Team SEA

Selamat Tinngal : Farewell Malaysia

As week 2 comes to a close, the team took the day to reflect on our time in Penang, Malaysia. Before arriving to this country we so easily fell in love with, the team spent time in prayer and intercession for the country and the people here. Each of us as individuals also had time to look back on the goals we set for Malaysia, the high and low points of our time here, the work God is doing in our lives, and encourage one another.

The laughter and tears flowed when we recalled the whirlwind that was our first 2 weeks of outreach. When first praying for Malaysia back in New Zealand, we prayed that we would: 1. See a miracle 2. Be a blessing to the long-term missionaries in Malaysia 3. Have time for team bonding and building; among other things. God blessed us in each of those areas.

Our miracle was Bunda. To be able to hug her and send her off after such a long struggle of trying to return home was humbling. We began to see our purpose for being sent to Malaysia. Serving alongside the missionaries and other teams (YWAM Wollongong, Australia & The World Racers) here in Penang blessed us as we were working to bless them. They shared their hearts for the people with us and the incredible work God is doing in their own lives. We are already missing Uncle Peter, Ed, and their beautiful families. Lastly, we were blessed as a team to have time to go deeper with one another through worship, devotions, conversations, and the occasional shenanigans (e.g. Stealing Greg's Coconut Block {New Zealand chocolate} and eating it behind locked doors). We also bonded by being locked out of our home at least 5 times. Poor Michaela was wishing she hadn't made the goal of no complaining. 

We have been so blessed by Malaysia. The last week we continued to work at Kawan cooking in the kitchen and chatting with the locals. Our team also had the opportunity to hike Penang Hill with Julie Anna and our new friend David and pray over the city. To put it in perspective, it was like being on a stair-master for 2 hours. Waking up the next morning was not so pleasant when we realized every muscle in our bodies were aching. On the descent Constance and Angie were almost attacked by the monkeys that we all thought were "so cute." However I'm sure if we had the opportunity to do it again, we would do it in a heart beat. 

It is bittersweet to leave this place and these people that we instantly fell in love with. God has given us a family in Malaysia. We look forward to the future, but we are appreciative of the past. It is hard to say what it will look like for internet in Nepal, but we will do our best to update once a week! 

Again we thank you for the prayers and support! We are also praying for our loved ones back at home who have encouraged and helped us become who we are today. Pray for safe travels as we make our way to Nepal starting at 5:00 AM tomorrow morning!

Colossians 3:15

This is a story about VICTORY! Remember Bunda Dee Dee from our Week 1 update? This past Tuesday, she met with people from an anti-trafficking organization who were able to provide her with a document that proved she was from Indonesia. They then told her that she needed to take that document to the consulate on Wednesday morning in hopes that the document would provide the consulate with enough information for them to approve a new passport to be issued in her name. Wednesday morning before we began serving at Kawan, our team along with Ed, Solomon, and the YWAM Wollongon team prayed for God's favor over Bunda Dee Dee's situation. Bunda Dee Dee arrived at Kawan before lunchtime that Wednesday. With a smile on her face, she ran to us, praised God for his faithfulness and proclaimed:

"I'M GOING BACK TO INDONESIA ON SATURDAY! I GET TO SEE MY SON! I MUST THANK GOD, PRAISE BE TO JESUS!" 

It's hard to believe we have been in Malaysia for a week already! Time has flown by as we learn about the city and the beautiful people here. God blessed our team with easy travel from our YWAM base in Oxford, New Zealand to our temporary home of Penang, Malaysia.

In Oxford we had lecture times to prepare us for outreach, but I don't think anything could prepare us for the humidity and heat of Malaysia. Stepping off the plane was a rude awakening for what the next 3 months of outreach in SE Asia will feel like. Sweat literally drips from every pore in your body!

Our team is staying at Kawan (which means "friend" in Malay) Homeless Shelter being run by the sweetheart of a man Ed from the Netherlands. Here we have helped serve meals, lead a Bible study, and develop relationships with the locals. 

One of the locals we've developed a relationship with is Bunda ("Mama" in Indonesian). She is a strong and lively woman from Indonesia who loves to sing and dance. Everything Bunda does radiates a sense of joy, but her eyes often express pain and fear. We were able to find out why once she shared her story with us during bible study.

Bunda has a five year old son at home in Indonesia and was offered work here in Malaysia as a maid. She struggled finding stable work in Indonesia, so she figured it would be a good idea to go in order to earn money to support her son with basic necessities like food and a place to live. When she got to Malaysia, she was treated very poorly and taken advantage of by her "agents" or the people that hired her as a maid. They made her sleep with the dogs outside, they abused her, and they took her passport so that she would violate her visa and be forced to stay in Malaysia under these terrible conditions. Bunda is only one of the many women who have been offered work in Malaysia, but in actuality have become victims of trafficking, an undermined injustice of cruelty here in Penang. 

Constance and Greg were able to sit and talk with Bunda, share the Father's love for her, speak life into her, and pray with her. She has met with some people from an anti-trafficking organization, and they are doing what they can to help her get a new passport. Please pray that she can return to her son, Jordy, in Indonesia. More importantly, please pray that she remembers who she is as a daughter of God; that she is smart, beautiful, strong, and important.

Our YWAM contact, Uncle Peter, is quite possibly the kindest man you will ever meet. He is in charge of coordinating outreach teams that fly into Malaysia. Uncle Peter has been our guide through the busy streets of Penang educating us on its the diverse population and many practiced religions. Malaysia consists of only about 60% Malay people, the rest are Indian, Chinese, and the native people, Orang Asli. With this diversity comes AMAZING food! Penang is known as the food capital of Asia and the whole team can eat affordably. A typical meal is between $2-3 US dollars. There are so many food vendors that it would take 2 years of eating 4 meals a day to try all that Penang has to offer.

This week we also had the opportunity to do children's ministry at a local English speaking Baptist church. We performed skits, sang songs, and laughed til our stomachs were sore! It was so encouraging to be around lighthearted children in a place that has a dark spiritual atmosphere.  Knowing that these children will face different kinds of pressures and difficulties growing up in an area of the world where Christianity is the minority, gave us a new appreciation for their childlike faith. It left us longing to be more like them.

The week ended at a Nepali church on the mainland of Malaysia. Getting there was a bit of a gong show after missing the ferry and not having any money for the bus rides we needed to get there and back home. Despite all of that, it was an amazing service full of welcoming people. The girls performed a hula dance and Michaela was able to share her testimony and heart with the help of a translator. All of the kind words she received after service speaks for the wonderful job she did. Our excitement has only increased as we got a little taste of what our next outreach country (Nepal) will bring!