Happy Holidays Indeed!

Merry Christmas from Malaysia!

I started thinking months ago about spending the holidays away from my family, and I thought it would just be really weird. It was! I actually miss my family more than I thought I would so it was more sad than I expected as well. Shout out to mami, papi, Cristi, Nata, Po & Ivette! 

We (Alex, Doug, Ashley, Zuugii & I) were invited by different families to spend Christmas with them since we're all so far from home. We had a couple of Christmas dinners in our beautiful city of Kuala Lumpur and took a bus trip up to Penang on Christmas Day to celebrate with a student's family. 

Since the students were on holiday for a study week and we really didn't have much to do, we decided to stay in Penang for a few extra days to see the place we'd heard so much about (great food & a beach)!! It was amazing! We found a cheap, British-style lodge to stay in, spent an afternoon at the beach, tried new dishes, bought some CUTE Indian tops (okay that was just me), and just got to walk around a beautiful, island town. Two of us got sick, Ashley & I got bed bugs from the lodge that we are still trying to get rid of, and our bus back home initially started on the road without Alex but we all made it back home safely and have great memories of our first Christmas in Malaysia!! Lots of love, Alejandra 

3 BIG Hs

As 2012 was coming to a close, I tried to reflect on the things I've been learning this year - some overarching themes. The first came to mind fairly quickly. In student teaching, which I began a year ago today (crazy), I was afraid to put in 100% because I thought the failure would be humiliating. I had to work up the courage to put in all the work I could,  pray to do well by those kids, and hope it would be enough. As I was preparing to come to Malaysia, I had to hope for everything to fall into place so that everything would be in order by November 1st. Since I have been here, I have been reading The Allure of Hope by Jan Meyers, and a lot of what she writes has resonated with me. It turned out to be one of those books that has changed the way I think. Goal for 2013: to believe in God for big things, and be more like Abraham who, contrary to hope, in hope believed... 

H-1) Hope

I have come to appreciate God in a new way in the last few months. After a few incidents/circumstances left me feeling so dishonored by people around me, I was almost in a state of dismay, and definitely upset. I did not see how any good could come from these things and wondered why they happened. I did some thinking and came to see that when people treat me as something unworthy of respect or honor, it shakes my view of myself. I really start to wonder whether I am a worthy creature. This is where looking at Psalm 8:4-5 has helped. I have been crowned with glory and honor, and if God is the only One who understands that truth, it is no less a truth.

Well I had an idea for one last thing on my mind for what I've been learning in the last few months. I was thinking it was along the lines of guidance but I was so on a roll with the 'H' thing that I couldn't just leave it there... Holy Spirit. Aha, that's better. I can't remember the last time my life has had such little structure or guidance. It's enough to stress me out. I mean I thought I had freedom when I moved out of my parents' house but now I have more freedom than I know what to do with. I'm not used to making so many decisions, and I don't think I've done a great job at it. I'm trying to look back at what older, wiser people have taught me as far as planning and organization (which looks totally different in an Asian culture). I'm learning to pray for His Spirit to guide daily. Because I'm still in the beginning stages, I feel like my only "ability" is praying.

Birthday Week!

This is about a month late but I celebrated my 23rd birthday on November 29th! My unbelievably kind friends wanted to make this first birthday outside of the U.S. really special so November 23-30 was dubbed BIRTHDAY WEEK. I made the bold decision to do 1 "just fun" thing every day. It wasn't always something big but always something I enjoy. Over the week I: went to Starbucks, polished my nails, got a haircut (for those of you who don't know - I LOVE HAIRCUTS), saw a Chinese musical, and Skyped a dear friend.

On my actual birthday, my friends were all in on a surprise massage. We were all ready to go to campus for lunch (our usual routine) and I ended up at a spa instead. Jackpot!

Ashley and I then had lunch at an Irish bar & grill. Delish! They were even playing Christmas music!!

Later that night, we made my birthday dinner an all-out event & invited a bunch of students from the UM campus. We went to my favorite Indian place right down the street.

This 5 language "Happy Birthday" matinee lasted a while...
It was great!

