7 things you didn't know about me

My daughter, Mandy Casteel, tagged me.  I didn’t know what that meant, but she shared 7 little known things about herself and now I’m suppose to share 7 little known things about myself.  Here it goes:

 

1. When a child I fell and hit my nose on the bumper of a car and almost lost my nose.  I had to get a bunch of stitches to save it.
2. I was an all-district, alternate all-state guard on my high school football team.  I was a 155 pounds of a mean, fighting machine.
3. I took Spanish one twice! See-see  
4. On my first job at a gas station I once put oil where the transmission fluid goes.  I thought sure I'd get fired, but didn't. 
5. I once stayed up literally all night to study for an Old Testament Introduction class and made a 50.  Fortunately, that turned out to be a “B”.
6. I’ve had the privilege of serving God in the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Lithuania, Russia, Moldova, the Ukraine, China and most recently (right now) in Malaysia.
7. I now live in Denton just 20 minutes from where I went to high school in Lewisville, Texas.

IN MALAYSIA

Doc performing "Peter" monologue

Praise band & singers

College students - in my apartment for pizza

Me in the Muslim market shopping during Ramadan

Ken (center) is my jogging buddy

John, Yoke Fong, and Rozzy - part of my discipleship group

That's me teaching the Walk Thru for a class

I've arrived in Malaysia and have been here almost three weeks of my planned three months.  I wanted to give you a quick update.  Things are going well.  They have provided me a nice, comfortable apartment above the church and I'm in walking distance of a couple of supermarkets and a few local restaurants.  I certainly won't starve to death.  Also, the people have been so gracious and welcoming.  I've gone out to dinner with several families and gotten to know a good number of people.  I take lots of pictures and study them to learn the names more quickly.  I'm a little slow, but I'm beginning to put names and faces together.

I have had lots of opportunities to do ministry.  Most of the speaking (but not all) is concentrated on the weekends.  I have spoken 4 or 5 times each weekend (Sunday School, preaching, discipleship group, young people, college students, etc.) so by the end I'm usually pretty exhausted.  I get Monday off so I recharge a little before I jump back into the race. During the week I attend staff meeting, meet with people and do some visiting.   I have something almost every night.  Tomorrow I have staff meeting then I go with Adam (who works with college students) to see the University of Malaysia.  I can't actually get out on the campus because it is a Muslim country and my very presence could put in danger the ministry to college students here.  It is actually against the law to share the gospel with a Muslim.  One staff woman with Campus Crusade was put under so much pressure that she finally felt like she had to leave campus.  There is definitely a spiritual war going on here.    

As you think about it, would you pray that I would maximize my time here.  I need to keep in mind that 3 months is a long time to sprint, so I want to keep a sensible pace, but I also know it will go by quickly so I want to make the most of my time here.  Also, pray for opportunities to get to know some non Christians.  I spend almost all of my time with believers so there isn't a natural time to get with lost people.  I have met a guy named "Augustine."  He showed an interest and I've invited him to come see me, but he hasn't yet.  Finally, pray that I won't give in to loneliness.  I spend a lot of time studying and preparing and with new people, but there aren't any what you might call old friends here.  People I can relax and be myself around - not that being myself is always such a charming thing, but nice to be at least some of the time.  

I hope the pictures give you a feel of what's going on here.  Tune in and I'll keep you posted.