Our First Guests

I know this is a little late in getting posted.....I need to learn to prioritize my time in Malaysia better.  The first week in our house in Malaysia we housed 6 college aged girls from the US. They were all from Carolina....YEAH....I am a Carolina fan! They were a joy and delight to have in our house and infused our house with excitement and life!  They were part of a team of 30 who came from our home church in Durham, NC....The Summit.  They were here to help us connect with students to invite to The ConneXion Conference that our team has hosted for the last 3 years in Kuala Lumpur.  In 2009 we came as part of the group from the Summit to help with the ConneXion Conference.  As a result of that trip we are now living in KL working with University students every day.  The girls did not have luxurious accommodations.  The 6 of them shared a bathroom and slept on mattresses on the floor; 3 to a room.  They were good sports about it.  They did a lot of ground work for us in getting onto the university campuses and local hangout areas. They were up early every morning and we did not see them again until later in the evening.  The group we had was led by Sarah Herzog and I was very impressed with her leadership.  The group is part of The Institute that the Summit holds every summer.  Instead of these students having “fun” or lazing around they are immersed in God’s Word; reading assigned books, writing papers and memorizing Scripture.  This trip was part of that curriculum.  They stay in host homes during their time in the Institute.  So I guess you could say we were a host home for the Institute during the time they stayed with us in Malaysia.  There were, also, 4 boys who stayed within 10 minute walking distance from us in a guest house and 6 who stayed somewhat close in another house hosted by a neighboring church.  All in all I believe there were approximately 20 college age students interspersed through out KL to help connect with university students here to invite them to the ConneXion Conference.

3 girls slept in this room
2 on air mattresses

3 girls slept in here and
yes, we did provide sheets

the bathroom 6 girls shared

This is the group!  Whitney, Angela, Sara, Lydia, Anna and Jessica.  While the boys were getting involved in a soccer game with some of the university students, the girls were cheering them on......well, not at this particular moment!

The boys in action...well sort of.  The guys they played definitely were not first time players!  However, our guys held their own and blended quite well with the teams.

You can see Dennis, not the soccer player, makes friends everywhere he goes.  He plopped right down with a local group who keeps an eye on the neighborhood and made friends right away.

After soccer we went across the street to the local KFC.....and then on to try some local fruit....DURIAN....not well received by any in the group who tasted it. We did have at least one brave soul in the group who was willing to try it as

the smell precedes the tasting which puts some off right away.  The taste is not as bad as the smell but it does have a mild oniony taste which doesn’t sit well with some.  Not a favorite of many!!!

A local fruit:  DURIAN

One lone brave soul willing to taste it

Next post will include highlights from the ConneXion Conference

Our Housemates!!!

I have been working on the next blog post which will be before and after pictures of our home BUT it has taken longer than I thought it would.  Also, something else has come to my attention!!!  We have housemates!  The kind that probably are going to overstay their welcome....if they ever leave.  Another problem is that they now have added to their family...they are no longer a couple of unwanted guest but now they are a family of unwanted guests..........
                                         A FAMILY OF GECKOS!!!
                              (or as we call them in the south....lizards!)

When we first moved in I was always startled by 2 fairly large geckos whenever I would open a door or cabinet.  Also, I was constantly cleaning up after them.  They like on cabinet in my kitchen.  Their “poop” comes down between where the back of the cabinet meets the tile wall.  It then drops down on to my counter top beside my microwave.  I am constantly cleaning it up.  Today when I went into the bathroom off the kitchen, I was again started by geckos......however, today they were 2 tiny baby geckos.  Not good news!!!!  So I immediately went over to the area by the microwave and the droppings have considerably increased.  What to do.....I know they are good for keeping other bugs and mosquitoes out of the house but I am not sure if that is worth what I have to put up with.  I am posting pics of my little “housemates” and the mess they leave!  Any suggestions?!?!

Baby Gecko #1

Baby Gecko #2

Bottom of the cabinet where it meats the wall



 

Their mess on my countertop!

First Impressions of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Catching Up!

It has been almost a month since my last update.  It feels longer than that!  For the same amount of time we have not had internet on a consistent basis.  In the US we either had to visit Panera or stand with our hand on our head, our mouth wide open and perched on the balcony railing to get on line as our apartment did not have internet.  Here in KL we have had to go to MickieD's or Starbucks for internet.......neither of which I minded!  However, we now have internet at the house so I should be able to get you caught up on our happenings!

The 2 weeks after training and before
leaving the US found us trying to recharge our batteries before we started packing for our adventure with a trip to Carolina Beach, NC and after we finished packing a trip to High Rock Lake, Lexington, NC for another recharge.

 Beautiful sunsets at High Rock Lake, Lexington, NC where we enjoyed time with our dear old friend Donna and Sherrill Thompson and their family for the 4th of July.  Donna always makes my birthday a special time.  Thank you Donna and Sherrill for your hospitality!

