The Malaysia Melting Pot
So this month has been great. Malaysia is a big melting pot of cultures…the Malay's, The Chinese, then a variety of other sub-groups of cultures including Indian people, & migrant workers…. So during our time in Malaysia these past two weeks, we have been acquainted with an Indian church & our amazing Pastor who has a life testimony like no other. Talk about suffering as a Christian. This man died twice & came back to life. He got ran over by a motorcycle… yet he still manages to walk around & drive! Then there are other parts of his story that are just amazing…remarkable miracle that he is now pastoring a church. He works with the Indian population here…which is very few people, but he constantly reaches out to them. We have been traveling like crazy from town to town, much like the disciples did. I feel like this month I am getting the biggest feel of what it looks like to really be a missionary. It is exhausting traveling from town to town, but so worth it!
(Chinese Church…)
Anyhow, we have been given opportunity to work with the Chinese church here & the Indian church. At the Chinese church, singing songs, dancing, enacting bible stories, and art activities (which I am in charge of). Most of work has been prayer drives & house visitations to the Indian families. We have had lots of delicious foods including lots of rice, curry, and indian food! The Indian food is amazing. Our pastor's wife, Theresa is one fantastic cook! We have also got to try curry puffs. Oh and traditionally we have to eat two plates of food before our host will even touch the food. We also are expected to eat everything on the table! I am thankful to have delicious food but this month is a really surrender of controlling portions. If I don't eat that means I offend…my decisions effect another's opinion which in turn closes the door to share the gospel. While we are in Malaysia we are forbidden to talk to the Malay people about religion or religious beliefs, so that is why we are only working with sub-groups of people who are not Malay.
We have been tutoring Indian students & helping them learn English…
Anyhow when I first got here, I thought, "Yes, I love Malaysia!" and in some aspects that is true. The people are beautiful…the culture is great…and we are so blessed with where we are staying. We have air conditioning! (which never happens on the world race), hot showers, and we are just blessed. We really truly are blessed the way we have been taken care of here. The Chinese church sent us all kinds of snacks & just showered us with a whole day of blessings today. It's an honor to learn about their cultures & its great to see Faith in every country we go to.
Being that it is month 7, I am started to feel exhausted…and I have realized that this type of exhaustion doesn't go away with a good night's sleep. It's a physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. Yes God does give me energy and sustain me to continue each day. I've realized that I can only take one day at a time. That its normal to feel tired after traveling from country to country…engaging in ministry…with little or no breaks. We usually get one off day a week…
So my current plan is to try to re-energize myself…I am going to try incorporating exercise into my daily (or every other day) activities, even if it means late at night or early in the morning…I know that spiritual, mental, and physical are very much connected as our body is a temple of the Holy spirit which God dwells. Therefore if we aren't taking care of one part of it, the whole body suffers.
Yes I do miss family. Yes, I do miss friends. I miss what used to be my life. This isn't cut out for the faint of heart. Your faith in God is what will carry you through.
I have been seeing and feeling the power of prayer….this month I have been learning a TON about it. Covering someone in prayer is so important, especially when we are in a spiritual war zone. This month has been one of the most challenging spiritually… with my sense of discernment I pick up on so many things. There are so many idols. Your prayers can move mountains…one thing people can not control is our ability to pray. So I challenge you, pray more. Not just for your family, or friends, or your country, but for other countries too. God does move through your prayers. They are powerful tools & weapons against the enemy. God says anything you ask in his name he will do…(of course if HE wants to), so I dare you to pray, pray bigger prayers full of FAITH. Expecting that God can and will heal, or change atmospheres.
More pics coming….be patient! : ) thanksss
