It’s Sunday night, the workday is over and it’s time for church. We’ve cleaned up our downstairs room and set up some desks. 8:00pm rolls around and the pastor and his family walk in. We close all the windows and doors even though it is roasting inside. As we begin it soon turns into the most beautiful night of worship I’ve ever experienced. Jessa led on the guitar and we all let our voices ring out singing praises to our King.
Reflecting the Father, the message the pastor gave us. It is so applicable here in Malaysia because this is a closed country. The pastor could be persecuted if the people find out that he is a Christian. He is running a kindergarten with the hopes that God will open the doors for relationships among the people so that they can share the gospel. While we are here we are not allowed to share the gospel. We are allowed to say that we are Christians, if we are asked, but we cannot say what organization we are through. We have been told only to say that we are social workers teaching English.
The Gospel Through Actions
The only way people here will know that we are Christians is by the fact that we are different. Because our words will not be sharing the gospel our actions will have to do the work. It can be hard to not be allowed to read our Bibles in public or talk about Jesus to people. Even little things like not being able to sing Jesus Loves Me with the kindergarteners is difficult. None of the teachers are Christians and they know only that we are here teaching English. We constantly have to guard our words so that we don’t ruin the contact and relationships the pastor has already made. I have definitely realized how much I take freedom of religion in America for granted. Trust me, until you experience your voice being stifled you take it for granted.
As we walk down the street or even in our house we can hear the Muslim call to prayer. It serves as a reminder to me to be in constant prayer over the country. Malaysia is a very dark place spiritually, we felt it the first night we stayed in the house. There was an oppression around it that caused fear in our hearts. Through prayer and faith we know that the Lord has cast out all fear and has put a hedge of protection around us.
What We Are Doing Here
While we are here in Malaysia we are working at the kindergarten that the pastor has started in order to build relationships with the people in the community. I am in a classroom teaching the 4 year olds with one other teammate and an Indian teacher. There are about 14 children and it can become very overwhelming trying to keep them in line. It can be very overwhelming but fortunately God has given me such patience and love for the children that I end up exhausted but grateful.
Anyway, life is good here and I can’t wait to share more with you all in upcoming blogs! I am still in need of 3,121.75 to meet my last deadline, which is in 3 weeks. I would appreciate any support you would be able to provide!
Love you all.
