In Thailand the Lord put it on my heart to dream when I saw Heidi and John dream themselves, from seeing their steps of faith, and their trust the Lord. He then gave me Malaysia to start to dream for myself. In Thailand the Lord gave me a month to pour out my physical energy with physical work [a true praise]. In Malaysia He gave me a month to spiritually be poured back into again by Him. In Thailand I learned what it looked like to love through Christ’s love by such amazing people. In Malaysia He told me to “go out” and do the same as to what I saw done. In Thailand the Lord showed me what it meant to have true hope. Then in Malaysia He told me to walk in that hope; even in my brokenness and even in the unknown of what would come.
What a divine month. What a month the Lord knew I needed, beyond what I could have ever imagined. What a month the Lord used to teach me and bring me to a place of surrender. What a month He used to bring joy to my soul, through the relationships and experiences He would provide. He has continued to use that month to affect my life in a way I am so completely grateful for.
When I think about Malaysia I think about Indian Food and getting Masala Tea with the girls from our friend Amiet. I think about talking to my friend Paul, that owned a motel, about his life of traveling and his beliefs. I think about our roof top where I watched the mornings come, and sunsets go on; that I spent crying out to God on, that I spent with my friends laughing and screaming with joy on, that I spent sitting on its edge and having such meaningful conversations with others on. I think of Little India and buying tons of Henna and talking to a friend we made that night about the demonic oppression she was facing. I think of the refugee students I quickly fell in love with, even as wild as they were. I think about our exposure girls who spent the month with us, and how divine The Lord’s hand was in providing Caroline and Tori to be our girls. I think about the refreshment they brought to the Race, the joy they brought to my heart, and the bond we made with not only sharing experiences in Malaysia together but also sharing our lives and our hearts with each other. I think about seeing the passion in their hearts explode and further expand in them now back in the States. I think about the random adventures and the streets of Penang we explored. I think about the numerous people we were able to meet and develop relationships with throughout that month.
When I think about Malaysia I think about the call to prayer I heard from the nearby Mosque, multiple times each day. I think about all the countless incense at the temples I walked by and all the numerous people I saw worshipping their many different gods. I think about seeing the oldest Anglican Church be used as a parking lot during the week, while the mosque and temples flooded with people day in and day out. At the same time I think about how I saw the Lord move in a way I never saw Him do before. I saw Him not bound to being at a specific place, but I saw Him move through the power of people’s prayers. I saw Him move through the devotion and heart to see the Kingdom of God here on earth. I think about the miracles that took place that month. I think about the divine moments that the Lord provided. I think about spending countless hours in a room worshiping, talking with the Lord, interceding with others, and just getting to be in His presence. I think about being on my hands and knees, face to the ground, bawling my eyes out, in complete brokenness and surrendering it all to the Lord.
When I think about Malaysia I think about how I truly tried to make my reliance each day on walking side-by-side with Jesus and living my life missionally. I think about what it truly looked like to intercede for a nation and for the church. I think about how that desire to pray the heart of the Father, rather than the heart of my own self, sprung up in me. I think about the God-given friendships He had His hand in orchestrating. I think about the life it brought to my soul and the life it continues to bring even as we are separate. I think about a period in time that I still desire to continue to cultivate in my life. I think about how the Lord chose that month and all it held for that exact moment I needed to experience it all. His timing is never too early, or too late, His timing is always perfect.
From that month my view of prayer and intercession is forever changed. My view of Muslims and refugees is forever changed. My view of brokenness and my need to be fully hidden in Jesus is forever changed. My view of what it looks like to live a life as a follower of Christ is forever changed. It’s forever changed because that month it became a reality. It didn’t just become something that I read and knew, but it became something I felt and saw before my eyes. It became something that I experienced and knew. It wasn’t just head knowledge, but it was now fresh on my heart. And by that I am forever changed.
Malaysia, you were a special one. You were a divine one. The Lord used you to change me in more ways than just one.
