Tuesday, August 30, 2011

a whole new world



“What time is it?” We kept asking each other on our day of travel (August 24-26). Is it yesterday, or tomorrow? So late that it’s early or so early that it’s late? We only had two flights. Chicago to Seoul and Seoul to Kota Kinabalu. We spent 13 hours on that plane and arrived in Seoul only 3 hours after we left (?). We arrived later in Kota Kinabalu than we had anticipated due to a small delay, but local time, it was the next day. 27 hours of traveling. Not too bad! Quite enjoyable!
We were greeted in Kota Kinabalu by the country coordinator, Peter H., and the bishop of the Christian church here in Sabah, Malaysia, bishop Thomas. Very sweaty. Very tired. SUPER EXCITED YAGM.
We spent our first few days in the ‘mountains’ of Kundasang. We stayed at a hotel where you can see the tallest peak in southeast Asia (located here in Sabah!). We hiked, got lost, continued to hike and walk, and got found! First adventure for the win! The next day we worshipped in a nearby town, Ranau, where the service was entirely in Chinese (Cantonese?). After lunch we partook in more hiking but to a canopy walk which is this network of bridges way up high in the trees. The bridges are basically planks held on by huge rope nets. We could see the whole jungle! I did a lot of the canopy walk without holding on to the ropes (look ma! No hands!). Then we got fish massages! These are much raved about. You stand in the shallow side of a river and let these creepy fish suck and nibble on your dead skin!!! Freaked out? I was not and then they swarmed and were large and bit and had teeth. It HURT!!! Also, tickled like a mo. Some of us got fish hickeys (fishickeys). New and different experience indeed. I would do it again though; my feet are way prettier now. Later that night we got to meet with the bishop again, this time, with his posse. All these hilarious leaders of the church in Sabah were delighted to see us and tell us about… everything. We had dinner and conversation. It was truly inspiring to hear how happy they are to have us. Last year Malaysia did not have any YAGM and the year before that was the first year Malaysia had YAGM. The one-year hiatus has left these people looking forward to us for a long time! I am honored.
All the people are so nice. Very sweet and friendly.
We just started language training yesterday. It’s close to four hours a day with our guru, Rose. Super sweetheart! After class yesterday we went to town and “observed some culture.” We went to markets and malls and saw the water for the first time! I bought some crackers called “FLYING FISH BISCUITS,” which I think is hilarious. We didn’t really use our new language skills though. I don’t have enough skills yet. The language is easy and the teacher is fantastic. Being here for a year with countless others I can practice Malay with will prove helpful as well, I’m sure.
The really awesome opossum thing so far has been today after class! Here in Sabah Muslims and Christians have been living together and accepting one another. The whole place is celebrating an Islamic holiday! The moon gave birth and so we say to one another “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!!!” It’s the end of Ramadan and so no more fasting. We are forgiven! Way fun. Our teacher invited us (all of us) to her friend’s house to celebrate. We ate dates and garlic peanuts and cookies. Then we ate delicious food. We were spoiled. It was amazing because none of us knew this lady and she was so welcoming and glad to see us. All the other guests spoke to us in English even though we wanted to practice the little Malay we know so far. It was lovely. Then we decided to go to this open house party they have every year for this celebration at the governor’s palace (?). It was beautiful. There were a lot of people, food, music, but it was terrifically hot. I caught a few people taking photographs of us, the 9 white Americans standing around awkwardly, and sweating. I don’t care how stupid we looked or how sweaty we felt, all I know is that was fun. I was glad to celebrate in Kota Kinabalu, my new home. I was truly honored to be such a welcomed guest. It’s neat to think that this was the first of many celebrations I will enjoy here.
This is only the beginning. My job hasn’t even started yet, and won’t until mid-September. I’m still living out of a suitcase. I’m still finding things that I forgot I needed to pack/bring. I miss people. I haven’t even felt a sense of culture shock yet. My problem is, I don’t really see myself having that problem. I’ve been preparing for this. I’ve been looking forward to it. I know this culture is new and different. I knew that before coming here. We’ll see how that story plays out though. For now, I’m enjoying my moments as best I can.
Standing in the rain
Listening to a 50-minute sermon I can’t understand
Smelling flowers
Green like you’ve never seen
Worshipping an oscillating fan
Distant squeals from a child
The sun saluting me and preparing to greet you