We walked to a cafe down the street for ice cream & games

Oh, but that's not the end of it! Ashley contacted a few people and asked them to write a little note. The first few from my sisters were more than enough reason to bring the Kleenex out but then I turned the pages to discover messages from more, very special people. I just lost it over and over and over again :)

What girl doesn't enjoy the occasional dress-up lunch?

And finally, we brought birthday week to a close the next day at La Frontera Mexican Restaurant. The boys treated us to some pretty good comida estilo a la Mexicana. Mmm. Thanks, Doug and Alex!

A New Temporary Home

Doug, myself, Ashley & Alex at the
Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

My roommate for the next 21 months. I've been
blessed with many shared heart-to-hearts, hugs,
tears, raucous laughs, hopes, ... love this girl!

Though only 2 of these girls are my roommates, our apartment
is a SOCIAL HUB & we've always got a group of friends over!

Wei Shan graduated from UM in June. I'm glad
she decided to stick around because she is a
quality girl!

"I know the plans I have for you..."

During my last trip to Tucson, I got to meet & hang out with a great group! 

Since I started this whole business of 'movingtoMalaysiafor2years', a small voice representing my fears has been trying to convince me that the culture and language barriers will prevent me from making friends. I've panicked at times because, well, I can't live without my heart-to-hearts! I practically live for listening and sharing. 

There were a lot of places I could have gone and they were appealing for different reasons. I'm going to be honest and let you all know that I didn't land my first choice. When I tried to picture myself in the Middle East I thought, "At least I would blend in." The thought of going to Europe wasn't scary; tons of my friends studied abroad. When I thought of Asia, all I could think was how unfamiliar everything would be. 

So somehow I ended up at this meeting for international students - I wandered around for a little bit unsure of who I should strike up a conversation with. I was feeling a little out of place when something wonderful happened... one of the leaders called the ladies forward to line up for the dinner buffet! I started talking to the girl in front of me (I'll call her "Gina"), we sat together, talked the whole dinner hour, and again later that night when we were split up into small groups. In the midst of our conversation, I learned that Gina is from China, has been going to the UofA for 3 years, and became a Christian in college. I asked about how she came to faith - she explained that she started out on mission to prove to her friends God didn't exist. I was intrigued. When Gina was finished, I told her my story. Now I'll admit I was sleepy, but I started crying while we were sharing. What?! That doesn't usually happen.  

I realized I was so touched because I remembered how my worries about not being able to communicate on a heart level had made me hesitant about my decision to just dive into an Asian culture. The cultural differences seemed too great. I thought about how it wasn't something I really wanted at first, but I knew God was leading me in that direction. And what if I had given in to my fear? I felt as comfortable talking and praying with Gina as with any other of my friends - even more comfortable than with some of my friends. 

So the moral of the story is: 2 years ago, no way I would have picked this adventure for myself but as God promises in Jeremiah 29:11, He has a plan for me, to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future... and I know it's going to be a lot of fun.

The countdown has begun... this group of friends is leaving for Malaysia in 29 days. 

Ashley, Alex, Doug, Alejandra
The most laid back group you've ever met. We think this will serve us well in a new culture. 

"Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time..."

As, I suppose, many of you know - I've finished my time at the University of Arizona.

Four years ago, the plan was to teach right after college (in an inner city school, inspiring disgruntled youth). But, things have turned out differently and I will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 1st with three friends.  

Our original departure date was October 1st and it has been pushed back a month. It was hard for us hear that we were going to have to wait another month for something we were so eager for. It was hard for me not to see the news as a punishment.  After emotions passed and rational thought set in, I realized our departure date may have more to do with God's plans than my actions...

During my tawG (time alone with God) today, I read through Numbers 9:15-23. I'm so thankful for this particular explanation of God's leading, what it's like to follow Him, unsure of where He'll take us or ask us to remain on any given day. A cloud rested over the tabernacle to let His people know to stay and lifted up to let them know to set out. Verse 22 says "Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out." I'd like to follow the model of the Israelites who set out when they were supposed to, and camped out when they were supposed to. I pray that I will be given a joyful patience as long as God has me remain in Arizona. Lord, You are wonderful and You guide me continually. You satisfy my soul in drought.