This past week, my team spent time in a city called Melaka. It is about 3 and half hours south of Kuala Lumpur and is on the southwest coast of Malaysia. Melaka is referred to as “The Historic State” and is also listed as a World Heritage Site. The Malacca River flows through the center dividing the north and south and giving tourists the opportunity to see the quaint city on a ferry.
I kept seeing big signs saying “Don’t Mess with Melaka,” and was curious because it reminded me of “Don’t Mess with Texas.” I researched it to find out that the signs were put around the city to encourage people to stop littering and to care for their home again by picking up trash and keeping it clean. So, because the signs were seen as a success in Texas, Melaka decided to give the same concept a try. And so far, it’s working out.
What stood out to me the most in Melaka is all the beautiful artwork and architecture. Everywhere I walked, there were always so many detailed murals, handmade crafts, ornate bridges, and uniquely designed buildings. The people here are very friendly and love to share their stories of what brought them to Melaka and why they love this city.
One thing my team was praying into while here was “How can we impact this city? What do you want us to do Lord? How can we reach all these people?” I was walking by myself one day processing these questions when the thought crossed my mind:
You don’t have to leave a mark on every city; sometimes that city is meant to leave a mark on you.
I think that is what the Lord wanted to teach me during my time in Melaka. That we shouldn’t seek to only make big impacts and try to measure our success. We should simply seek the Lord, obey what He asks of us, and enjoy every moment wherever we are. So, I may not have left a huge impact for the kingdom in Melaka….or I may have. Whatever the answer, I know Melaka has had an impact on me.