Hugs and prayers



reading time with pickle

Hey there

So I was in Chicago for a week back there, sometime earlier this month and in a very different time zone. I was there for YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission) orientation. There were 49 others, getting to know each other better and growing more anxious for our international departures coming up. We spent mornings and afternoons learning about what it means to be a YAGM. I learned a lot. A lot. All of it was essential information. We didn’t learn facts that we can bring up at any given moment while in our countries of service, but more internalized concepts that we now know and understand fully in our heads and hearts. We practiced interfaith dialogues, heard music as a form of prayer, found out how to blog appropriately, and learned new travel tips, and experienced self-care and forms of meditation.

We were extremely well fed and were forced to enjoy Chicago (shout out to ELCA! Thanks!). I was blessed with some quality time with Peter, Kim, and Jim (all very beautiful Gonias) for one day during orientation. That was splendid and necessary. Finally saying goodbye to them made leaving all the more real. Still, maintaining internet and cell phone contact meant that we were nearby, even after all the goodbyes that were had prior to my departure to Chicago.

One really neat-o thing about orientation was our ‘lecture’ on ennegram. I am familiar with that personality typing system. All the YAGMs attempted to discover their soul potentials and determine their ‘type.’ The Malaysia crew spent the evening after our enneagram lecture out at dinner in Chinatown, Chicago. We talked about our ‘types’ nearly the entire time. Many told me they didn’t “want to be” the number they assume they are. Sad. But at least we got to talk about it. It was pretty cool that I could offer insight because I know some stuff. It’s also great to know each other’s types. It’s already been helpful, or rather somewhat of an excuse for certain behaviors. I like it though. Fun and interesting fo’ sho’.

The end of orientation was hard/weird. We had grown closer only to disperse to further corners of the world (not just the country as it was the first time we all met and then left). Closing worship was beautiful and powerful. I looked around and knew there were a million different emotions being had by all, and I had them all too, at once. How wonderfully scary? That week was awesome, really it was. There was time built in to everyday that looked like free time but served as an opportunity to process everything. Everyone was ready, it seemed, since about day two or three. Everyone except me. I didn’t want to pretend I was ready. I told people I was almost ready but I’m still not sure if I was actually 100% ready and just (being a 3) decided to say I wasn’t so as not to look too something (insert adjective I might have avoided. ie: perfect?). I was though. Ready to pack, mail my phone, board a plane, cross the world, be somewhere new, start something amazing, serve as God’s hands, go.

I pray pray pray that no one at home reads this and says that they are sad that I left them. This, unlike other moves in life, is a not a personal thing. I did not leave the country to leave you or anyone. I did not leave simply because I graduated and Peter hasn’t so I have a year to spare. It’s so much bigger than that. (take me too the looney bin because I’m hearing voices) God told me to do it. God tells me everyday. Go. Matt 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” I would be extremely disappointed if I had ignored that call. I doubt I’m prepared for what lies ahead but how amazing it is that I get to have God with me through it all. God with you too ya know. I am blessed. We are blessed. The first part of this call is to go, but there is a return. The return is more crucial than the year in Malaysia. I’ll share with everyone what I come to learn. Share the good news, that God is good, even in Malaysia. But until then, you can read the story as it unfolds and continues right here!

Peace


The Pier.

YAGM swimming at the lake. It was a pretty sunset. I didn't want to swim of course. After a short time I started playing volleyball, and that lasted for two hours. The most fun I had all throughout orientation.