A week in Malaysia

Hello my little blog family!

Long time no see, right? Haha. One of my goals while being in Malaysia is to blog more often. I would love to get into the routine of posting a blog once a week, just simply sharing whatever the Lord has put on my heart and been teaching me. And with that, I’ll continue to post another every other week, still giving a rundown of how the weeks went and updated ways to pray.

As I’m writing this blog, I’m sitting in my bed—a mat and sleeping bag on the floor, surrounded by 24 other girls, stuff everywhere, and yet all that I can think is how grateful I am for this space. Pre-race me probably would’ve considered dropping out of my sign-up if I had known how little space I’d have in Malaysia, yet I’m 3 months in, praising the Lord for all that I have. If that’s not growth, then I don’t know what is. I adore the ways that Christ chooses to grow us in because He doesn’t only choose to focus on the things we consider big, but the small as well. How kind is He to want to shape us to be more like Him in each and every way. So I am so joyful to be able to say that I am so thankful for this space, this little rectangle of floor that I get to call my own, for a wall to hang pictures on reminding me of my family, and for this room full of girls that have become my home. But above all, I’m so beyond thankful that I get to start this new beginning with the Lord right by my side.

Something the Lord reminded me of was that in the first week of training camp, He gave me the word “Beginning.” At the time, I looked at it as my time on World Race as a whole was a beginning, which is true, but the Lord meant it as more than that. Each country I enter, each month, each day even, is a new beginning. So as I enter Malaysia, I enter it with the perspective of a new beginning. Not a new book or a new story, but the same book and story—just a new chapter added. And the Lord is still my best friend, faithfully holding my hand as I enter this beautiful new chapter.

During the flight here, one of my teammates asked me what I’m most expectant for, and to be honest, I didn’t have a clear answer and said that I was just entering Malaysia with open hands. Fast forward to coffee/abide time, I was sitting with the Lord and He put that moment on my heart. He said to me that there is a difference in being open-handedly expectant and just not being expectant at all. The Lord wants us to come to His feet expecting Him to move. He wants us to desire more and more of Him, to desire Him to move in specific areas of our lives. And He wants us to bring Him those desires, expecting Him to move. That morning, I realized that I hadn’t truly brought the Lord my expectations and my desires for Malaysia. I was then able to sit with the Lord and pray earnestly for the country, for the people, for the ministry, for the children, and for the Rohingya people, and boldly, expectantly ask the Lord to move. So now I enter this new country, this new ministry, this new beginning—with expectantly open hands.

The Lord will move in Malaysia—through the hands and feet of me and my squad, in the hearts and minds of the people. He will move within the walls of the church, within the children of the schools, and throughout the streets of Malaysia. His love and His glory will flow through all of Malaysia like a mighty river. It will rush over every heart, every soul, and every mind.

I’ve spent a few weeks leading up to Malaysia sitting with the Lord, asking Him for more—for more of Him. Asking Him to show me more of His face, His glory, and to gift me in ways to better serve His kingdom. The Lord had clearly shown me things to ask Him for, but I was left waiting for a response, waiting, and I didn’t understand why. One morning, I was sitting with the Lord about it and I decided to read 1 Corinthians 13:1–3:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

I had gotten to a point in my asking in which I desired to be gifted more than I desired to be loving. I thought that I would be able to serve best if I was clearly gifted in a way. The Lord desires us to be more alike to Him and desires to give us gifts, but above all else He desires us to be loving. So I will still seek from Him the more that He’s laid on my heart, but above all else, I will seek to be loving as He so evidently is. And day by day, I will sink deeper and deeper into His love so that all that pours out is love—till rivers upon rivers of love rush in and out of me, flooding over every step I take. If I have not love, I truly am nothing. If I’ve laid down every desire, given up every preference to go on World Race, but have not love, I gain nothing.

All that I desire is to love like Him in all that I do—to love so gently and soft, yet so boldly and loud. If I gain absolutely nothing but what it means to truly love like Him, then I’ve gained everything.

