Second Week Already?

(A video of Gap M doing the church clap for a Malaysian wedding!)

Has it already been two weeks already? Time has just been flying by. It’s still really hard for me to believe that I’m in Malaysia. Sometimes it still feels like I’m still in America because I’m surrounded by 33 other Americans almost at all times. But I’m already in love with Malaysia. There is just so much hidden beauty here that can be missed if you’re not paying attention. But if you do notice it, it’s breathtaking. Something’s like a sunset over buildings, or dancing in the rain with a friend, trees blowing in the wind and people living life. They are such simple things but it’s so easy to overlook such little things while living life back home but if you take time to slow down things small things can become small joys to brighten our days.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday start at 730 am. We have morning announcements at eight then sometime to get ready before our kids come in at 9. From 9 to 1030 I’m with my little girl and I teach her math and English/grammar. Then at 1030 we both get a half an hour break and I go to the teacher’s lounge(my bed) and I also grab a little snack. At 11 I go back a teach for another half hour and then the rest of the time is used to play a game with everyone. I love my girl so much. She has definitely improved since we’ve gotten here and I’m very proud of her. The first week I was kinda all over the place since I didn’t know what she needed. But this week I’ve pinpointed what she needed most. When what she needs to do is in writing she can get it no problem whether that be three number division or multiplication or subordinate adjectives or even reading Alice in Wonderland. The trouble comes to when I’m explaining something to her. She usually just looks at me confused, so I’ve learned to ask her multiple different questions because she will just answer yes to all of them so I have to ask different questions multiple times. It sometimes can be frustrating but she is just an amazing girl. This Wednesday she even gave me a little note that said I love Katriya and I just melted. It was so sweet. And even though right now I can’t see what affect I have or the seeds, they are there and will grow eventually even if I won’t be there to see it. Thursday we did an extra day of school because a pastor had come from India to give us a seminar on Friday. I also went out and did my laundry which was only two dollars! I’ve also gotten to share my testimony with a number of people and it’s a lot easier than I thought it would be! Friday our trip to the food court was cancelled and I was really sad because I had some really good noodles and I was looking forward to them. My team went to a coffee shop called 2day coffee and we did some Rali training together and then we went to a bakery called Just Bread and got a cake for our leader Gretchen because she had just graduated her therapy. Then that night we had the pastor from India do the seminar and it was really good. Even though it was hard to follow sometimes because he switched between English and Malay when he did speak English I was able to take notes and when he spoke Malay I was also to talk some really good notes that I’m proud of. All the food I’ve had here so far is really good although sometimes I miss American food and having access to protein and fruit which I took for granted. Saturday we had the pleasure of going to a Malay wedding and got to teach them a dance called the Church Clap and it was so much fun and such a unique experience. Sunday I’ve started taking it more serious as a Sabbath day and I shouldn’t be out all day because that is not restful at all. Last night I got to play soccer again and I had so much fun. I missed it so much and having the opportunity to play again even if it was ninety degrees outside and I was in sweats.

Something that stuck with me was a daily devotional I did. Psalm 31:3-4, “Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the lord , and He will give you your heart desires.” The ‘land’ I this verse is referring to something you want most. The thing you’ve been asking Him for maybe you think he won’t give it to you. God wants to tell you that you can have what your heart desires. God really does give you what your heart wants when your heart aligns with His. He gives your heart desires that please Him. He transforms your heart to want things only He knows will be good for you-Then He gives it to you. When you delight yourself in the Lord and pursue Him first, you really can have what you want. It’s a promise from Him. This just really shows how much God loves and cares for us. And proves that He wants to give His kids good things.

Something’s that you can pray for is continued healing for our squared because there is still a number of people who are sick. Also for peace because we just found out in Thailand we will only be in our teams and won’t see anyone who is not on our team until Christmas.

  Some pictures from the wedding.

A hot chocolate from 2day coffee!