Welcome to Malaysia!

We are officially in our second country! After a 10-hour overnight bus, a 12-hour layover in Bangkok, another 16-hour overnight bus (which we booked on the fly because our original tickets were a scam), 2 train rides (one of which we missed because we forgot to factor in the time change), and a quick drive in Pastor T’s vans, my squad and I arrived in Sungai Petani, Malaysia! We shared an incredible meal with the church family here as soon as we pulled up, including this entire table of homemade desserts! We’ll be here through mid-May working with a few different ministries, including teaching English, math, and science to refugee kids from Myanmar, visiting members of the community in their homes and sharing about God and our faith with them, and working with a bakery that employs special needs adults! That’s right, I am back in a bakery again! God is so good and He’s really showing me what He can do with the skills and experience He’s given me!

This week, my squad spent Monday and Tuesday teaching English to refugee kids, which was such a sweet and chaotic experience all at the same time! I’ve never experienced kids not listening to me because they literally do not understand my language, that was definitely a first and an adjustment. All the same, little kids are little kids no matter where you are. They all wanted our attention and to play with us. They all smiled and laughed with their friends. Honestly, it was hard to imagine what they must have been through as refugees when all I could see are their smiling faces. Kids are kids, they all want to laugh and to be loved and to be kids. Please be praying for their little hearts to experience God in obvious ways that they will understand.

On Wednesday and Thursday, my team split off from our squad and went to the bakery! We haven’t baked there yet, but God has given me a new opportunity to see the bakery from a new perspective and serve in a new way. We painted the storefront and an accent wall inside, and have made the most of the opportunity to get to know the owner and the employees. The owner’s heart for adults with special needs is evident as she has dedicated her life to this bakery, a space for them to learn a trade and give back to the community. We are beginning to help her bring her vision to life by brainstorming ways to grow the business, including writing a business plan, creating advertising materials, and building out the space to more of its potential. Prayers are needed as we begin taking steps toward this end!

The transition from Thailand to Malaysia has definitely presented its own challenges, but God has reminded me to be grateful that saying goodbye to Thailand was as hard as it was. It means He brought people and places into my life that are worth missing. He’s also been faithful to show me what there is to be excited about here, too, including everything from new ministries to seeing monkeys in the trees as I walk to the coffee shop. God is so good, and to experience new portions of His creativity in all these countries has been a blessing I didn’t expect.