22/ Malaysia - 1997
Glenda, a friend of mine, and I decided to go for a holiday to Malaysia. God obviously wanted us to go for she was able to get a passport very quickly, as well as get time off work.
On the plane we sat in front of a Chinese couple, Tung and Choong. The couple befriended us and promised to take us sightseeing in Kuala Lumpure. As Choong had to work on the Saturday, only Tung was able to come. He drove us to the Malacca Straits. We had an absolutely wonderful time seeing the sights. The trip was especially interesting for me because I had studied Malaysian History and the Malacca Straits during my third year at university.
Sunday, faithfully as promised, Tung and Choong picked us up at 9 a.m. We started our sightseeing at the Selangor Pewter factory, this turned out to be an interesting experience.
Our next stop was to be the Batu caves. We came across a Hindu procession which was making it's way to the area. In order for us to reach the temple complex we had to climb steps that seemed never ending, half way up the mountain.
The large temple area contained various sections where a variety of deities were being worshipped, ranging from the elephant to the peacock, or figures of human beings. I was reminded that the Bible says, behind every idol is a demon.
No! What I am saying is that what is sacrificed on pagan altars is offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be partners with demons. 1Corinthians 10:20
Needless to say I prayed over the place and for the people going there. The Old Testament speaks of the foolishness of people who made idols out of wood or stone and then bowed down to them.
Exodus 32:2 Aaron said to them, "Take off your gold earrings which your wives, your sons, and daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 4/ He took the earrings, melted them, poured the gold into a mould and made a gold bull-calf. The people said, "Israel, this is our god, who led us out of Egypt!"
Nothing has changed in thousands of years, people are still making idols and bowing down to the Devil, instead of worshipping the only true God, creator of heaving and earth.
We were just making our way down the enormous stairs when the Hindu procession arrived. God always has perfect timing. What we saw was amazing, but also very evil. Some men had metal rods through their cheeks. Other men had up to twelve hooks in their backs and like animals, were pulling heavy carts containing statues of their deities. The priestesses wore bright yellow clothes. All the participants looked possessed, or else they were on drugs. Eyes stared vacantly into the distance, as they danced in a frenzy. With others the tongue protruded from the mouth rolling around crazily.
God had planned it so that Glenda and I could pray for the procession, and other people who had come to watch. I was very proud of Glenda, considering she was only a baby Christian of 5 months. She was very supportive and did a great job.
Later that day Tung took us to a shopping centre that had canal flowing through it. We also visited the Prime Minister's Memorial - or old residence. On our way to the last sight seeing place the rain started to pour.
On our arrival in Malaysia, Glenda and I had prayed for rain, so that the massive choking smoke from the Indonesian forest fires could be washed away. The situation was very bad and not only was visibility very poor, but people just couldn't breathe properly. Naturally we thanked God for answering our prayers.
After an hour the pouring rain had most certainly made a difference to the air quality, but also caused flooding. We found that out the hard way as Tung drove over a hill and sailed into a lake of water that covered the road. The car stopped instantly.
In the 45 minutes that Tung tried to start the car the water rose higher and higher. I pictured us floating away. I could hardly ask God to stop the rain when it was needed to clear the air. Yet as long as it rained so heavily there would be no likelihood of anybody stopping to help us. That was obvious by the many trucks driving passed. In the now dark night, the situation looked even darker, considering that we could be stranded in this out of the way place.
At last a truck stopped and a small man, who looked more like a child, than an adult, stepped out. He went to Choong's window and asked if the engine had died. Upon being told that that was the case he walked to the back of the car and started to push. Considering the car was medium size and contained four adults, the job seemed impossible, especially since it sat in water up to the doors.
As the man started to push I found myself saying, "Tung start the engine, start the engine". I completely forgot that the man had tried for 45 minutes and nothing had happened. With one flick of the wrist and a turn of the key the engine sprang to life, purring like a kitten. On a human level this is just not possible, because water would have gotten into the exhaust and most certainly the engine.
Tung drove to the side of the road and with the engine still running he threw his hands into the air and shouted,
"Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus. Now I believe, now I believe". Choong likewise raised her hands and loudly praised Jesus. God's presence in the car was awesome.
During Saturday and Sunday, Glenda and I had been gently witnessing to the pair, now through a mighty miracle they both believed. As we drove on Tung said, "When I get home I'm going to tell my mother that I am no longer a Buddhist, but a Christian."
Back at the hotel I took both of them through a prayer whereby they
asked Jesus into their hearts and asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
What a miracle working God we serve.
1/ Fiji
2/ Egypt
3/ Israel
4/ Papua New Guinea
5/ Forgive or I cannot forgive you
6/ Jesus still heals today
7/ Suicide
8/ Long Bay Gaol
9/ Attempted murder
10/ Bathurst Gaol
11/ Angels
12/ How to pray
13/ Cords
14/ Counting the cost
15/ The heart condition
16/ Lorraine
17/ Dracula - fact or fiction
18/ If you love me
19/ Being gay
20/ Faith
21/ Roots
22/ Malaysia
23/ Fiji revisited - 1997
24/ What Jesus means to me
25/ My diary entries
26/ Conclusion