Malaysia

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Being in a country where most of the people around you think they have already found the way and that their hearts are already hard to the God of the Bible felt really heavy. Most of the people we met didn’t really think they needed anything.

Something my squad leader, Carter, told me when I was talking about how small Christianity felt and how large other religions felt really stuck with me. He said something along the lines of how Christianity is the only religion that actually changes you, where you’re not striving to do something or be something, but are truly changed from the inside out.

Compared to Swazi, Malaysia was different in every way. From our chaotic schedule, there really was no schedule, and if there was, it changed, to the freedom we had to be a part of the local church. Malaysia felt a lot more like home, just without the comfort and rest that being home brings.

I learned a lot more about what it means for life to be ministry and ministry to be life. I was convicted as I walked through my days, realizing how often I wasn’t taking the time to truly see people and love them. The Lord really highlighted living life in the uncomfortable, uncomfortable in starting conversations with random strangers, uncomfortable in sharing one room, one toilet, and one shower with 25 girls.

Going through Malaysia, I started feeling really apathetic. I was either just pushing through or crying. But it was sweet. I got the beautiful chance to be built up by His people and seek him in new ways.

One conversation I had with a Muslim man really stuck with me. I had heard where Christians and Muslims differ in belief, how they believe the Bible is corrupted because it was translated, and how the Trinity seems completely crazy to them. It was interesting to see how naturally those differences came up.

What really stood out to me was when I was talking about how Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth to reconcile His people. He stopped me and asked if a rock could have a child. I answered no, but we both agreed that our Gods are far more powerful than a rock. He believed theoretically Allah has the power to send His son, but the idea itself was completely out of the question. Why would God ever come to earth? Absolutely not.

That disbelief stuck with me, because it’s unbelievable how beautiful that gift really is.

The Rohingya

The Rohingya are a people who fled to Malaysia after their government began committing genocide against them for being Muslim in a Buddhist country. They are treated very poorly by those around them and are often seen as the lowest and dirtiest.

But PT, Pastor Tomis, has seen them and loved them. He founded a refugee school for them, and while we were there, each of us was paired with a student. My girl’s name was Umabaheba. She is so incredibly smart.

It was an honor serving them. We couldn’t openly tell them the gospel but I know the Lord played seeds and has his church there pouring into them. But the school is where we spent most of our time.

I am posting this blog while being in Guatemala.  It’s been hard for me to balance keeping up with keeping people back home and those who have supported me updated.  Blogging does not come easy to me but if you have any questions on anything I would love to call if you don’t have my number it is 706-429-3039 ❤️