hi & welcome back blog!
Today I brought a fresh juice to the table, but nonetheless let’s take a seat, sip, & share!
So many events have happened since I last wrote. Starting in reverse order, this past weekend (11/02 – 03) my squad took an adventure to a local island called Penang! Full of art, history, bikes, cities, towns, beaches, monkeys, food, and endless adventure. On day one we rolled to a rough start with a flat tire but with spirits still in excitement we made it to Penang, stopping for lunch at a small food court. I fell in love with spring rolls and ice tea! Then we traveled to one of Penang’s biggest attractions, the Penang hill. The attraction includes a 5 minute train ride to the top of the hills. The train itself has been functioning since 1923, it’s a funicular tunnel – one of the steepest in the world at 27.9 degrees! The process of arriving at the train to physically being on the train was well over two hours as it was a busy holiday weekend! Finally arriving at the top we were met with nothing less than breathtaking views. A misty cloud cleared as we stepped off the rail way towards the steep garden hills and hustling crowds of families in matching shirts! The only view I can compare this one too is the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the more you look the more you’ll see. The clear blue Indian ocean, tall city towers, cars the size of toys, jungles of lush trees, and the wandering landscape of Malaysia! We explored the island for a couple hours before heading down to check in to our AirbNbs, then quickly ran to dinner. After dinner we explored the markets – mazes of fresh fruit, crazy cuisines, cultural clothing, massages, and dazzling dancing music! We headed back to the house for the night where we enjoyed beautiful beds and balcony views. I woke early the next morning to enjoy a sunrise from a bathtub!!!! Taking the morning slow, chatting and planning outfits, and gaining hype for the beach! Oh the beach. Crystal clear warm water, bending palm trees, smooth soft sand, coconuts, giggles, sunbathing, swimming, splashing…oh and jellyfish.
After only one hour of luxury swimming in paradise, I was stung by a Thimble jellyfish. Immediately swimming out of the water as my leg felt like I had been struck by lightning, sitting the sand trying to recognize the pain shooting up and down through my legs, filling my body. After a few moments I was able to wake back to the shade, local first aid sprayed the stings with vinegar, this soothed it but did nothing for the electric shock that felt like it was invading my veins and blood. I felt okay for barley 5 minutes before my whole body became pins and needles, my heart began beating uncontrollable and I became weak in the knees. I ended up seeking medical attention which resulted in being covered in an icy hot like cream, each time it was cool my body would relax and each time it was hot my body would tense, covered in pins and needles from my toes to my cheeks, even my ears. My heart would palpitate and I would feel the electric throughout me. The doctor decided to give me a shot…in my butt and then sent me on my way with drugs and orders to rest. I headed back to base tired, sore, and in immense pain. Barely being able to sleep or relax I began my own research. Everyone was telling me this was an allergic reaction but research lead me to discover it was venom in my body. You aren’t allergic to jellyfish, but you can be stung or you can be attacked, I was both. The little fella attacked the back of my knee, puncturing my skin, injecting its venom and tangling around the back of my right thigh and knee, when it trail off it also briefly touched my left ankle. Just about 24 hours later writing this my legs are still in internal pain and throbbing, i’m tired, sore, and oddly numb.
Jumping back to last week… we taught our kids English Monday – Thursday mornings, doing local ministry in the evenings, Saturday we were invited to attend a conference through the church we are staying at which lasted all day. Then running quick errands and rushing to get ready before we ran to a local wedding. The wedding was so incredibly refreshing and beautiful, filled with food, music, friendship, fellowship, photos, and ended dancing with the new couple. Then on Sunday a teammate and I took an adventure day to Georgetown – a artsy and historic touristy town on the island of Penang. The day was filled with simple laughter, many pictures, cute chatter, hidden alleyways, delicious ice cream, drinks, burgers, and fries scattered throughout the city. A cat cafe, umbrella alley, new tote bags, stormy down pours, and a new bonding filled with appreciation for all the wonderful things that fill our lives!
