A Tale of Two Malaysian Women

The next stop on our journey was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Country Director, Darick Wong and his wife, Valerie Chee, have worked faithfully serving the poor in Malaysia for nearly 10 years and we were inspired by the vibrant programs that are making a significant impact in the impoverished communities of Kuala Lumpur and neighboring cities. The strong partnership between HOPE worldwide Malaysia and the Malaysian Christian Churches has proven to be a powerful combination in this predominately Muslim nation.

Our visit to the Center of HOPE worldwide in Kuala Lumpur was especially inspiring as our paths crossed with two amazing Malaysian women. The Center is home to three vital services for 300 families served in the surrounding neighborhood: a free medical clinic, a literacy center for children and a food distribution center.

Mdm Thanaletchumi
During our first day at the Center, we visited the nearby home of Mdm Thanaletchumi, a Hindu woman with 8 children of her own and 5 from her sister, who has been a beneficiary of the Center since 2005. Her asthma is treated at the HOPE worldwide clinic, her children attend the literacy center and her family is a weekly beneficiary of the Center’s food distribution program. Three years ago, Mdm Thanaletchumi’s husband passed away and she has ever since carried the full responsibility for her family. Her squatter’s home was scheduled for demolition and she had spent the day before in an air-conditioned government office trying at no avail to secure alternate housing for her family. Unfortunately, the air-con had aggravated her asthma and she was unable to send the children to school. Our delivery of some food was the best part of her day. There are many families in Kuala Lumpur like Mdm Thanaletchumi’s that teeter on the edge of survival. How thankful we were to know that the Center was providing a safety net of protection for her and her family.

Mdm Khan
The next day, we had the chance to speak (through an interpreter) with Mdm. Khan, a Muslim woman with 4 children who also were beneficiaries of the Center. She expressed great appreciation with a smile on her face for the loving care that she had received. We had been informed that members of the Muslim faith tend to keep a distance from Christians out of concern for sanctification practices. How joyous it was for Mdm. Kahn to stand up from our conversation and give my wife, Jan, a big and happy hug.

One Common Denominator
Two women from two different faiths had found common ground at the Kuala Lumpur Center of HOPE worldwide. When unselfish service to one another is the common denominator, it is remarkable how cultural, religious and ethnic barriers come down. The apostle Paul spoke in Philippians 4:7 of a “peace that trancends understanding.” We think we found it in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more of CEO Randy Jordan's Travel Blog:

» "It Takes a Village"
» 5 Years Later
» A Tale of Two Women
» Progress in PNG