The other day we were driving to a church. As the van slowed down, I popped my head up to see why. I saw cattle crossing the road. In that moment I realized I’m in a Malaysian cattle drive…
My title for this blog is much of how I feel about my time in Malaysia. Though I still have one more week here, I feel like I’m ready to leave. Most of my time here has been spent in a car or nice sized van. My teammates and I have found many…many ways to entertain ourselves and keep our sanity. Lots of random videos, singing real loud, or talking about random things we see in accents. God has bonded us in laughter and comic relief. PRAISE THE LORD! I think I’m just exhausted from being shuffled around…much like cattle.
This past week we helped at an orphanage. This was a bit challenging because many of the kids didn’t understand English. So we entertained them with songs and painted the walls of the building. They are kids who desperatly want attention and with only one house parent this doesn’t happen. It is hard to leave a place where you know much is needed. But I can’t make people work there. So pray that workers would come and serve. Along with hanging out with the kids, my team and I served at the church. It was spoken over us, as a squad, that we were worshipers. I didn’t really know what that meant until this week. Not only has God been wanting us to bring worship to places but he has also been teaching us how to worship. This week was probably one of the most intense talks and worship we’ve given. I played the mess out of a cow bell!! A couple of my teammates found freedom in just picking up an intstrument and going for it. Tricia picked up a few beats on the drums, Carmen found her singing voice, and Jennilee is a bongo player. Just as the Psalms say…”Make a Joyful NOISE…” We did just that. I don’t know how it was to everyone else but to me it was amazing. I know in those moments God was smiling down on us. And if we are honest, maybe laughing a bit too. Some gave testimonies of life up to the race. I was able to give a sermon. EEkk!
God made it very clear what i should talk about to this church. Early this week he laid the whold sermon out to me. I knew I’d speak it this week. He again confirmed it in a dream I had too. I talked about love. Using Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 13..the love verses)) I talked about this love in my life and how God has re-shaped it. How God changes perspectives of things and if love is not the basis of what you do, the question begs then “why are you doing it?” God’s love isn’t one level, it’s endless levels of love. As I experiance this love it becomes what I do and how I act. One can’t help but love after encountering the God of love. When you see how God has been patient, kind, slow to anger etc, you begin to encounter people with that love and grace. Funny how God works…? What he works out in us will inevitably be worked through us. So my challenge to them was to have a firm foundation on which to explore God more. To explore spiritual gifts or leaving for missions or changing jobs or whatever life is love must be the basis. How do you know love? Pursue God, He is love. I am learning more of just what that looks like…
The cattle drive ends soon. And I’ll be off to Thailand. Until next blog…I pray love consumes you. That you encounter the God of Love in new and refreshing ways.
[side note: my teammates have those videos I spoke of…when I have more internet time I will definatly post them for you!]
