The Malaysian Jungle-
What I found
heart of the Malaysian jungle. For the first few hours in the jungle, we
struggled through conversations that were a mixture of noises, broken words and
body language. So, I spent my first day simply observing and smiling….
After day 1 was complete, our
translator had to leave the jungle and we were left to spend life with these
people with hardly any words or knowledge of their culture. How were we going to serve them in any productive
way without being able to talk? -I felt so helpless!
gestured for me to follow them down to the river. So, not having any clue what I wasgetting myself into, I took off my shoes, rolled up my pants and started
to follow the boys down the river.
After a good walk, I found myself crawling up the muddy bank to arrive
in a clearing of Mango Trees. Were we mango hunting!? I asked myself. I eventually caught on…….we were getting the fruit for
the daily meals! – So I began to search for the best selection of Mangos with
my two trusty companions.
The boys would constantly turn
around to ensure I was safe, reaching out there hands to help me. They proceeded to teach me how to smell
each mango to determine if it was ripe or rotten. They laughed at my fruit
smelling ignorance and we began a playful relationship that didn’t need any
words; one that was founded on trust and love. They were my little warriors(7 yrs old), protecting me every
step of the way.
The more time I spent in the jungle
I started to ask myself…..
Am I really helping and serving
these people in any significant way?
All I am doing is hunting for Mangos, cutting and carrying bamboo, and
teaching English to the children… Was this enough? Am I walking into all that
God has called us to? In the quiet
moments alone in the jungle God began to speak….
“Krissy- What is your definition of success?
If I left you alone in the desert with no job, no projects, no visible
goal…would you feel accomplished? Would I be enough for you?”
even when my intentions are good; (ie; serving others) I get this idea that I
need to make a visible change or contribution to their lives or I am just
wasting everyone’s time and ultimately unsuccessful.
jungle God showed me that being in relationship with each other and loving one
another is a gift. The gift of
giving and receiving love isn’t something that everyone has had the privilege
of experiencing…..There are children out there who have never truly entered
into a relationship that was founded on love.
God has called me to plant the seeds
of love in this community and no more….and yes, this is enough! You alone are
enough for me! I rest in peace knowing that the fruit of the seeds that our
team has planted in the jungle might not been seen immediately by us, but that the
seeds of love will grow in this community for years to come and produce fruit
that will bring life eternally.
“Share the love of Jesus Christ at all times, and if necessary, use
words.”– St. Francis Assisi
