This story is really cheesy so get ready… I’ll give you un minuto. Ok, are you ready?
The week before we left Malaysia to go to Singapore our team went to the movies to watch Captain Marvel. Yes, we are allowed to have fun once in a while haha. The movies in Malaysia are $2 can you believe that??? Before the movies, I wanted a smoothie so I walked around and found Hui Lau Shan aka “the smoothie spot”. I ordered a mango cube mango jelly smoothie. As I waited I noticed I needed more water.
[FUN FACT: You can always get your water bottle refilled at cafes and restaurants for free!]
So I asked the guy who made my smoothie if I could get water with ice and he said yes. I thanked him and went on with our night. The next day we bussed to Singapore where we stayed for a week. After that week we came back to Malaysia and our hostel was seriously right next to the smoothie spot at Berjaya Times Square. I returned for my smoothie and guess what else I did. Yup, I asked if I could get water but this time I didn’t ask for ice. This is where my mind was blown away… The guy handed me my water bottle and said: “I put ice like you ordered it last time.” I stuttered and in confusion said, “WHAT?? You remembered from last week??” he smiled and said “Yes”. I am probably making a big deal out of this but that small little detail made me feel noticed. I thought to myself, dang I’m slacking.. I should have noticed him sooner. Hannah and I began talking to him and getting to know his story.
His name is Pongkit and he was born in Malaysia but comes from a Chinese background and has been working with that company for 7 years. The most incredible part of our friendship is that it had just started. Our team was staying in Kuala Lumpur for 2 weeks. I was so pumped cause every day would be a new opportunity we get to be with Pongkit. As we got closer to him he began to share more and more. He told us that he only had a week left of work because he was moving back to his hometown to help his parents run their business. He’s currently the manager so we asked him who would take his spot and he said another guy would and he was coming tomorrow. We wanted to spend time with Pongkit outside of work and the only time he was available was after work at 10:30 pm. Pongkit wanted to see the movie Shazam! so we agreed we would go to the movies once he got off work. Pongkit said he would invite the new manager to the movies with us so we could meet him.
The next day we went to the smoothie spot during the day to say hi to Pongkit and met the new manager. The new manager’s name is Soham and the moment I saw him he had the biggest smile from cheek to cheek. He is so full of joy and was so stoked on meeting us. Pongkit had told him about the movies and he was all in. He’s from Nepal and has been working in Malaysia for 3 years. He plans on going back to Nepal in a year to start his own business. Soham had the most energetic contagious personality. It was like seeing myself in him and I loved it so much. We quickly connected and started talking about hobbies, culture, travels, relationships, and religion. It was so dope getting to explain to him the difference between religion and relationship that we get to experience in Jesus. Spending time with Pongkit and Soham at the movies meant so much to them and to us.
Soham had the next day off so I reached out to him and asked if we could have lunch. I told him I wanted to try food from his country and he got really excited and said yes! He brought his friend Krishna and Jitendra from Nepal with him to have lunch with us. He took us to a Nepali Restaurant where we had [no lie] so much food! The entire vibe of the Restaurant and our friends made it feel like we were in Nepal instead of Malaysia. We had great conversations with each other and they loved it when we asked questions about Nepal. It was such a special experience that I’ll never forget.
We continued to visit Pongkit and Soham at the smoothie spot and when it was time for us to say goodbye our hearts were broken. We will never forget each other and we agreed to always stay in touch. Soham loves NYC so I told him that if one day he makes it to The States to let me know and he can stay with me. We can drive up the east coast from ATL to NYC. He also said that when he returns to Nepal he wants me to go visit him so hopefully, I make it out there one day!
I just find it crazy dazy that God uses the small details in others to make us feel noticed. Water with ice, that’s all it took. If you’re reading this then it means you’re breathing. If your breathing then it means you’re doing life. If you’re doing life then ask yourself, “How am I noticing others as Jesus did?”. In Luke 8:43-48 the woman who had suffered from constant bleeding touched Jesus in the middle of who knows how many people. The Bible says a “crowd” yet Jesus still noticed her in the middle of so many people. He spoke to her and said, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” How do you think that woman felt in that moment? I think she had joy beyond herself knowing that the Messiah healed her but that He also noticed her!
Every day we get the opportunity to notice people. Take a moment to think. What places do you go to every day? Work? School? Gym? Coffee Shops? Restaurants? Have you seen the same person working there more than once? If that was a yes then maybe next time you can step out in confidence and get to know their name. Don’t expect to be friends that same day because they’re probably busy working and don’t have much time to talk. But if you consistently continue to notice them and ask them how they’re doing the relationship will grow. When the time is right, get their number or Instagram [less awkward]. Ask them what day they can hang out, show up, create a conversation and share the goodness of Jesus. It won’t always work like that but don’t get discouraged. Just keep doing life by noticing the people God puts in front of you.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! Your support means the world to me so keep me in your prayers. Also, let me know how I can be praying for you by text, email, facebook, Instagram, etc…