That same day, I went with my friend Meridyth to a coffee shop and we had the sweetest time both reading and talking about the Word. It’s moments like this that make the race easier, giving me a little taste of normalcy and home. On our way home in our Grab, we had such an encouraging, fruitful conversation with our driver—Laurence! (Whenever we want to go somewhere during free days, we have to take a “Grab,” which is just a Malaysian Uber haha.) He asked us why we had come from America and we were able to share with him! We told him that we had come with a large group to teach children in schools and that we were here simply because we love Jesus and because Jesus loves him. It’s always a little nerve-wracking when sharing the “why” because you never know what response you’ll be given, especially it being the first time in a new country. But the reaction this man had was so rewarding. As soon as he heard the name Jesus, his face lit up with a big smile. He shared with us that he is Roman Catholic and that Jesus is his “number one”! Praise God, what a joy! What a joy that the first person we share our story with in Malaysia also loves Jesus. He was able to give us a glimpse into the life of a Jesus follower in Malaysia, telling us how few love the Lord here. We were able to pray over this sweet man and he proceeded to invite us to his house to eat and to pray over him and his family—which is very common here. We gave him our number along with the number/location of the church we’re partnered with.

It was such an amazing way to start off Malaysia! Thank you Jesus for Laurence!

That following day was our first Malaysian ATL (Ask the Lord) day! I spent that morning with the Lord, reading different pieces of scripture that He led me to along with listening to the song “Absolutely Yes.” If you haven’t listened to it, go listen right now! It’s amazing 🙂 During my time with the Lord, He really hyped me up for the day and I was really excited to GO out and share His name with the people, but when I asked the Lord what He had for me that day, He told me to wait, and He told me to blog. So I didn’t make plans to go out just yet, and I waited. While waiting, two of the girls on my team, Mercy and Caroline, were left without a group, so I decided to join them! We ended up at a coffee shop with the goal to talk to an employee that Caroline made friends with yesterday, but she wasn’t there, so we ended up having some time to blog and just have sweet conversations with each other! Our Grab driver both to and from the coffee shop was the same man though, so we were able to begin to build a relationship with him that day! He broke down his religion to us and listened to us as we got to share a glimpse into ours and why we are here. He was so very open and willing to listen and it was very helpful to get a bit of insight on some of the other religions here. It was a bit of a slow but very needed day, slowly adjusting us to evangelism here in Malaysia.

Sharing the gospel in Malaysia looks so very different than both Swazi and America. The people here highly value living in harmony with one another, meaning they’re very open to talking about their/your religion. It’s so easy to open a conversation sharing why we’re here and very easy to prompt the people to share their own beliefs as long as we do so lovingly and not in a debating way. On the downside, because harmony is so valued here and differing beliefs are so commonly conversed, it’s not so easy to get people to believe by our words. This is where our actions and our personal testimonies come into play. It’s so much more likely that these people come to know the Lord by hearing and by seeing a true, real transformation within us. We must not only be bold by word but by action as well—striving to outdo each person in love and in serving them. Striving to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus, not just the mouth.

On Friday, we had our first church service! We were given and asked to wear traditional outfits, which is so very fun. Service starts around 7 p.m. and ends around 10. Most don’t go home though until around 1–2 a.m. One thing about Malaysia—they stay up lateeeeee! I’m definitely missing my 8 o’clock Swazi bedtime, but I am thankful for an opportunity to embrace a change of culture and routine.

Church here is so incredibly indescribable and such a blessing. It’s such a gift during this season of my life to be able to receive so much in the midst of constantly pouring out. The Lord’s presence is so seen and so felt within this church and this community. The way these people love, the way these people truly desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and the way that you can clearly see how hungry they are for the Lord and His return. It was such a beautiful experience to be able to worship our God in a mix of their languages and English. It was such a beautiful picture of heaven and a moment I’ll never forget. I still can’t get over just how overwhelmingly filling and Spirit-filled it was. Thank you Jesus for Bethel Assembly, our little church that has become my home.

