The Final Week

Hello everyone!

I'm a bit sad to say that this will probably be my last update from Malaysia. As expected, the last two weeks have flown by extremely fast. In less than a week I'll be on my way home. I find myself trying to slow down and enjoy each moment while I'm here, savoring it like a slice of rich cheesecake I know will soon be gone. The last two weeks have been a great time for me to really savor this country and all it has to offer. I've developed such strong friendships while I've been here that it will be difficult to leave them and fly back home to the other side of the world. I pray that sometime in the near future He may open up opportunities for me to return.

In the last two weeks the students have all been very busy with coursework and the UM convocation. Convocation is a HUGE deal here! It is a far bigger celebration than anything I've seen in the states and the whole campus transforms into a giant marketplace to accomodate the crowds of people who come to support their graduates. The whole thing lasts an entire week and during that time the whole campus is abuzz with excitement. The festive atmosphere has provided me with some great opportunities to meet with students and encourage them in their faith. Though my role on campus has shifted to a more encouragement and mentoring role of students rather than an outreach role, I still feel like there has been plenty of work to keep me busy.

This week UM has had a one-week vacation from classes for the Mid-term break. Most of the students went to their respective home-towns to visit their family. I took the opportunity to travel with Kai Sin and Wen Shiow, two of the students with our group, to Singapore for a few days. The trip was really fun and we were so thrilled to have to opportunity to visit Ivy at the National University of Singapore (whom we met all the way back at the beginning of the trip at the training program in June). Singapore is a charming port city with nice clean streets and many modern amenities. Yet, that said, I was relieved to come back to KL and enjoy the more rustic and culturally rich atmosphere afforded by this world-class city, which, at times seems to be cut right out of the jungle.

I'm not sure what God has for me for the next few days up until I leave next Wednesday but I'm convinced he has still has great plans for me for the next five days. Here are some fresh prayer requests as I prepare to leave. Thank you so much for all your faithful prayer support of me and this ministry. I'm growing increasingly aware of how much your prayer has been crucial to the team and my success here in Malaysia.

Prayer Requests:
1.) Please pray that students would remain well grounded in their disciplines and faith after I leave and that none of them would fall away when the worries of life grow up and try to choke them.
2.) Please pray that the students who are meeting with other students would stay encouraged and motivated to continue to pass on what they have learned
3.) Please pray that God would reveal soon what the next step is for me on my path towards pursuing Him.
4.) Please pray for a quick culture-shock/jet-lag recovery as I return home to the States.
5.) Please join me in thanking God for his abundant provision on this trip. He has blessed me with more than enough funding to remain here for the last three weeks.
6.) Please also join me in praising God for the marvelous work he has done in the lives of these students over the last 10 weeks and for his great plans for them and for their campus.