We made it to Malaysia! This month looks a little different than the previous 9. This month is MANistry month!
My squad has 20 women and only 4 men. Which means we’ve been outnumbered 20 to 4 for 9 months now. It’s been absolutely incredible, but it’s time we have a month to ourselves.
Upon our arrival in Malaysia, us 4 guys became our own team.
It couldn’t be a better month for us to do this! Our days are filled with sports, food, fellowship and rest. I feel like I’m in high school again.
This month we are partnering with IpohBug, most of the staff are members of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Every day we are playing soccer and/or ultimate frisbee with boys and men between the ages of 7 and 25 years old.
It’s a refreshing season because everyone is so accepting and friendly. We are not being pressured to preach or evangelize. Not that it’s a bad thing, but there have been a lot of times out here, where we as missionaries, are treated like celebrities. This month is different. It’s a great atmosphere to live life with the locals and just feel normal.
We are also spending a lot of time at a local dementia day center. We are there to provide conversation for elders who have dementia. I absolutely love it! We have a lot of laughs together as we play bingo and sing songs with our new friends.
When we aren’t playing sports or hanging out with the old folks, we eat! The local food in Malaysia is not only cheap, but delicious. There is so much variety as well. Day 1 we chowed down on chicken feet and squid.
This month has been amazing so far! I’ve loved hanging out with the locals and pouring into the youth at church. Playing competitive sports again has made me feel so alive, and volunteering at the dementia center has been a blast.
This month is so refreshingly different as it prepares me for being back home. We are not sharing the Gospel with Muslims in West Africa, or preaching in rural Indian villages, but we are still doing ministry. God wants us to obey Him and to love others. He wants us to genuinely LOVE EVERYONE, wherever we are.
So this is my challenge to you, make loving people your ministry. God has called us to LOVE. You don’t have to cross the ocean to do that. You can volunteer at local places that need help, get involved in local sports leagues, or just share meals with people. Just LOVE people, that is ministry.
LOVE IS ENOUGH.
