Goodbye malaysia :(

sunsets from our house

waterfall we found

pretty view

traditional dresses

My ministry hosts and friends!

As my time in Malaysia winds down, I can’t help but reflect on how wrong my first impressions were. Initially, it felt like everything was just so different, and I thought it might end up being my least favorite country. But after nearly two months here, I can honestly say that God has completely transformed my perspective on this beautiful place. It’s easily become one of my favorites.

The kids we’ve been teaching hold such a special place in my heart, and it’s hard to think about leaving them and our ministry hosts, who have become dear friends. Teaching the kids was challenging at first. We were kind of thrown into it, and with them speaking Malay and Tamil, we felt a bit lost. We ended up just playing games and coloring for four hours! But we quickly learned to lesson plan, create crafts, and support their education. Since they’re refugees, this school, along with Jess, the other teacher, is their only access to education. It’s taught me so much about patience and loving others well. The language barrier pushed us to find new ways to connect—through Google Translate, giving out candy, coloring, and singing songs. I worked with students aged 3-8, plus a 15-year-old.

On one of our adventure days, we met a guy named Sandra on a hike. He’s Muslim and knew we were missionaries, but he still invited us to his school, which was amazing! We went, shared a meal, and helped the kids practice their English. They were so sweet. Sandra is planning to help at the refugee school after he retires in March, which is such a huge blessing since there are 65 kids and only one teacher.

Our week usually involved helping at the school Monday through Thursday, and then assisting at the Chinese camp on Fridays. Friday nights were spent at church, which was mostly in another language, but it was an incredible experience to worship God together with everyone in different languages.

God has really been teaching me to let go of my expectations and trust Him with whatever comes next.