Thanking the Lord for the privilege of working with such special girls for three days. They were SO sweet. So affectionate, appreciative, eager to learn and grow … so much fun to be with!
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment…” 1 Peter 3:3 Each of the girls at the Bright Lights conference in Melaka, Malaysia made a little reminder to take home of one of the lessons taught—inward beauty. The world chases after a fading beauty and cherishes the “shell.” We, instead, chase after Christ and cherish the pearl of knowing Him. Philippians 3:8 says, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…”
Jolynn and Carolynn (Bright Lights leaders in Singapore who both lead a BL group there) planned the theme this year: “Sing a New Song.” They did so much work and planning and did a fantastic job!
This was a fun activity. The girls fill the glasses with just the right amount of water to make five notes on a scale so that when you tap the glasses with a spoon so you can play a song.
Bekah teaching memory verses
Saturday evening we ate a delicious Chinese dinner with the Tehs – leaders in the home school community here.
I don’t know which was more entertaining- seeing Mr. Teh remove the fish eyeballs from the fish head and suck them (a Chinese delicacy) or watching the the reactions of the Americans around him.
After dinner we also went to Jonker street – a popular night market in Melaka. Very neat place to go! Very little “personal bubble space,” lol, but that’s just part of the fun experience. [smile]
Yesterday after walking around and getting some things to eat at the bus station in Kuala Lumpur, we learned that we were going to be there for another hour and a half. So we decided it was a good time for a Sunday afternoon Bible study. Surrounded by our mound of suitcases, we all turned to Hebrews 12 and had such a good discussion. This has been one of the best parts of Bright Lights conferences this fall season…. all the interesting Bible studies we’ve been able to enjoy together in various places [smile]! So fun to “put your heads together” on a passage hear others’ insights.
We continued the discussion this morning and talked for a while about how God disciplines us (Hebrews 12:5-12). Although He chastises us, but He does not punish us (people saved through faith in Jesus) for our sins because Jesus took that punishment on the cross. Later today, Sarah reminded us of a quote from David Brainard that says, “Oh methinks if He would punish me for my sins, it would not wound my heart so deep to offend Him; but though I sin continually, yet He continually repeats His kindness to me.”
I went on a shopping trip last night here in Kuala Lumpur. You really see what you’re getting when you buy fish in Malaysia! And you really smell it too. [smile]
I wonder how to choose which fish to buy? Maybe whichever one looks the friendliest?
Looks like a great conference, may the seeds bear much fruit!
You guys should’ve tried the fish eyeballs too, they’re not bad… 😛
See y’all soon!
Looks like an adventure! Do you do a conference in Malaysia regularly, or is this a first?
Actually, we check which fish is the freshest, not too bloody, and the size we want. Welcome to Malaysian grocery shopping! 🙂
Hi Bernice, good to remember if I am ever buying fish here. 🙂 But seriously, I did enjoy the grocery store, and also the fish I’ve eaten since I’ve been in Malaysia has been delicious.
Leah, this is our 4th time to Malaysia, but it has been 4 years since the last time we were here. So not exactly “regularly” but yes, we have been here quite a bit I guess. 🙂 God bless!
Yes, the smell too…mhmm…especially in the summer and when they’re not on ice!
He he. Reminds me of some of the “wet markets” in China–except a lot of those weren’t nearly as clean. 🙂