First of all, for those of you who donated to the Stepping Stones Living Centre, thank you so much. I feel as though “thank you” is such an inadequate response to your generosity. The story of what happened the day I gave the donation to Pastor Johnson is included in this blog.
I thought for this blog I’d give you a day-to-day account of this past trip to Malaysia. I truly wish I could reveal so much more to you about my time in Malaysia. There are a few dark stories that I simply can’t share with you in a blog. Some of the stories I heard, after I know how they end, maybe I’ll be able to relay them to you. As for now, some stories from my trip in October have taken a turn in a terrible direction. I hope I can explain it all, when the circumstances and information are clearer. I apologize if this blog seems a bit rushed or short on information. I assure you, this past visit shook me up quite a bit. I wish I could share it all.
On my flight from Atlanta to Korea, for some reason I started questioning what I was going to tell the people I met about the gospel. I instantly felt like what I was doing was wrong; to just show up for a few days and then leave for a few months before coming back again. I’m not sure where this line of questioning came from, but wow, it began to consume my thoughts. We’re told to make disciples, not converts. My goal is not to lead someone in a prayer while I’m there. (Also, see Matthew 23:15. This was a huge conviction of mine). So I started thinking, what can I truly do for these people I meet who are serious about Jesus? My contact Peter and I would later have a bit of an answer.
After a 15 hour flight, and a long layover in Korea, I flew 7 more hours until I arrived in Kuala Lumpur. Then I took a bus into the city, where my contact met me. I arrived on Saturday, March 3rd, in the 11:00pm hour. On the 4th, I went to church with Peter and Carol (my contacts). There was no ministry planned for that Sunday. Instead, I enjoyed time with my contacts and recovered from jet lag. Now, to address what can be accomplished through my convictions on the plane.
That Sunday afternoon at a coffee shop, Peter and I discussed the possibility of me recording myself leading a few messages, or even a sermon series from AL. The plan is, I’ll record myself speaking to the group that meets for church at the restaurant, and then Peter will lead a group discussion following the video. The relationships are already made between the restaurant staff and myself. And since the majority of the people who go to the restaurant church are staff members, it would be better for them to hear from me as often as possible and not just twice a year. Again, disciples, not converts. Perhaps I can disciple them from here. Or at least help.
On Monday the 5th, I worked all day in Peter and Carol’s restaurant.
On Tuesday the 6th, I spoke at Brickfields Asia College. I first spoke there back in October and really enjoyed my time with the students. It was nice to see some of them again, and even meet a few new students. After our time together in the classroom, I joined them at a table as they ate lunch. A few of us keep in touch through Facebook.
On Wednesday the 7th, I worked again in the restaurant. Liz Olson, a missionary from Thailand and dear friend of mine, arrived in KL to join me for a few days of ministry. She and I spoke that night to the group that meets at the restaurant for church. After that, we left for another all night worship service which lasted from 10:00pm-6:00am. This time though, instead of meeting in a school, we were going to meet in a man’s house. If you read my blog Malaysia, Round 2, you’ll remember what happened last time I went to this service. Well, as we pulled into the driveway of the house where we were about to get started, I began to notice my surroundings. When we entered the house, I was shocked. It was the same house of the taxi driver from the events in October. I couldn’t believe it. I was back in his house! Then he approached me with a big smile on his face, and shook my hand. I was amazed!
If you remember from last time, the man asked me to anoint his brother and pray for him. His brother, at that time, had recently suffered his second stroke. Before I flew out to KL this time, I made sure I had some anointing oil for just an occasion. You know, in case I’m ever asked to anoint someone, I’d be prepared. And what I thought was foolish thinking, I brought some extra tubes of oil just in case there was some way that I would cross paths with this man again. So as soon as I shook his hand, I said “I have something for you.” Excited, I handed him the tube of anointing oil. Instantly, he and his wife, and sister, went back over to his brother, anointed him and prayed over him. The man told me that his brother has come a long way in the healing process. Now, he can sit up, has all of his senses, and is speaking again. Oh, what a moment!
On Thursday the 8th, I went back to Peter and Carol’s home for a few hours of sleep, and then made it to the restaurant by noon to help with the lunch rush. After lunch, Liz and I made a visit to a doctor’s office. She was having some discomfort with an ear. After visiting one doctor, we were sent to another one and ended up downtown. Unfortunately, this doctor wasn’t there. It was now evening and she decided she’d wait until she was back in Thailand to have it examined further. So finally, we parted ways. She took the subway, and I caught a cab. The conversation with this taxi driver would prove to be memorable.
