By SSU in Malaysia – the journey continues
On February 19, we travelled north from the Moslem village near Keningau to our second Malaysian home-stay experience in Tambunan. Villagers welcomed us with performances of traditional music and dancing and a meal of home-grown vegetables and other local delicacies. In Tambunan we got acquainted with the host-families, had guided treks into the jungle, and hands-on experiences with the villagers focusing on local crafts and customs. SSU students harvested bamboo, learned about growing ginger and were introduced to rubber tree farming.
A highlight of our time in the village was a lecture by Australian anthropologist and ethno-musicologist, Dr. Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan of the Universiti Malaysia—Sabah. She spoke to us about the cultural history of Sabah, and then illustrated her lecture with selections of indigenous music and dance performed by local villagers in their traditional customs.
Catching our Breath in Kota Kinabalu
Three days were based in Sabah’s capital city, Kota Kinabalu (KK), located halfway up the northeastern seaboard of Malaysia. Decimated in World War II, the city has been completely rebuilt and is a bustling tourism hub and home to some 300,000 people. The city is dominated by imposing Mosques and a spectacular harbourfront. Other attractions include fish markets, the Sabah State Museum and a cluster of nearby islands with white sand beaches and coral reefs. Most of the students experienced some R&R here, snorkeling in the warm waters of the South China Sea.
While most of us settled into KK, twelve from our group left for a two day expedition up Trusmadi Mountain. The trail to the peak is completely natural, and the group spent the climb and descent stepping on and using roots and branches to assist us all along the way. When the clouds would part for a second, the beautiful trail would combine with the idyllic jungle spread before us and take our breath away.
On to Chiang Mai via Hong Kong
On February 26, we began our journey to Thailand, but it took a while. First there was a flight from KK to Hong Kong (HK); then a night spent on the floor of the HK airport; then a 5am bus tour of HK sites and a Chinese breakfast; then a flight from HK to Bangkok; and then a third flight from Bangkok north to Chiang Mai. We were very happy to finally arrive and check into Chiang Mai’s Mountainview Guest House around 10pm. And so the Thai-chapter of this Southeast Asian saga has begun.
Prayer Items:
-for students and leaders as we seek a continuing sense of God’s closeness in the next weeks
- for safety, unity, and physical stamina–especially relief from colds, sore throats, and upset stomachs.
-thanks for good connections, safe flights and for our luggage arriving on time in Chiang Mai.
-for our Chiang Mai University program organizers as they finalize the details of the SSU study program in Thailand.
-for God to prepare the hearts of the Chiang Mai home-stay families who will be hosting our students for two weeks starting March 1.
(Gregg Finley for the Asia team leaders)