This month in Malaysia has been a blessing from the very first day. And it’s in these amazingly great times, when our hosts are blessing us and we love our ministries that I forget to blog. I continue to be blessed and one day so easily and happily flows into the next that I feel like I am living a dream. There are moments when I forget that this journey is halfway through and that I won’t be with my squad and this team for a lifetime. This way of life has become normal and I love it. I’m on this crazy adventure with God and loving each twist and turn. He’s changing me everyday. Although I have days when it is hard and I’m out of my comfort zone, in the end it’s all worth it. I can’t wait to see what the last 5 months on the Race will hold for me.
This month has been a month where we have had time to see where we are growing, rest in Gods presence and receive blessing after blessing. But we also get to pour into so many different people. I feel spoiled by all of God’s blessings and gifts in Malaysia.
Here in Penang, Malaysia, our host is a former World Racer. This fact alone explains much about our month because she understands what it is like to be on the field. She wanted this month to be full of ministry but also be a refreshing time for us, as it is month 6 (the very middle of our Race). This month has definitely been both of those things for our team. She loves on us so well; baking us homemade cookies, inviting us over to her house for dinner, spending one-on-one time with us, going out to coffee, taking us to see the sights, having meals out, and just hanging out with us. And of course, doing ministry with us! You never know the little things you miss until someone brings you homemade oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies on the day you arrive!
Penang is a beautiful island and being here has been amazing both during ministry and in our off- time. It is a tourist location which means that there are tons of coffee shops for days off, team times, one-on-ones and quiet time. Sometimes World Racers just need some really good, strong coffee to keep them going. It’s a terrible and wonderful habit! There is nothing like being able to bond with a team mate over some really good coffee as you process all that has been happening during ministry and in your spiritual walk.
But Penang also has many cultural and spiritual issues. This is a country in which it can be difficult to be a Christian. It is an extremely multicultural but repressed country. Although people can be Muslim, Hindu, Christian or other religions, Malay people (which are NOT the same as Malaysians as Malaysian includes anyone who is a citizen of Malaysia) cannot be any other religion, they must always be Muslim. They are registered to the government as Muslim, Malay people and they cannot change that. They are under the Islamic law. If you are not a Malay person then you can be another religion. But it is illegal to evangelize to Malay people. The government also tries to get other people to become Muslim by offering things to people of poorer social status groups. Once you become a Muslim, there is no going back.
Despite all the difficulties facing the Christians in trying to evangelize and help the people, there are so many wonderful things happening in is country. Christians in this country are doing what they can. Sometimes things are done under disguise; building relationships through other means to be able to minister to the people later. Or providing services as a means of reaching people. The Christians I have met here are amazing people doing what they can in Penang. They have such a heart and love for the non- Christians here. I see it in their sacrifice, their service and definitely in the way they worship. If only we could all worship with abandon as I have seen here.
Ministry this month has also been an exciting adventure! We have had the awesome opportunity to be involved in a multitude of ministries. I have enjoyed every moment. Having more then one ministry means every day is different. Our ministries have ranged from feeding the homeless to teaching English to Muslim children and Burmese refugee children to spending time at PenHOP (Penang House of Prayer).
Our ministries are: PenHOP, J- Kids, and Kawan Center. PenHOP is the Penang House of Prayer (Penang is the island we are on) and we go there twice a week for prayer, intercession, worship and devotion. Tuesday is 3-10pm and Friday is 8pm-12am. It is amazing there. I LOVE the worship!
J-Kids is an after school center (Monday night and Saturday) for children who are attending school to get extra English learning. We teach the Monday night and Saturday class as a team. Children from all religions and ethnic groups can attend J-Kids. We work with Muslims, Chinese, and Indian children.
Finally, Kawan is a Christian, homeless/poor drop-in center that provides breakfast, lunch, showers, clothes, and resting areas on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We help to prepare the breakfast and lunch as well as interact with the people and do a Bible a study. It’s actually my favourite ministry! I love serving the people and interacting with them, even if they can’t speak English. Sometimes just a smile and sitting by them is all you need.
I have loved every moment of life here in Malaysia thus far and I believe I will love it until the day we leave.
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
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