Oh The Raj family.
I don’t even know where to start.
The first and most important thing I will tell you about this family is that they love us. They love us so well. My team and I always make jokes about how no one will ever understand the relationship we have with our family, and honestly that’s true. You won’t understand. But I will try to explain it to you.
The family is one huge Indian family that all live in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. The core of the family is made up of 5 brothers, one of them being the pastor and our contact. Pastor Thomas is the oldest, followed by Matthew, Nick, Adam and Ronald. These boys preach, lead worship, and pretty much run the entire church. The oldest being only 33 and the youngest being 23, they do it all. But above everything they do, the greatest has been what they’ve done for us.
These boys invited us into their homes and families. They have brought us 6 American white girls along to their family reunion and to every family saturday where they do things like go swimming, bowling, or go to a waterfall. We have built relationships with everyone in their family from their wives, to the kids, to the cousins, and of course the grandparents. Our boys are always taking us into to their homes, feeding us, and then usually laughing super loud or dancing crazy with us. Regardless of what we do, they treat us as their own.
These men go above and beyond to serve us, love us, and make sure we are happy. They put their own desires aside to meet our desires. They sacrifice for us.
One night, all the boys and us went midnight bowling. We all put in money so whichever 3 score the highest wins the money. Well Matthew, Adam and Shaamz ended up winning all the money. By the time we got back to Shaamz’s house, the three guys put their money together to buy us all iced milo and roti, which are our favorite drinks and food.
Adam brings us our dinner every night, drives us everywhere, and always comes by the church to hang out with us. Ronald comes to the church and at our request, will sit down and plays us guitar for hours. Matthew lets us come over to watch movies and will take us to the store at any hour of the day to make sure we have water we can drink.
Not only do they show us their love, they make sure we know it too. One night, Matthew was telling us how much our team has changed the life of their church and how because of that, their goal is to make us happy. I looked at Matthew and told him that we appreciate everything that he has done for us. Immediately he closed his eyes and teared up.
Another night, Ronald was playing guitar for us late into the night. Him and I began talking about our team. I asked if the family ever talks about us while we aren’t around. He responded with of course, and me being curious, I asked what they said. I had anticipated that it be something like we are different from all the other teams and how we are so much fun to be around. But Ronald looks at me and says, “You are one of us.”
It would take me hours to write down every memory and crazy moment we have had with them. Mostly because we spend all of our time with them so there’s a lot. From all the late night car rides, to hanging out in church, to going to waterfalls and water parks, this family has changed my life. They have made my time in Malaysia unforgettable. And if we are being honest, I didn’t even miss being home for the holidays because I felt at home with this family.
The Raj family taught me what it means to love someone unconditionally. To love someone greater than you love yourself. It does not matter the color of their skin, what country they come from, what language they speak, or how old they are. You just have to love people as God loves them. That is exactly how this family loves people. That is how this family loves us. And it is that love that has changed my heart and they way that I love people.
