Our first night of debrief in Kuala Lumpur, we’d arrived late to our hostel, and went to a part of town called Chinatown to find supper. We walked in a line through red tents and vendors trying to get our attention to buy their miscellaneous items. Eventually our line got a little spread out, and a vendor stepped between me and the person I was following. With wide eyes, he lit a match and said, “RUN.” I was so confused, but watched as he set something on fire beside me and it began to fuse. All the other vendors were yelling “RUN” too, and running. I was just standing, watching, and my teammate grabbed my shirt and pulled me with her as she ran down a narrow lane of tents, and around a corner… just as loud BOOM POW BOOM BOOM POW’S were heard. My teammates ahead of us were unaware, and dove into tents and under tables. As soon as the smoke cleared, I realized the vendor had wrapped fireworks along the entrance to his shop to set them off for entertainment. This is my favorite memory from the World Race, thus far!
As we continued to walk toward supper, I noticed that a Chinese person would pass me, then an Australian, then Indonesian, then British, and Indian, and white people speaking languages I’d never heard before. Malaysia as a country, is very diverse, and attracts lots of tourists because the food is REALLY GOOD and cheap! Many refugees hide here. Malaysia is still mainly Muslim, though where we are living in Little India, people mostly follow Hinduism, others follow Buddhism, and Chinese Malaysians follow their own philosophies and gods. Native Malaysians are all Muslim, and must remain Muslim according to the government (everyone’s religion is on their ID card). A person who is not Muslim, can switch around to whatever religions they like. But as soon as a person here becomes Muslim, native or not, they cannot switch their religion again afterwards. Because there are two government law systems here. One law, everyone is held responsible to. The other law is just for Muslim… and it is far more strict and severe… still obeying Old Testament laws/punishments found in Leviticus in the Old Testament. This way of life, makes it very difficult for Native Malaysians to choose to follow Jesus. Even if they make a decision in their heart, they must continue to wear a hijab and pray the Muslim prayer five times a day. The hardest is proclaiming (I think in the Dua prayer) that only Allah is to be praised at their wedding ceremony and baby dedication. If they decide to follow Jesus, it has to be in secret, because they are lawfully still held to the Muslim law.
Partnering with YWAM & PenHop
This month we are partnering with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and PenHop (Penang House of Prayer—similar to International House Of Prayer located in Kansas City) on the island of Penang. YWAM has opened a ****** for refugees, and two thrift shops to support it. PenHop has daily devotional worship sets and prayer/fasting intercession slots. Each day, we work half the day getting the thrift shops ready to open next Friday, and the other half worshipping and praying at PenHop. On Thursday nights, we go out into the streets and ***** our stories and pray for people.
This month I’ve been really stretched but grown in my role as worship coordinator. The first day we helped at PenHop, I was told at 11 AM that morning (while I was working at the thrift shop) that I was to do an hour long worship set at 3 PM. I’m now not surprised when those kinds of things happen. Me and two of my teammates planned the whole set in the 15 minutes it took to walk there later that day. I’ve learned to let go of not being able to control circumstances like that, and remembering that what I can control is my attitude, my values, and who I choose to trust. Those are the only things I can control! And when I control THOSE THINGS rightly, then everything ends up being fine and honoring God anyways!
Lots of growth!
This month I’ve also grown closer to my teammates. And through PenHop I’ve learned so much more about spiritual disciplines. I fasted to pray for the first time with them, and it felt like such a holy experience. I’ve also learned so much more about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the power of intercession. For example, on Wednesdays, I’ve really cherished being able to minister to God through worship from 3-4 PM each day, then from 4-10 PM interceding for the world and connecting with God. Also since I arrived in Penang, I was having a recurring dream every night. It was about people of different ethnicities approaching me while I was in the street. A person would come up to me, and just stand and look into my eyes. If I didn’t say anything, they would just stand there, and wait. Two nights ago, God revealed the meaning of the dreams to me. He said those people were showing up because they know they are supposed to receive something from me. But they don’t know what. God has tenderized many people’s hearts to be ready to hear and receive the Gospel here. I shared the message with my team. Then that evening, two guys walked up to me and started a conversation. I got to share why I was here. Whenever the conversation slowed, they still remained, waiting… like they were waiting to “receive” something. I invited them to our worship set on Sunday (tonight) that me and another teammate are leading for our team on our rooftop. They said they wanted to come, and bring some friends! Wow! Their names are Hermin and Ben, please pray that their hearts would be touched by the love they see and experience amongst our team and that the truth of who Jesus is would be revealed to them by the lyrics of the songs we sing and our sincerity in praise.
Prayer Requests
- Praise that I don’t feel dizzy anymore!
- For the ministries of PenHop and YWAM.
- That God would speak to the refuges we work with at the shop through us.
- That followers of Islam would encounter Jesus in their dreams.
- Discernment and boldness when speaking with locals.
Thank you so much for supporting us with your prayers! This month is a super foundational month for me, and I know will set the tone for the rest of my Race. I feel like I’m really understanding and blossoming in my role and identity as a child of God. And falling more and more in love with Jesus and craving studying His word! Comment below to let me know you are praying! In the future (maybe next week), I’d love to set up a group videochat, where any of you could join, for like 2 hours. I just love seeing ya’lls faces and hearing from you! Let me know if that sounds like something that would be fun!
