Great day

We had a great Friday as we settled in and began our work with a mass choir rehearsal Friday evening 8:00-10:15. I have had some problems getting on the internet, but everything is fine today.

We had a very good, long journey from NC to Malaysia. The second leg of the international flight was not crowded, so we were able to spread out a bit. I had much work to do and was able to work several hours on the long flight, and was delighted to have four seats to spread my work out in my several-miles-high office for the 7-hour flight (see photos that compile several team members' pictures).

We arrived at the airport and saw God's provision for us continuing. We cued up in the immigration line that was quite long, and an immigration official came over to us and moved us to a very short line in another part of the airport. When we got our luggage all together (all of it arrived), there was no one in customs to check us out, so we passed through without incident.

Our hosts brought many cars and a truck to move us to our housing. Everything ran as smoothly as possible! We settled in at our guest house and got a good night's sleep.

Our first day was filled with lots of eating as our hosts made sure we were well nourished. We had a wonderful breakfast at our guest house with quite a spread of foods, including many of the delicious fruits that we do not have the US. We filled ourselves at the 9:00 breakfast. Then, a little after 12, our hosts picked us up for lunch. We went to a nearby mall and ate at a restaurant that features the "best" foods from every state in Malaysia. You can see from the photos that we were treated to quite a spread of food. Everyone experienced some new dishes. Jacob particularly enjoyed eating the pig stomach!

We had afternoon "tea" of Oreo cheesecake, another cake, and varieties of teas and coffee at 5:30 before leaving for rehearsal. It, too, was delicious.

After tea, we began our real work. We traveled to First Baptist Church and prepared for the mass choir rehearsal. Approximately 70 singers from several churches had been rehearsing for months to prepare for this occasion. It was so good to see several of my old friends! The choir was superb. They really reflected on their faces that they meant every word that they were singing. There excitement was so contagious! We worked on the eight songs to polish them for the big concert on Saturday evening. Our instrumentalists played wonderfully! There are photos of the choir on the photo album as well. We were thrilled to have Nathan join us at the end of the rehearsal after his arrival from Cambodia.

Of course, after the rehearsal, our hosts took us for supper at a local outdoor eatery. We again ate to our heart's content. Malaysians do love to eat. They have four meals a day plus afternoon tea.

Our team members seem to have no trouble sleeping. Jacob and Kaleb can sleep anytime, anywhere. We believe Jacob slept about 21 hours of the 23-hour flight time!

Today (Saturday) we have a busy day. We will rehearse at the church for Sunday morning services from 2:30 -3:30, for the choir festival (with a local violinist) the next hour, and the dress rehearsal at 4:30. We will break for "tea," dress, and then have the festival at 8:00. We hope to have a house full for the concert. Pastor Tim will have a brief evangelistic message at the end of the concert before we close out the night with "Days of Elijah." That song will blow the roof off of the church!

We can so clearly see God in the lives of our new Malaysian friends. It is such a joy to work with these people and help them in evangelism and worship. We already feel so blessed to be on mission with God in this way. Please continue to lift up our team in prayer.