Matthew 10 in Malaysia

(The girls upstairs room beside our base which is our hosts small church building)

So what does ministry look like in Malaysia?

Monday-Thursday:

9am-12pm: Working in a local bakery with workers with Down syndrome. Owned by a Chinese Christian sister.

Evening-unknown hours of the night: Church services following with ministry opportunities. Ministry opportunities may include working in the children’s church, ministering to those in a local hospital, street ministry/evangelism or prayer ministry.

*Tamboreen lessons for the women in the church on Thursday nights!!

Friday:

Morning: Squad Worship

Midday: Chinese food with our hosts and laundry time!

Evening-late hours: Whole church service

Saturday:

Morning until 10:45pm: A.T.L=Ask the Lord day/Adventure day

10:45pm- Unknown hours of the day: Sports Ministry

Sunday:

All day: Sabbath!

On another note, Matthew 10 is the passage that the Lord has revealed to me by His Holy Spirit for my time in Malaysia. Please read all of what it says because this passage truly relates to the cultural and religious tension I am facing and will face during ministry here in Malaysia.

“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day. Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel. Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names! But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬, ‭5‬-‭42‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The religious atmosphere in Sungai Petani, Malaysia is a mixed one. It is largely populated by Muslims, second to that is Hindu and thirdly, Buddhist. Yet, believers of all three religions value their harmony and ability to live together without strife. As a squad, we partner with a local Christian assembly to provide a huge variety of ministries as shown in the schedule. While doing ministry and during “free time” we are blessed to represent Christ’s love and to speak the powerful name of Jesus. We World Racers are surprisingly blessed with earthly protection by the Malaysian police due to our Pastor’s connections with them. Yet, the local Christian workers we partner with would be punished by trying to convert Muslims to Christianity; which is illegal. Moreover, the Muslims we speak with may be imprisoned if they do convert to Christianity, making it a heavy thing for us to speak the name of Jesus.

If you feel led to, read Matthew 10 again and consider how you can represent Jesus in your community, despite the consequences. 

As for me, please keep praying!

Please pray for:

• The discernment and anointing of the Holy Spirit for me to speak the name of Jesus when the Lord desires.
• To soften and excite my heart to the work we will do in the bakery. I had hoped to be part of the teams going to a school to teach, but rather, I have been placed exactly where the Lord would have me grow the most.
• For me and for you to fall deeper in love with our Savior!

Thank you all my supporters and friends and family! I am SO thankful for you and I am praying for you! Don’t forget to thank the Lord today for His goodness and for the beauty in His name.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 🦃🍁🍽 

(P.S. We celebrated with rice, chicken, veggies and icecream as a whole squad!! We are provided with food here in Malaysia with no necessity to cook for ourselves, which I am grateful for!)

With thanks, praise and honor to the Father,

Lia.