Pam was, also, able to catch up with an old friend, Toni Langley at Cracker Barrel in Lexington to say a final goodbye.

  

Interim Time

To steal a quote from a friend:  "Can it be?  We are trained!?"  I can't believe how LONG 8 weeks were and how SHORT 8 weeks were.  We heard from some amazing speakers on issues that will affect us in one way or another while we are on our journey.    But how can it be after 8 short weeks we are trained to do what we believe God has called us to do with the next 3 years of our life.  I cannot imagine going without the 8 weeks of training we just had so I am very thankful and grateful for the the effort and energy that was put into our lives from those who were mentoring us during the process.  

These are 3 friends who drove up to Richmond with Shayna so she could attend our graduation.  I am so thankful for friends who would give of their time to be a blessing to me and mine! Thank you Cheryl and Julie!!!

  



We are now back in North Carolina trying to figure out how to do all that needs to be done before we leave and how to get around to seeing everyone we want to see before we go.  I have finally realized it is not possible!!  For that I am very sad!!! During this time we are back in NC for 2 weeks my 3 sisters will have had birthdays, I will have had a birthday and my 2 daughters, Carrie and Shayna will have had birthdays along with a nephew. Another nephew has gotten engaged which means regrettably we will miss the wedding.   One of my dear friends' daughter is getting married in a few short months and we will miss that wedding, too.  Alot of milestones we will miss while we are gone....can you tell I am getting sad?  Also, there are some who do not understand what we are doing and why at our age we are giving up all that we have to do it.   How can I explain?  I don't even try but just pray that God will reveal to their hearts what we can't express.  I am sad for leaving my 2 girls without their mom and dad to spend the holidays with, without a home to come back to, without familar things around them that bring back memories of day gone by.  However as I tried to explain to them home is not where the house is.  Home is family....hearts together....happiness and genuine excitement for what each other is doing with their lives....home is a matter of attitude.  However I am more scared to be disobedient than what others think of my obedience.  My prayer is that those who are not excited for us or don't understand what we are doing will catch a glimpse of what we see and feel.  I pray they will read our blog faithfully and share in our journey.

Cheryl and Debra hosted a "Farewell Party" for us where people could just drop by and wish us well on our journey.  Carrie, our oldest, who was unable to attend our graduation was able to come to NC for the weekend to be a part of that.  Thank you Carrie for being a part of that with us.  We enjoyed our time together with you and wish it could have been longer!

Cheryl and Debra thank you for a great party and wonderful food and fellowship!  Carrie thank you for being a part of this with us!! 

We still have a week to go and are busy packing suitcases, repacking suitcases and repacking suitcases again.  The cost of the luggage for a small portion of our journey is cost prohibitive for taking large amounts of suitcases so we are having to have others who are going our way take them for us.  One leaves tomorrow with a friend and a couple will leave after we get there and will follow us 2 weeks later!!  Praying they all make it safe and sound and those carrying them don't forget they have extra luggage with them!!!!  Very soon we will be off into the wild blue yonder! 

We're coming to the end!

We have for the last 9 weeks been in a very serene country setting training for the journey we are taking for the next 3 years. This place actually reminds me of Farmville (you know that game on Facebook!) 

Friendships have been made that will last a lifetime.  We have been stretched beyond what we thought was our capacity to stretch.  In the process we have learned a lot about ourselves and the great big world out there.  For those familiar with the Myers Briggs personality test we found out that Pam is an ISFP and Dennis is an ISTJ.  We have been living in a quad that has 4 tiny apartments with a shared great room.  We share our quad with a single guy, a family with 5 children and a couple with a baby.

We have shared, laughed, talked, cried, prayed, watched movies, ate popcorn, played games, worked several puzzles and learned much about each other.  We all have one thing in common.......a God we love and live for.  My brothers and sisters in Christ.


We are now going our separate ways and may never see each other again on this side of heaven but I do know I will see them again in heaven.  A comforting thought. 

Thankfully I do not have to cook in this kitchen!!!!

I have to mention 2 ladies who
have poured into my life these 9 weeks.  They are Kathy and Bobbie from Quad 32....fondly called the Quilting Quad.  They give selflessly of their time, knowledge, love, smiles, expertise and lives to help us who know nothing of quilting to make quilts.  They are quick to help us cover our "mistakes" so they actually enhance the quilt and not hinder its beauty.  They are remarkable and are here solely because they love Jesus and the people who are called to minister and love in His Name!  Thank you ladies for what you have imparted to me of being a servant!!!  Also, they let all ages and genders quilt.  Truly a ministry!!  Below are the quilts I made at the quilt quad with the help of Kathy and Bobbie.  I am looking forward to making more while in SE Asia.