God has been moving in Malaysia! These past few weeks, I’ve had so many revelations of the Lord and am feeling so filled up! I want to take you in on what our holiday season has looked like here!
Christmas this year has looked very different! Much of my squad has been dealing with homesickness and all the emotions that the holidays bring with being apart from family. We’ve each had to surrender so much to come on this mission, and there are times when that is especially difficult. Personally, as much as I miss being away from my family this holiday season, it has been beautiful to celebrate without all the extra festivities that can sometimes get in the way of the remembrance of the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.
“Christmas doesn’t feel like Christmas this year,” is something I’ve heard myself saying over and over. Maybe that’s because I never fully understood the reason why it’s so special. It’s never been about the gifts, the special treats, the cozy fireplace, the festive decorations, or even the family. It’s always been about the birth. The birth of our God’s one and only son who was sent down to save us from our sins. To bear our cross and tear the veil so that we could be made right before God. How beautiful! This is the greatest gift of all. So yeah, maybe Christmas didn’t feel like it usually does this year. But maybe that’s because for the first time, I made it about Him. Maybe that’s because instead of counting on my family to bring me comfort and joy, I relied on the one true source.
The week before Christmas, our whole squad went Christmas caroling to the homes of every member from the church. I can’t even recall how many homes we went to, and for four nights in a row we were out till 2am singing our hearts out in Santa hats. As tiring as each day felt, it was so beautiful to bless each family through songs and prayer. Each day on the field, I’m continually reminded that nothing is mine, and everything I have is a gift from the Lord. That whole week, after each night full of caroling, we would still have to wake up early for ministry the next day. At first, I found myself feeling frustrated at this. How could they expect me to pour out at ministry if I was running off of 5 hours of sleep, on top of pure exhaustion from the lack of rest time in our schedule. The Lord kept taking me back to the act of surrender. Even my sleep doesn’t belong to me. But as I continued to give up my rest to the Lord, he honored my obedience and filled me with energy and strength at ministry each day. The whole week, I was so filled up with joy and even when it came time for caroling, I felt like I still had more to pour out.
I am someone who needs a lot of sleep to even function. Trust me, ask any one of my family members. But each night, I would pray that the Lord would continue to fill me up the next day. That I would not be running off of my own strength but that I could pour out of overflow from Him. By the end of the week, this prayer felt like too big of an ask. I hadn’t gotten practically any sleep and had gone from one thing to the next without a moment to sit. No prayer is too big for God, and He continued to meet me in my act of surrender and provide all that I needed.
During Christmas week, we had an extra big Christmas eve service at the church we stay at! Each girl on our squad got to buy a saree, which is a fancy traditional Indian dress worn here. We got all dressed up and the night was filled with worship, a dance that my whole squad performed, more caroling, and a large meal shared with the church congregation! Christmas Day was filled with fun squad activities and a meal at the home of one of the church members who we have become very close with. What a blessing it is to spend this Christmas with my new family in Christ!
Me and my team have become close with some of the Chinese pastors in the city and have been invited to their church for a few different events. This past Saturday, me and my teammate Naomi chose to give up our adventure day to attend their church service! The congregation was so encouraged to see us choosing to be there. We got taken out for lunch by a few of the members after, and it was such a blessing to continue building connections with these pastors. Me and Naomi would both agree that the highlight from that morning was the sermon! It was their last service of the year, and the pastor gave a message as an encouragement for how we should go into 2026. Psalm 46:10 says, ““Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” His whole sermon was centered around the idea that the Lord isn’t asking us to strive or try harder this year, but to simply let go and sit with him. This is something the Lord has continued to teach me throughout the entire race. Personally, I love the new year. I’ve always seen it as a time for a fresh start and for setting goals for how I want to grow. These past few months, I’ve seen how much the Lord has grown me when I choose to be still and look at Him. When I choose to stop rushing and trying to carry everything out of my strength, but to rest in the truth that He already is in control.
So, going into this year, all I want is more of Him. I desire deeper intimacy with the Lord and a heart fully surrendered to Him. And the best part is that it doesn’t take a year for the Lord to bring those. But it takes following this divine invitation to be still and know. And that’s when we’ll find ourselves walking deeper with Him everyday. The Lord is already in 2026, so let us take comfort in that and let go. We are simply His sheep and He is the Good Shepherd.
Christmas caroling with the whole squad!
Christmas eve service!!
My team at the Chinese Church
Me and Naomi at lunch with the church pastors!
I love to read how God is working in and through you! The true meaning of Christmas shines brighter when we serve where many need the hope the Christ child offers. So glad that truth overcame any homesickness you experienced.
Avery, I love this! You are growing by leaps even with not enough sleep. There are seasons when we can do without certain things like when we fast. He will be faithful. Our church is fasting and having evening prayer services this week. Our intentional goal is the local high school- to volunteer, make connection with the kids and teachers and bring Jesus to them. There are 89 nations represented with the majority being hispanic so maybe I will resurrect my Spanish!
There are 1400 kids and 70 teachers. I am excited to go on mission….5 miles from my home. I loved talking to you over Christmas and missed you being there in MI with us. I know Jesus is blessing and growing you as you lean into His purpose for your life.
Much, much love to you, dear Avery!
“Even my sleep doesn’t belong to me.”
Girl!!!! This hit home for me this morning. It spoke to my mama heart of staying faithful to the Lord even with lack of sleep. Thank you for letting us into the real daily wrestle of dying to self and living for Christ.
I love the pictures and so encouraged and challenged by some of what you wrote!! Taking a moment to pray that the more you are still before him, the more you would long to remain there, in His presence.