our first week here!

Hey! We are one week (and a few days) into our time here in Malaysia! I wanted to give an update and little recap of our past week.

After about a 30 hour travel day(s hah), we arrived in Malaysia on Saturday! We took the first two-ish days to settle in and adjust to the time zone (it’s 12 hours ahead of the East Coast for those who don’t know!). Everyone adjusted pretty quickly to the time, even little Malia, thanks God! Owen and Glynis, (the ministry heads of Breathe Life) picked us all up from the airport and took us to get some roti and curry (YUM! Wesley and I were so excited for the rest of the team to get to experience the amazing food here! And so excited ourselves to eat it again too haha!) We rested the next two days and had sweet time exploring the city, settling in, and growing as a team.

On Tuesday morning, our team went to Owen and Glynis’s apartment, and got to meet Ashley, who is Glynis’s doula partner in Breathe Life. We all sat with our coffees (or rooibos tea for those of us who don’t like coffee!) and we were able to give Glynis and Ashley the cards that some kids back home at written to encourage them. They were so encouraged and loved reading what the kids had to say (Thanks, CityKids!). Then our team had time to just ask the 3 of them questions about anything and everything regarding the ministry. We got to hear their hearts, lots of stories, and their hopes and dreams for Breathe Life. It gave all of us a lot to think about, and got our wheels turning for how we were going to go about telling this story.

Wednesday evening we had dinner with Glynis and Owen and had a sweet time laughing and talking with them, and all getting to know each other a little more. There is so much that we could tell of this story, so taking time to ask questions and determine what parts we feel most important to highlight was really beneficial.

On Thursday, our team really hit the ground running. Kimry and I got the honor of going to the last class of a 6-week long birth class that Glynis gives for the Rohingya girls towards the end of their pregnancies to prepare them for giving birth. We were able to go and meet some of the girls that Breathe Life is currently serving, and film some of the class. While we were out, the boys sat and planned out every shoot/interview we needed to film in the next few weeks. It was a very successful and exciting day! Later that afternoon, Wesley and I got to go with Glynis to a prenatal check-up she had on one of the girls. We were graciously welcomed into their home, and while Glynis was doing a check-up, we got to talk with the girl’s husband, as he knew some English! The husband’s brother and his wife also lived in the same house, and they whisked Mally away and played with her the entire time we were there. It was so sweet for me to watch them love our girl, even though we couldn’t even speak the same language as them.

Friday morning, our whole team piled into Glynis’s car and we drove to the mainland of Malaysia to visit another Rohingya family there. We had a good chunk of the story to film that day, so we were excited and also very expectant for what the day was going to hold! We got there and the boys set up some lighting, and Kimry and I played with the kids there and visited with the mom who spoke a bit of English. Partway through the filming, Glynis got a call that one of her girls back on the island was in labor! She jumped into action and was hurrying off, and Mau and Kimry got the chance to go with her! That was such an opportunity to get some really cool footage, and they came back with quite the story! While they were with Glynis, the boys continued to film back on the mainland. After a few hours, they wrapped up, and the mom of the house gave us a sweet little meal of roti and a few local treats. We visited with them for awhile before we packed up and headed back to the island. Every Rohingya family that I have come in contact with has been so welcoming and kind to us- feeding us; welcoming us in their homes; taking care of Mally; and doing their best to communicate kindness to us, even if it’s just through smiles! They are an amazing and hospitable people group.

We’re all doing really well and feeling excited about the story God is really clearly weaving here with this ministry. We have had such sweet and fun moments as a team as well, and just feel thankful and humbled to be here.

I’ll attach some pictures below of this past week!

We love you all so much and are soooo grateful for each of you. Thanks for taking the time to hear how our first week has been! Lots of love from our crew!