After all our adventures in all the different parts of Indonesia, we had to leave the country for a while, before returning to come to Bali and Lombok. We couldn’t stay in Indonesia, because our Visas were only for 30 days. We were planning on going to Papua New Guinea, but there is currently a lot of unrest there. Tourists have been shot by snipers on the boarder and it sounds like a civil war is about to break out, so we didn’t have peace from God to still go there. We looked for the cheapest flight tickets to a nearby Island and we got tickets to the Island of Penang in Malaysia
Malaysia was definitely perfectly planned out, before hand by God. As the Bible often says “God foreknew” that we needed to go to Penang, so He made sure that things work out for us to end up there. Most of the events that happened and that led us to have to go to Penang, seemed to us like mere coincidences or even sometimes that God is not in control because our plans do not want to work out. We couldn’t go to Papua New Guinea, we could go to Penang, but we didn’t have any idea where we were going to stay or what we were going to do there. We didn’t have a lot of money in our budget for food, accommodation, travel etc. in this time. Everything that we had planned just didn’t want to work out.
When we arrived in Penang, we knew that we would really have to plan our money spending wisely. After we landed we took a bus into the center of Penang and when the bus dropped us there, we put all our bags onto one heap next to the road and started making three teams of two to go and scout for the cheapest accommodation that we can find. Just as we were about to split up and walk in different directions, a tall American guy came to speak to us. He asked if we need any help and what we are doing here. We told him about what we are doing and then he told us that he is with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and that they love hosting teams like us, but they currently do not have a team with them at the moment, so he would probably be able to organize something for us. He said that he saw us next to the road, and he was just going to walk past, but when he already passed us, God told him to go back and help those people. We were all blown away by God’s perfect planning. What a divine appointment?!
We soon met the rest of the people from YWAM and all of them agreed that this was God’s handiwork. Just when they thought that they had no team organized to come in, God lets one drop out of the sky almost right on their doorstep. They graciously provided accommodation for us in one of their buildings for free, which was such a big blessing! They immediately got us involved in all the different ministries that they were involved in and only two hours after landing in Penang we were already busy helping them to serve food to homeless people and the first night we already went out with them in different groups, to do some street Evangelism and prayer walking.
Our 18 days in Penang was filled with amazing ministry opportunities and we had a really full, fun busy program. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we would have devotions with them early in the morning and then we would serve with them at KAWAN. KAWAN is a place where they prepare food and give breakfast and lunch to homeless people. They also offer them a place to rest, they give away free clothes, provide showers, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste as well as washing soap and basins where they can wash their own cloathes. We really enjoyed preparing the food, spending time with the homeless street people and serving them. We learned a lot about being a selfless servant for God.
It is all about the condition of your heart and the intensions with which you serve. When you serve people, you cannot expect them to act or react in any certain way towards you. You cannot expect them to be grateful and to act in a thankful manner towards you. Then your love is not unconditional and your reason for serving is not selfless. You shouldn’t expect anything in return. It is not about you and it is not about the people who you are serving. You are serving God. He is the one that gets all the Glory, Honour and pleasure from your servant hood. It is not about you seeing results or getting anything from it. You need to ask yourself the question: Am I busy with the things of God or with the God of things? He loves you and serves you even though you do not deserve it. Jesus is always unconditional in His love towards us and in every way that He deals with us. Everything that He does for us is out of grace. We do not deserve a thing! So if we say that we want to serve God, then we need to be prepared to do it the way that Jesus does it, or else we shouldn’t even be doing it at all. If you are serving people to get something out of it, then you are most probably on a self righteous religious treadmill where you act and seem like you are working very hard for God, but actually you are not moving or getting anywhere. You are completely ineffective in God’s Kingdom.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays we had the opportunity to go to a Hospital and do some voluntary work and serve the Hospital staff in any way that they need. We helped them to raise funds for their Heart transplant fund and for Cancer. At first we were not too excited about fundraising, because no one likes to ask people for money, especially not in a hospital where all the people are either sick or they have a friend or family member that might be sick. In the end it wasn’t an unpleasant experience at all. We played guitar and sang or we sold some fresh baked pastries. God really showed his favour in the fundraising and in Total we were able to raise about R10000 for the Hospital. We also learned a lot out of this experience. We are not of this world, but we are in it, and in this world we need money for a lot of things. BUT, we serve an almighty supernatural awesome God who is capable of performing miracles and He is definitely the best bank manager you can ever dream of. If whatever you need money for is in His perfect and good will, and you ask Him to help you, He will bless you and provide the funds. We do not have, because we do not ask. But remember when asking to first ask if it is His will.