Malaysia has taught me to fall in love with the little magic that a moment can bring. It’s taught me to savor a bite of smooth chocolate cake, to close my eyes and feel the flavors, and to see the fireworks – like a ratatouille. My time is teaching me that though there are 34 of us in a room that doesn’t mean we have to isolate, it means I get the intimacy of seeing what makes 33 different humans smile. It means I get to experience a closeness like no other, we get to giggle over someone tripping on a blow up mattress as they wander to the tiny bathroom at 3 am. It means we get to plan a fall fest in place of halloween, a pollock style, sharing our new found favorite snacks.
Moments of magic fill my time in Malaysia. I get to hear 5 conversations happen, I get to share a stained 3 day old t-shirt, make hair braiding chains, share snacks, music, & mattresses. I get to scrapbook on rickety tables, make new handshakes, I get a hi and good morning every time I travel up and down our house stairs. I get someone to rub my back as tears stream down my cheeks, I get the opportunity to hear 33 other life stories. I get to meet moms, siblings, grandparents, best friends, see the small towns we all came from via face time. Moments in Malaysia are gatekeeping the cutest coffee shop so we get a singular moment in silence. Dancing in the street – rain or shine. Its listening to busy traffic as the window rattles and the sweat drips down my back but all 15 of us packed in like sardines are all listening to some cute indie song & singing our lungs dry. Magic means tasting a new coffee, a new pasty, a homemade meal, an A.C room, a subway sandwich, removing your earbuds to be welcome to a conversation that leaves your cheeks sore from smiles. Magic is forming friendships while we wait locked out of the house, magic is running on the beach, splashing in the water. Magic is moments in Malaysia teaching our kids a new word in english – oh what a complex language, its sharing our adventure in ministry throughout the day, its painting a back paining mural to a local business, its cleaning up nutella spread we can’t help but crave, it’s rejoicing over a bite of watermelon. Majestic moments in M squad is when we realize we all love the chronicles of
Narnia and decide to start a book club – and carrying it out! It’s crying on each other’s shoulders, it’s sharing bible verses, holding hands as new ink pierces our skin, it’s getting lost and smiling the whole way through. It’s sharing a testimony, breaking down invisible walls of judgment. Memorizing moments in Malaysia is knowing a picture will never capture the sights we see, it’s knowing these people – no matter how much we have fought are the ones who will love and support us the most, it’s holding a baby – how precious. It’s times like these, sitting in a cafe all silent working, that I think about how these incredible strangers are now my every breath, my understanding eyes, my beautiful smiles, my new home. It’s these magic moments in Malaysia as gap M.
I’ll never forget these times. I want to remember the color of everyone’s eyes, the way they gleam and glimmer, the way they light up when they see their favorite color or the way they close in frustration. I want to remember how messy it is when 34 people throw shoes in a pile, I want to remember how hard it is to cram 34 people in to a selfie camera. These memories are what makes Malaysia magic. To everyone reading, weather you are my teammate, squad-mate, neighbors, family, friends, a stranger, or suggested reader. I hope you find little sparks of magic wherever you are. I hope all the hard times lead you to discovery. I pray you find the joy faith brings. I hope you have people who love you just as much as you love them. To each set of eyes reading this girls blog from a mission trip in Malaysia, I pray you never give up on the challenges that guide us towards living a bigger life. Keep seeking.
Though our 40 days in Malaysia are coming to close on November 17, I know the magic of the memories will last a lifetime and more. Thailand will bring new adventures and 100s of new photos & opportunity!
So with that I announce that my team of 10 young women – team Radiant will be traveling to Chiang Dao Thailand for the next two months of ministry. We will be staying with a loved world race host – named Wanida!! They run a children’s home where we have yet to find out if we will be doing manual labor or repair and restore the campus or teaching English – connecting and ministering to the locals. Either way we are beyond blessed and excited for this next step!!
Unfortunately we will be separated from the other teams who will be in Chiang Mai and Bangkok – hours away.
ANDDDD
Surprise surprise we also found out that from January to March we will be in Albania!!!
So much change is on the way, our crowded rooms will be spacious for the next 4 months, our teams will be independent from the squad, but we will pursue those closest to us as we pursue the people of the world around us.
I ask for your prayer, guidance, and support as I continue in faith and growth on this journey of life!
With many adventures & much love
Aliya Koziol 🙂
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