This month my team partnered with two other teams and served in Penang, just off the coast of West Malaysia. Our main ministry was working in a soup kitchen, which was in and of itself a wonderful experience. The people who work there have a tremendous love for the people who need it most and diligently follow Christ’s example of serving others. But by far the greatest blessing was being able to join a place called Penhop. There we would pray or worship for 4 to 7 hours straight, and God would bless us with His presence in a really powerful way. Seeing the promise in Matthew 18:20 being answered was just the coolest thing in the world.
While prayer has always been a part of my life, I have a new appreciation for it now. Knowing that the God of the universe, who spoke the stars into existence and created the mountains, will also hear me when l talk to Him is mind-boggling.
This assurance that God hears and is aware of my needs was crucial in getting through this month. The ruggedness of Month One was very stretching for most of my team but was literally the perfect description of my comfort zone. This month, in a foreign city full of alien temples and shrines, waking up every morning to a mosque’s call to prayer, was where I felt the most insecure. I’m not a fan of cities, especially ones as loud and busy as this one.
But through the discomfort God routinely showed himself. There were countless times where this happened, but there was one night in particular where I thought I was going to insane, but God was there. I had a really good conversation with Him where I asked to be made more in His character, and He really answered. Being shown how dependent I am on Him and how reliable He is crushed my little heart.
Was Month Two as good as Month One? The answer’s yes, but also no, but also better. Was it as enjoyable or even memorable? Definitely not. While this was a great location and I love the people here, I didn’t fall in love with this place as I did in Month One. But did God do a work in me this month? Absolutely! Honestly there’s a high probability that Malaysia will be forgotten amongst the chaos of Months 3-11, but the lessons learned and movements of God will forever be on my heart.
Amazing, Josiah! I an honored by your honesty in the questions you ask yourself at the end of “Was it as good as month one…” Such a beautiful description of what you are learning and how God is moving in your life!
Sounds like this was a real growing place for you, Josiah….new areas for stretching your faith and doing God’s work in the world.
If your experience in Malaysia brought you to a point where you “had a really good conversation with God asked to be made more in His character,” I’d say it was a great month! Really proud of you, Josiah.
What a blessing to grow closer to God and to sense His wonderful care, love and direction in your life even in places we would rather not be. Love you!!.
That is awesome Josiah! Love your blogs. God can do awesome things in our lives when we are the most out of our “comfort” zone. This God who simply spoke the world into existence cares about us and those around us very deeply and is working to bring us all into His likeness and image. God bless you, keep the faith, and praying for you!
This is all so awesome to hear Josiah! It gives me such joy to hear what God is doing in your life; and also encouragement as I struggle with growth in Christ and adjusting to city life in Florida. Shalom!
This was really cool to read!! Every step out of our comfort zone can be one step closer to Him, I’m happy to know that this is how you chose it to be.
God plans everything out to draw us near and for sure this whole year will be a year of a lot of stretching and depending on Him!
Loved this blog, Josiah! Especially this: “through the discomfort God routinely showed himself.” Those few words say volumes: that the Lord is with you, yes, and that you were seeking Him. Many people would have dwelled on the discomfort. But you sought the Lord, and that makes all the difference!