Wow, my first month on the World Race! It was a challenge. Just getting to our ministry site in Sungai Petani, Malaysia was crazy enough. When we arrived, I saw very clearly why AIM told us not to have any expectations. It was nothing like I had anticipated. The land, the ministry, the people, even some of the food was nothing like I had thought. I did see the rice thing coming, though.
I came into this month expecting God to work through me and radically rock the town of S.P…
But through a series of unexpected events and people, God used Sungai Petani to radically rock me. He brought things to light in me that I didn't even know were there and then we dealt with them together. He brought hopes and dreams to life in me. He showed me who I am and had me claim my identity. He filled me up so full with His truth to the point where He could use it to overflow onto others.
He opened my eyes to the need for Him around me and my heart broke. It was hard seeing so many people put their trust in Mohammed and not know the love of their Creator. The only churches here are Tamil speaking ones, people from India attend. Malays do not attend church, because it is illegal for them to convert from Islam to another religion. In a place where there is no hope, I had to remember that I have hope living in me and to let it show.
I expected to impact Sungai Petani this month, but I didn't expect it to impact me this much. I fell in love with Pastor Thomas' family, hospital patients, the sweet children, the youth, the women, the business operators, and everyone walking down the street. The Lord really opened my eyes and my heart this month, so much more than I aniticipated. I feel like He used this first month to do a lot of work inwardly in me. I know that time was needed and I am so ready just to pour out everything He has poured into me, this year. Sungai Petani really blessed me in an incredible way. I didn't expect to cry when I left, but I did.
So, you got me, Sungai Petani.
You got me, Lord!
On a different note, let's laugh together…
For your enjoyment, some of my favorite smiles & laughs from the month:
Getting used to eating dinner at 10 or 11 pm every night.
Riding in the van, especially when Vincent was driving! Better than a roller coaster!
A shirt that had a picture of a teddy bear winking on the front with the words "Hi, Bear". Then, on the back it said "Sexy". My team has gotten more laughs out of "Hi, bear….sexy" than I can count.
Doing my laundry in a bucket…multiple times. First, they fell in the mud off of my line. Second, they got rained on and couldn't dry without smelling a little rank. I mastered it the third time! I am now a professional bucket laundry washer. Hit me up when I get home for rates!
Heith *on the phone in the airport*: "Where are we going again?" Me:"Sungai Petani"
Heith *confused sounding voice*:"Someguys Panties?"
The man who sang the "ELVIS PRESLEY CLASSIC, HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS!" Loved it!
The first time we walked into Pastor Thomas' Mother's home and we heard the words, "Sing 2 songs and then pray."
P.B.& J ERRRRDAY!!!
The muslim prayers that were broadcasted through speakers by our house more times a day than "Call Me Maybe" is played on your local radio station. So, naturally, we found it sounded like a not-so-great version of a Lion King song and started singing that whenever it came on.
The billion and one times I experienced Deja Vu this month. Guess it was God's way of confirming to me that I am in the right place!
Tuna fish and uncooked baked beans mixed together! Yummy! No, not really, but it was worth a shot!
Monkey attacks while we hiked through the Malaysian jungle. That thing stole Tums, water bottles, food, and who knows what else. Mean little turd!
Getting a Parasite! Hey, it gave me experience, a funny/highly embarassing poop story, and a song parody that is currently in the works. Here's a sneak peak…"She had a para-para-parasite!"
Teaching our pastor and like 7 of his family members how to wobble! Yes, we have a video! Pastor Thomas can wobble like a beast!
Walking down the road and a couple of English speaking Malays asked if we were lost. The 7 of us were the only white people in that town.
That one time I woke up covered in ants. Yay, for king kong bug killer spray!!
We were told when we arrived by Pastor Thomas' family that everyone that comes gains weight. With all the awesome Malay food they served us, we saw why! I know I have put on some pounds…Well, I don't know, the parasite may have got rid of a couple for me. Another upside to getting sick on the race.
I ate the hottest pepper in all of Malaysia like a champ! It wasn't hot when I was chewing it, but by the time it got to my throat, I had steam coming out of my ears.
Opening my brand new bottle of bare minerals powder…and accidentally dropping it…causing an explosion of powder and leaving me with only one bottle for the year. Yeah, yeah, I know.
The smile on Jerusha's (P.T.'s daughter) face when I would spin her around in the air. She was my little buddy, this month. I miss her already! Precious, precious girl.
That awkward moment when teenage girls would walk up and ask for a picture. So you would get ready to take one with them, only to realize that they want one OF YOU, not WITH YOU. There are now several confused/cheesey grin pictures of me floating around cell phones and cameras in Malaysia.
We had to sing for a talent show we went to this month. We sang "Home" by Phillip Phillips. Heith turned off his microphone, Celeste's microphone kept making the speaker screech, I blew kisses to Jerusha and the teenage boys thought I was aiming for them, half of us aren't confident in our singing abilities or using a microphone, and all of us loved it.
We got to watch the movie "Tangled" one night on Hannah's laptop in the living room. We were sitting there enjoying the movie, when a stray cat wandered in. So, naturally, we fed him tuna, named him Nugget, and our ministry host is now excited for his first pet.
Hope this made you smile and laugh as much as it made me. What a month!
Good bye, Sungai Petani, Malaysia…Hello, Darwin, Australia!
1 Month Down 10 to go.