Praising God for your good health, Kaitlynn. We love hearing your stories about your ministry there. Yes, we are continuously praying for you and your team. I am so glad that God has called you to serve as worship coordinator and that you are getting a lot of experience in your role. It was so wonderful to finally get to talk to you last night. Thankful for your faithfulness to the Lord. Love you, Mom
Hey, just dropping in to let you and the group know we are praying for the request mentioned above.. and the group as well. It’s awesome that you are working with YWAM. I was just taking with a few of them that are there. David is his name .. Anyways that’s super cool God is speaking to those around you to come to his word and praise coordinated by you and your team.hope there are many who come to know him by all your faithful deeds . Keep building up that treasure.
We will continue to rejoice with the Angel’s for all those led.
Psalms 1:3 ” for they are as a tree planted among the rivers of running water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither and whatever they do shall prosper.”
Continued prayers from the Collins family.. bless you..
I am glad you are feeling better! I love hearing about your experiences and how God is working through you and your team. Prayers for continued health and adequate rest!
Hi,
Glad you’re doing well now. Good to hear your days of experiencing many things. Enjoy your day ahead.
Wishing the best ?? to you..
Love Grandma
It’s so good to hear from you Kaitlyn! Also great to hear how God is moving across the globe. We pray for continued safety and health and most of all for spiritual safety over your team. God bless! Much love from the Millers.
So proud of the way you’re handling all of the challenges so far, K. Praying that God will continue to reveal more and more of Himself to you as the months go by.
Wow! What a welcome to Malaysia! Sounds like you are getting to know a lot about the different cultures. I really appreciate the time you take to write this blog and to stay connected with us back in the US. We are all praying for you, for safe journeys, for eye opening experiences and the ability to share the Love of God.
Was with some YWAMers this weekend. They expressed how thrilled they were at what God is doing in the Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Jesus is showing up in dreams all over the place!!!! Goes along with your prayer request. Love in Christ, Carol
Hey Kaitlynn, I love reading your blog posts just don’t always comment. I will try to be more diligent to let you know that we are reading, praying and thinking of you. Wow! It’s all so exciting and encouraging to read how God is using you and your team there. I think we limit the Holy Spirit more often than not. It is obvious when I am reminded how powerfully He is working all over the world. Thank you for the reminder that if we allow ourselves to be open to Him He will use us right here in our little corner of the big world He created.
I will pray about your dizziness especially. Love you!
Hey! Sorry I’m replying to this a whole month later… not sure how that happened! It means good things that I’m so busy, I guess! Yeah, I absolutely loved serving with PenHop. I could see myself returning to serve there long-term in the future.
Hey Collins family! Thank you SO MUCH for your constant prayer! Sorry for the slow reply! That’s so neat you recently met some people serving with YWAM. Were they serving in Malaysia too? It was so exciting and such a privilege to get to know so many different people during our time there… tourists, local business owners, servers at coffee shops, our ministry hosts, people on the streets, wow. I wish I could be there still now! Again, thanks so much for your support!
Hey Kimberly! Apologies for the slow reply! Thanks so much for your encouragement and prayers! I’m so glad your enjoying my stories! God is so good!
Hey Grandma!
Hey Miriam! So sweet! Totally, God is on the move! : D Thanks so much for your constant prayers! Ah, I can picture your whole family at the supper table chatting and being adorable… it makes my heart explode with happiness to think of our memories together! All the blessings to you! Love you guys!
Thanks so much Keith! Thank you for praying for me, and I believe that prayer will still come to pass now that I’m home! : )
Haha, right!? Gotta love Asia and their love for fireworks! ; ) So glad my stories can help you feel like you’re there with us! Thank you so much for your prayers! They’re priceless! Love you too!
Haha, right!? I think you would love Malaysia. It’s like 12 cultures mixed in one location! THE BEST SCENARIO! Of course! I only wish I had time to write more and share more detail… unfortunately most of what we were doing this month is censored : / . Thank you so much for those powerful prayers, I really do appreciate it and am experiencing it’s positive effect on my life! : )
Hey Carol! That’s really neat! I’ve been so impressed with YWAM this month! I’ve heard lots of reports of Muslim people saying Jesus showed up in their dream, and that’s how they started to seek Him. Ah! Such beauty! Jesus is so beautiful! : ) Love you!
Alecia, YAY! That was the first word that popped into my mind! Thanks so much for keeping up with me! I’m so thankful to be doing what I’m doing! I totally agree with what you said about how we limit the Holy Spirit more often than not. Particularly, this year I’ve wanted to grow in my knowledge of the Holy Spirit and dependence on Him. Our organization is more charismatic than what I’ve grown up with–emphasis on power of Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts–but I’ve loved that and don’t want to leave that environment now. Prayer support is absolutely necessary, and I’m so thankful for you and Tim! Love you guys!
Great blog title and what a welcome to Malaysia! I love these glimpses of life and ministry on the Race, especially those “wow” moments, and how you are leaning in to the challenges that are growing your faith and character. Know that we continue to pray for you on the other side of the world…love you!