After the service, they dismiss the people for fellowship and food, where a meal is provided and tables are set out for us to sit together. There are about 50 attendees apart from World Racers, and it was so incredible to see each and every person fully present during this time. No one was rushing out the door during prayer to be the first one to leave to skip parking lot traffic, no one was checking their watch counting down the minutes to get home, no one was avoiding conversation to pull an Irish goodbye. Everyone’s priority was not only to allow themselves to be filled by the message spoken but by the people around them as well. We are called to abide, connect, and share. We can’t have any without the other. Sitting in church in a crowded room for an hour isn’t connecting. Staying after service to have intentional conversations with people, praying over and with other believers, and letting people into your heart is connecting. Maybe not all of Malaysia know Jesus, but the people who do are so deeply in love with Him and His children.

Now! I will give a rundown of my weekly schedule!

It’s a lot, so stay with me now!

On Mondays–Thursdays, we will be at an Islamic school teaching the Rohingya children English among other subjects. The school used to be run by our pastor, Pastor Thomas (PT), within the church, and they would clearly share the gospel and memorize scripture with the children. Word eventually got home to the parents that this was being done and the parents began pulling their kids from the school. PT eventually decided to move locations to an Islamic school, and though they cannot clearly speak the gospel, they can still show it with their actions and with their love. And PT has said that it is more than enough if they can do “as little” as that. The Lord moves mightily in our “small” ways.

Our squad is split into 6 teams—4 girls teams, 2 boys teams. Two girls teams and both of the guys teams will be doing school ministry every week while here, including my team! Yay! Those teams at the schools will partner one-on-one with one to two children at the school. This is from 9–12, so very short. The other two girls teams will serve at the school Mon/Tues and at a bakery who employs people with Down syndrome Wed/Thurs. We’re so blessed to be able to serve in so many different areas of Malaysia, and I’m so excited to see what the Lord does!

Every evening during the week, each team will have their own form of ministry with one of the pastors here one night a week. There’s a different form of ministry each night, for example: Monday is worship, Tuesday is time with PT’s wife, Wednesday is hospital ministry, Thursday is addiction meetings, Saturday is street evangelism. (Don’t quote me on that, I’m working from memory haha.) This upcoming week, my team is on Thursday—addiction meetings! I have no idea what to expect, but I’m very expectant and excited.

On Fridays, we have church! I already gave a mini rundown of what it looked like, but in the future our squad will have more serving roles. By teams, some will share a message, some will serve in kids’ ministry, and some will be a part of worship! Also very exciting!

Saturdays are our Ask the Lord days, where we’re given an opportunity to go out and do whatever the Lord has asked us to do.

And last but not least, Sundays are our Sabbath!! Yay!! A time to sit with the Lord and a sweet and much-needed day of rest.

Throughout the week, we will also have several other little ministry opportunities like sports ministry, band practices, and even tambourine lessons. You read that right—band and tambourine lessons. PT has said that by the end of Malaysia, I will be able to play five whole instruments. Wow!

Our schedules here are much more busy and packed than Swazi’s ever was, which is very different. It’s definitely going to take a lot of adjusting to and a lot of giving up my own desires of alone time and space—which is hard but so stretching and growing in so many amazing ways. The Lord’s heart is truly with Malaysia, and He is definitely moving in ways I cannot even see yet, but it is so felt. And I couldn’t be more expectant for what He has for me, my squad, and the people here. It’s only been a week and I’m in love with the country and people. I am so grateful to be here. Thank you Jesus.

I would ask that you would pray over the hearts of the people here and over each ministry as well. Pray over PT as he’s the one running all of these ministries. Pray endurance and cups that never run out but overflow over our squad. We’re constantly running on so little sleep here, and when we have the time to sleep, a majority of us haven’t been able to. Pray rest and good sleep over each of us. Pray boldness over us, that the Lord would give us opportunity after opportunity to share His name and that we would be bold enough to do so. I don’t want to waste a single opportunity or skip over a single person.

And last but not least, I ask that you’d pray over me. I’ve been so blessed all of race to only miss home and family but not yet feel homesick, but since being in Malaysia, I’ve begun feeling homesick more often. I’m so beyond thankful to have a home so worth missing, but I don’t want my longing to get in the way of my drive here. I’m only here for six more months, only in Malaysia for two. I don’t want to miss beautiful opportunities the Lord is so graciously placing in my hands because I’m caught up on what isn’t in my hands at the moment.

I love you all!