For starters, every time I get into a taxi, the driver will ask “So what are you doing here?” And more times than not, I’ll respond “I’m a Christian minister. Are you a Christian?” This usually opens or shuts the door for conversation. But on this day, the door was opened. He is a Muslim man but had no problem talking with me and comparing Christianity to Islam. I won’t unpack the whole conversation, but I will tell you that he was asking me question after question about my faith. I felt like my answers were pretty solid. Both of us were calm; not arguing or condemning at all. I asked him some questions. Many of which, he had no response. I told him that God Himself says, concerning Jesus, “This is my Son.” And that this happened twice. Both times, there were eye witnesses. (That night I emailed him the verses in the Bible where these words are recorded.) Before I got out of the car, I asked him if I could buy him a Bible. He was pleased with the idea. So I did. But later in the week, when we set a time for him to come and get it, he couldn’t make it. So I left it with a missionary who gave it to him.
On Friday the 9th, I worked in the restaurant again.
On Saturday the 10th, Liz, Amy, and I went to Slim River to visit 3 village churches. This is the jungle team SE7EN visited. It was very strange being back without them. I don’t know how to explain it. Just strange.
We spoke in two churches on that Saturday and then were invited to a home for dinner. As the guests, we were each given a little gift. One red and one white artificial flower complete with two boiled eggs.
On Sunday the 11th, we had one final service. Following all three services, I would show pictures on my computer from the last time I was with them…in April 2010. Some of them remembered team SE7EN.
After the service ended on Sunday, three individuals stayed to talk with Amy and me. Hairi age 21, Ima age 18, and Maryana age 15. All three were in tears at first, crying only a little. Hairi said “It’s tough to say goodbye.” They each said that there was nothing for them there. No one to pour into them. No one to teach them. Then their tears increased. I watched as the tears fell onto their Bibles and thought, “If only we all cried because we wanted more of Jesus.” Peter and I agreed that we will try our best to give them copies of the DVD’s that I send of me speaking. Perhaps I can disciple them too from here, until I’m back with them.
On Monday the 12th, I took a taxi that morning to the restaurant like I do every day. The taxi driver that day mentioned to me that he and his family are “underground Christians”-his words. His mother’s family has never known that his father is a Christian. His mother converted after marriage, however, her parents still don’t know.
When I visited the Stepping Stones Living Centre this past October, Pastor Johnson mentioned to me that in the past, missionaries, Christian organizations, and secular organizations have promised to raise money for the orphanage. I was pretty angry when I discovered that those organizations and missionaries never gave the money to the orphanage. They simply exploited the children to raise money for themselves or their organization. So, in hopes that I could raise money for the children, I spent a night at the orphanage this past October and filmed the events of what a typical day looks like for them. You can watch the video in my blog Help If You Can.
Peter and I headed to the orphanage that afternoon. I was almost shaking, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to hand Pastor Johnson the check for $3,000. That’s $9,000 in their currency. After I handed him the check, he fought back the tears for as long as he could. He told me that the week before, they had run out of money completely. And that this was an answered prayer. He also told me that there are now 95 children living there.
I wish everyone could have experienced that moment with me. I could have stayed in that moment forever. I felt like I was in God’s will. Thank you all so much for donating so that this could happen! You have changed so many lives, and have brought hope to many. This is great evidence for them, that they are not forgotten. One of the children asked if I was coming back in 2012. I told him that I’d be back around February of 2013. “2013? That’s so far,” he responded. Many of the kids remember our secret handshakes that we made up in October. They’re a joy to be around. They really are. I hope to go back again soon. I’m sure I’ll post about it when I do.
On Tuesday the 13th, I worked in the restaurant and had a meeting with a woman who runs a women’s shelter.
On Wednesday the 14th, I worked yet again in the restaurant and then taught an English class that night. I sure wish you could’ve seen that!
On Thursday the 15th, I worked in the restaurant and later said my goodbyes as I left for the airport.
Even in this blog, though it is lengthy, I could not include every detail of the two weeks I spent in Malaysia. Every trip is life changing. There are dark and devastating lows, and then there are glimpses of Heaven on earth. Before I even leave for Malaysia, I always dread saying goodbye. It just hurts to leave.