We also had the opportunity to volunteer at PenHOP’s coffee shop, where you get to minister to people in a new fresh way, with the delicious smells and tastes of good food and drink in the atmosphere.
On Saturdays and Sundays we had the opportunity to be involved in Church services where we could share testimonies, preach, do a little bit of children’s ministry and pray for people.
On Tuesday and Friday nights we went to PenHOP (Penang House Of Prayer), where ther would always be and amazing worship leading team to lead everyone into the presence of God so that we can praise Him, speak to Him about any cares and listen to what He has to say. We also joined them in interceding for Penang and for Malaysia. We were all really blessed in the time that we got to spend at PenHOP.
We had the opportunity to help YWAM clean some of the buildings where teams usually stay.
We left Penang with a little something to remember us by. =)
On Wednesday nights we would split up into a few smaller groups/ teams and go out into the streets to do some prayer walking and street evangelism and we could also invite homeless street people to come to KAWAN for food during the week. We had the opportunity to speak to some Lady-boy prostitutes and to listen to their stories and share with them about God’s love. We also spoke to and prayed for some of the Muslims.
All in all our time in Penang was amazing! We met so many amazing, on fire, passionate Christians who loves running the race for God. God really used all of the people that we met to inspire us through their testimonies and through the way that they are absolutely in love and devoted to Jesus. When you have Jesus in your heart, you will turn out to be a really cool person who others will love and be drawn to, because His love and living waters will flow through you.
I can now say with all certainty that if you are a part of God’s family and you are following and walking in His will, then nothing that happens is without Him knowing and having a plan with it. He is always in control. Even when things seem to make absolutely no sense and you feel like what just happened to you is the end of the world. If you live a surrendered lifestyle, fully dependent on our Heavenly Father, then you can know that He is ALWAYS is control. When Jesus was crucified, I am sure that it might have felt to the Disciples like it is the end of the world, and like God wasn’t in control, because His Son just died. But how in control was God of everything that happened there? That was not the end of the world, but actually the beginning of new life and hope to all.
God doesn’t think like us and He definitely doesn’t plan or work like we do. Don’t limit Him with your small mind and simple way of thinking and planning. He has so much more in store for you! Whenever you feel like He is not in control and you feel hopeless and helpless. Have faith, pray and trust that soon He will bring breakthrough and that there will come a great testimony and revelation out of the difficult situation that you might find yourself in right now. Remember the greater the problem or struggle is that you are facing, the greater the Miracle will be that God will perform in that. Nothing is impossible to God. He truly is impossibly possible!
We need Your Support
We really appreciate all the prayers and support! Thank you so much! Please continue praying for our team. We are currently back in Indonesia, where we will spend one week in Bali then one week in Lombok and then another week in Bali, before we fly to Singapore and then to the Phillipines. Pray that God will guide us and prepare us for everything that lies ahead. Also pray for His anointing, so that we will be equipped by His Spirit for whatever crosses our path.
We also need you to please pray for our finances, so that God will provide the money that we need for our journey ahead. We need to raise a lot of funds for the time that we will spend in the Phillipines, because we will help them with a project there to build a safe playground, so that the children do not have to play on the very hard Coral.
If you would like to contribute and help us by giving some financial support, we would really appreciate it. Here are the banking account details:
Account name: GCX-One Year 9206958383
ABSA
Branch: 31 Da Gamma road, Jeffreys Bay, 6330, South Africa
Branch code: 334515
Reference: DISTANT ISLANDS
Swift Code (for international payments): ABSAZAJJ
We hope that you are enjoying the journey with us. We pray that God will bless you on your own journey with Him.
Love always!
Distant Islands team
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