This has been one
of the most diverse yet same months of ministry. It’s been so much fun! Through it all,
I’ve heard some interesting stories and made some of my own to tell. Each one
has taught me something.
One night for
ministry, I went with a group to hang out with homeless people in Penang and
just show them that someone cares about them. One of my teammates and I ended
up talking to a Muslim woman. She was widowed with six children; the older four
fought and refused to work and the younger two were supposed to be in school
but there was no money. That day, they had walked from the far side of the
island (a 45 minute drive) in search of work for the woman. It was late… She
had just had hip surgery and couldn’t walk well and there was no money for a
bus ride home so they (the mother and two youngest children) were going to
spend the night by the bridge then walk back in the morning. God blessed our
time with her and we were able to share the Gospel, pray for her, take some
pictures and laugh a little, give her some hope (by telling her about the
homeless shelter and also a place that was hiring) and enough cash to pay for
the bus fare home. As I walked back to where I was staying, I pondered the
thought that everyone has a story to tell; someone just needs to take the time
to sit and listen.
Our first day of
ministry here, we worked with another team at the hospital. Our job? To walk
around with boxes and cute little bear keychains asking for money to be
donated. The cause? To pay for the critical surgeries for kids whose families
could not afford it. I was quite uncomfortable with it at first. I mean, come
on! I’m an American which means people automatically assume I’m rich and I’m
supposed to go around asking THEM to give me money?! It doesn’t work that way!
But it did. Nearly every person I approached reached into their pockets and
pulled our their wallets. The money wasn’t given begrudgingly, but rather with
a good attitude and a smile. How convicting! And how challenging. How can these
people, nearly every single one who has less than I am blessed with, give so
generously and I not do the same? I’m pretty sure that I can spare loose change
or a dollar or two to help bless someone. Thanks, God, for that lesson.
This month, we
volunteered at a center that housed and trained blind persons for a successful,
independent life in society. On the very first day, I sat down and began a
conversation with an old man named Robert. He hadn’t been born blind; he had
had measles at the age of 11 and it had settled in his eyes. He told me he
could still remember what it was like to see. He felt bad because he had been
successful at making baskets and worked in Kuala Lumpur for years. He had come
here and been stuffing letters but recently, it had been decided he was too old
and so now he spent his days sitting at a lunch table in the kitchen. He was so
lucid and friendly and smiling! Every time I saw him, I greeted him and he
cheerily answered, “Good morning!� no matter what time of day. From talking to
him, I saw that you can find joy in any situation. And also not to
underestimate the usefulness of people because of age, or make them feel
unwanted or useless because that can make them feel worthless.
On one of our two
Saturdays off, a group of us girls headed to the smallest national park in the
world, located right here on Penang Island. We had an amazing day of hiking
through the rainforest and I reveled in breathing in and out the fresh, clean,
green atmosphere. After a little over an hour of hiking through the lush flora,
we arrived at a pristine white sand beach with plenty of rocks to clamor up
and over and satisfy my soul. The gentle roll of the temperate water over our
bodies, the relaxing picnic in the shade or the trees, and time spent reading
provided a welcome respite. Later that afternoon as I was playing like a
carefree little kid on the rope tree swings, I realized that God gives you
everything you desire if you follow Him. You just have to wait for His timing.
I had been wanting to go hiking and enjoy the mountains and countryside and go
to a beach for the past few countries but I definitely appreciated it here,
especially after all the craziness of the past months.
Another story I
heard was from a young man who worked at the center. He was blind but was quite
self-sufficient; very intelligent and kind. He had been best friends with a
girl, began dating her, fallen in love, and had every intention of marrying
her. Christmas came around and she took him home to meet her parents. He wasn’t
worried; in the Asian-driven mentality where money and success were most
important, he had a good education and a better than average job. He could
provide well and care for this girl. His innocent heart was shattered by her
father’s cruel statement – “If you were poor, even then I could be okay with it.
But you are blind. So I cannot let you marry my daughter.� I nearly cried when
I heard that. The young man’s words still echo in my head… “Love is blind, and
mine is completely so. I may be blind but I can provide! I can even cook! I
have more education; I can take better care of her so why does he refuse? What
is wrong with me?� My heart goes out to him and, in that moment, I discovered
how to not judge or see people based on their physical abilities or lack of
them, but instead to love them and see them as a unique and special creation of
God.
This month at the
home for the blind, I’ve done the
gamut of the spectrum of work. Apparently, the term “housekeeping� covers
everything from sweeping, mopping, and washing windows to taking down
decorations, from helping make and sell pastries to putting together file
folders, from organizing a basket shop to washing dishes and chairs, from
labeling and shelving books in the library to scrubbing out a commercial grade
refrigerator/freezer in the kitchen, and even converting books on tape to books
on CD. Along the way, I learned some useful things (like how to make cream puffs)
and some not-so-useful things (like that the combination of mini dessert forks
and rubberbands make fun weapons). I climbed a tree, didn’t care what people
thought when I wore a giant garbage bag to keep myself dry while I hosed out
the freezer, and joked and laughed my way through the multitude of tasks. I
didn’t always have the best attitude (like when I brushed dust from the fans
down on top of myself) but I learned quickly that laughter and a good mood make
the days much more pleasant.
Oh, one last piece of advice… when Megan
dares you to eat a whole clove of raw garlic, either swallow it fast or don’t
do it. Cuz if you chew it slowly, it burns your mouth and makes you want to
puke 😛
