Week 1 in Malaysia

After a long travel day from South Africa to Singapore and finally to Sungai Petani, Malaysia, we arrived at Bethel Assembly Church. Our home for the next two months.

Our first week in Malaysia was spent adjusting to the culture, learning the area, and getting to know the pastors and staff. One thing I love here is the freedom we have to explore and ask the Lord where He wants us to go.

On our first full day, a group of us went to a coffee shop with WiFi so we could catch up with family. Sitting there with a latte in my hand made me feel like I was truly living large. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with the whole squad at the church, playing music on the instruments, unpacking, and getting used to our very tight living quarters.

On Wednesday we had what we call ATL (Ask the Lord Day) where we intentionally seek where He wants us to go and what He wants us to do or say. Kynsie, Holly, Marissa, and I felt led to return to the same coffee shop from the day before to look for a specific person. While we waited, we had such rich, God-honoring conversations. We never found the man, but we did get to share what we’re doing and have meaningful conversations with people in and around the shop. Eventually, the Lord even led us into a hair salon where Holly got her hair cut, and we connected with our new hairstylist friend.

ATL days have quickly become one of my favorite parts of the Race. It’s such a good picture of what everyday life with the Lord should look like. Simply being led by Him in the ordinary. I want to challenge you to set aside a day to intentionally listen with open ears, hearts, and eyes for what He has.

That evening we all hung out in front of the 99 store beneath our house until it was time for band practice. Almost half the squad is learning an instrument, the bass, drums, guitar, or piano. I’m in a band with Skylar, Brayden, and Brooks, and apparently I’m becoming a bass expert. This is definitely going to stretch me!

Then came Thanksgiving. We started the holiday with worship focused on gratitude, it was beautiful. Afterward we made hand turkeys, which was so fun! Later, I went to a coffee shop with Ella to talk to my family and paint. For lunch we went back to the church and ate a meal I still can’t name, but it was delicious.

That evening we pulled our chairs into the alley by the church and ate dinner together while going around sharing what we were thankful for. Hearing everyone’s reflections was really sweet. I shared how thankful I am for the answered prayer of Godly friends my age.

Charley had been teasing us with a surprise all day, so when the moment finally came we were all excited. Only to discover he was handing each of us a raw Malaysian bean. We all ate them at the same time, just to find out it was a joke and he had ice cream for us. We split into groups of five (mine was Kynsie, Ryley, Charley, and Brooks) and passed the carton around, each taking a bite until it was gone. It was such a simple but memorable Thanksgiving.

Friday might be my new favorite day. We started with a teaching and worship session about worship, then grabbed our laundry and piled into the vans to go to the laundromat. The one we went to was bright hot pink. While our laundry washed, we walked to a Chinese food court where I ordered Char Kay Teow. Which is spicy noodles with shrimp, chicken, and clams, new favorite dish. After eating, we found a bakery where I got great coffee and a macaron. On Friday night the church has their main service that everyone goes to. Jess our host brought all of us girls dresses to wear to church, which was so kind. Church was so fun I will never get over seeing other cultures worship the Lord. To end church we had dinner all together, but to end the night we all went to Texas Chicken til 3 am! Which is so normal here in Malaysia, they have no bed time!!

Saturday night ended with a beautiful rainbow, which felt like the start of something special. At 11:30 p.m. we headed to sports ministry my new favorite ministry. We played futsal (indoor soccer) all night, and my team won every game! I also got to go around and speak to people playing there and share about what we are doing in Malaysia. When we finished playing we headed to McDonalds and in true Malaysian fashion until 3 am. 

So far, I absolutely love Malaysia and can’t wait to share more about ministry and the ways the Lord is speaking and moving here!