We’re rolling into our third week here in Malaysia, getting into the rhythm of life and absolutely loving it! I wanted to share what life has looked like over the past two weeks.
Living Situation
When we arrived, we expected to stay at the church where we’re serving. The previous squad 
had 34 people living on the church floor, so we braced ourselves for the same. However, we were surprised to find out we’d be staying somewhere else! We have two rooms, a kitchen, and a nice dining area. Plus, we have actual showers and AC—such a blessing!
We do sleep on the floor, which was rough for me at first since my sleeping pad popped a few weeks ago. But praise Jesus, they got me a mattress! Our room does feel a bit like a hospital room, but we’ve decorated it with pictures and notes to make it feel like home. I’m so thankful for our living situation here! Another huge plus—we don’t have to cook! The church provides all our meals, which is such a gift.
Ministry
One of the biggest blessings here has been our ministry schedule. After South Africa, I realized how much I thrive with structure, and I love that our schedule is both full and allows time for rest.
Refugee School
Monday through Thursday, we have the opportunity to work at a school for refugees—mostly Muslim students. This has already been such a special experience for me. I have my own class of 17 students, ages 12-17. And yes, my own class. The lady in charge takes attendance, then leaves. We even do our own lesson planning now! It was overwhelming at first, but I love being their teacher. Hearing them call, “Teacher! Teacher!” in their accents is my favorite thing.
In Malaysia, only Malay citizens can attend public school. If you’re not Malay, you have to go to private school or places like this one. Many of my students come from difficult backgrounds, and this may be their only chance at an education. We don’t take that lightly. We want to make a lasting impact on their learning while we’re here.
It has also been sweet to share my faith in different ways. Since it’s Ramadan, all the Muslim students are fasting. They’ve noticed me drinking water and have asked what I believe. I get to share that I’m a Christian! While I can’t openly preach the Gospel, I can be a light in their lives. One of the coolest moments was when they invited me to their upcoming Ramadan festival to break the fast! We’ll see if I get to go.
(Our other team works at a Chinese refugee school during this time as well!)
House Visits
Twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday nights, we go on house visits throughout the 
community. Some families are believers, some are not. We worship together, share testimonies, and encourage them in their faith. We’ve been to birthday parties, funerals, nice homes, and small, struggling households—God is moving in all of it.
Praise the Lord—three people have given their lives to Jesus in the past two weeks!! Watching people weep as they realize the truth of the Gospel has been incredible. He is the only way!
This experience has also opened my eyes to how privileged we are to worship freely in the U.S. Here, there are so many underground churches. Many believers face rejection from their families and have to keep their faith a secret. And yet, we sometimes complain about waking up for a 9 AM church service? Wow. When I get home, I want to steward my freedom to worship so much better.
Church
We’ve attended both Chinese and Indian churches here, but our main ministry is with the Indian church. It’s filled with ear-rattling worship, dancing, powerful sermons, and the Holy Spirit moving. Seeing God work in different cultures blows my mind. He is truly the same God, speaking every language and knowing every heart.
One challenge? Services go until 11 PM. It’s late, but thankfully, our weekend starts the next day, so we get time to rest!
Chinese Programs
On Fridays, we help with a kids’ program at the Chinese church where we’re staying. Kids from the community come for songs, games, and Bible lessons—even though many aren’t Christians. It’s such a fun time!
ATL (Ask the Lord)
Normally, in our free time, we’d go out and evangelize, but here, that could get me deported. So ATL looks a little different. We focus on prayer, intercession, making friends in the community, and seeking opportunities to talk about Jesus.
A few people have stood out to us, including some baristas we’ve met. One girl, Misha, works at a hotel we go to for WiFi. We’ve had some great conversations, and I’m praying for the chance to share my faith with her.
Fun Times
We’ve also had some fun adventures here!
•Shopping at local malls—turns out, Asian clothing sizes don’t work for us.
•Going to the movies—such a treat!
•Relaxing at the hotel pool on Sabbath.
•Taking a trip to a beautiful beach, just two hours away!
Looking Ahead
This week, school is closed for the end of Ramadan. We’re planning to be intentional with lesson planning to better serve our students, since they’re at so many different academic levels.
Also, a new squad is coming to stay with us! They’re an Expedition Squad, meaning they’ll be on the field for 11 months. They’re 20-30 years old and just launched, so we’re excited to gain fresh energy and wisdom from them as we near the end of our journey.
Prayer Requests
•Health – Thank you to everyone who prayed while I was sick with strep for four days! I finally got antibiotics and am doing better. But a lot of my team is sick, so please keep praying.
•Continued fire for the Lord in ministry!
Thank you so much for reading this update. I love you all so much!
With love,
Ashlyn
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