are Muslim or Buddhist. We aren’t allowed to share about Jesus or the Bible with the kids so we really are just an example of Christ through our actions. It has been cool to see how the kids have drawn near to us these past 3 months and get so excited when we arrive and cry when we leave. They are so goofy and bring so much joy into my day!
The Teachers at this school are also nice. I work with Teacher Hafsat and Teacher Fiza. The teachers in the school are Muslim and Hindu. This has also been a neat opportunity because the teachers know we are Christian and so we are really intentional about how we interact with them because we want Christ to shine through us to them.
Now that I’ve told you what I’ve been doing I’ll fill you in on my team as a whole.
While I am in the kindergarten Lu is teaching a 7 year old class. She works so hard at preparing lessons and teaching her 2 kids for 3 hours!
While Gabbi, Lu and I are teaching alongside the Freshstart Kindergarten ministry, Nanie and Ashlyn are homeschooling Zach, Misha, and Felicia (Pastor Thomas’s kids). Pastor Thomas is hoping to be able to grow this homeschool into a small Christian school that would use curriculum from ACE schooling. The reason they want to start this school is because in Changlun minority groups are bullied in school. They want to be able to provide another option for families so that they can send their kids to a safe environment to learn.
As our time in Malaysia is coming to a close I am sad to be saying bye to this family and ministry!
Please be praying for….
the teachers and students- that Christ would continue to be revealed to them.
the ministry- they have been struggling financially and really need prayers for a miracle right now!
the family- with the financial struggles and the switch to homeschool it has been very exhausting on them and at times discouraging.
Changlun as a whole- this town has years of demonic oppression, and recently the economy here is not looking very good so people are really struggling.
my team- that we would finish out Malaysia well and have safe travels into Africa!
LIFE UPDATE:
Yes, I’m currently in the hospital. I have a lot of flem in my right lung, fatigue, and a fever. The fever has been going down and while the Doctor hasn’t diagnosed me yet but they are pumping me with antibiotics and IVs so I’m feeling a bit better! My team leader Nanie has been with me in the hospital this whole time and I couldn’t be more grateful for her and her friendship! Thanks to everyone for your prayers!
