It’s weird to think that this will be my last blog updating you guys on what ministry will be like this month. It’s crazy to think that I’m in my Month 11 and in less than a month I will be back in the States starting the next phase of my life. This moment seemed so far off when I was preparing to go on the Race, but now it has arrived…and a lot sooner than expected I may add.
But it’s good its coming to an end. I knew the Race wasn’t going to last and although it’s been an enjoyable, stretching experience, I’m ready to take what I’ve learned and continue on the path God is laying before me. I’m still in Malaysia though, and I don’t want to jump ahead and miss out on what God still has for me here.
I’m really excited to be here!! During my college years I made friends with many students from Malaysia. Madison has a large international student body with many of them coming from Asia including China, Malaysia, and South Korea. I met Malaysians in my classes, through the Christian ministry I was involved in (Cru), and in the workplace. It was cool to get to know them and show them my culture and hear about their own culture.
But now, rather than just hearing about it, I’m actually living in and experiencing their culture, just like they experienced mine when they went to UW-Madison. Malaysia is unlike any of the other countries we’ve been to. It is very multi-cultural with people groups including Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The country is entrenched in Islam and religious freedom has been challenged severely in recent years. The environment just has a different feel to it, but it is one that I’m glad to experience.
My team is working alongside another team in Changlun (near the Thailand border) where we are assisting a family in the Kindergarten they started in the local community. It’s a multi-ethnic school (unlike many of the schools here) and there are around 40-50 kids. Work we do consists of helping Thomas (our contact) with different media projects, teaching English to the kids, and doing chores around the house.
Because of various laws against evangelism, Thomas and his family are relying on simple actions of love as a way of showing Christ here in Malaysia. It’s been cool to be a part of as it’s really been stretching my faith in the Lord using simple actions to move and transform peoples’ hearts. I know that I’m always supposed to be living out the gospel, but a lot of times I feel more productive when I’m able to have spiritual conversations with people as well. But I’ve been forced to lay that down this month and be focused on prayer and living in a way that reflects the gospel while trusting that God is working through me to touch peoples’ hearts.
I’m so excited to see what God has planned this month. Our contacts are amazing and really invest in us on a spiritual level, which is something you don’t always find on the Race. I feel this month will continue to grow me in walking in the fullness of the Spirit that God has placed in me and using the authority that God has given me to glorify Him. That has been a common theme throughout my Race and this month will be a perfect transition to life back home in terms of living out the new knowledge I’ve received.
Thanks for continuing with me on this journey! I am truly grateful for all your prayers and support! Pray that I’ll be open to what God wants to reveal to me this month. God bless and can’t wait to see you all in a month!
