“It’s so beautiful! Is it really vegan?”

We had visited Penang, Malaysia, once before. Three years ago, while looking for a suitable location for an AFM World Summit, this was one of the options. Now, with an Asian regional retreat to be planned for August 2023, this was selected as our destination.

Like any other major gathering, there needed to be much organization to bring almost 100 people together for an entire week. The home office planned the programming. We were tasked with being the point people to bring it all together.

We corresponded with our retreat hosts, Bayview Beach Resort in Penang, Malaysia, for over a year. There were many emails and phone calls and adjusting and readjusting of names, passport info, room sizes, special dietary needs, meeting room schedules . . . the list goes on.

Our facility representative was Sugu, a very precious and patient salesperson who worked hard to accommodate all our unique needs. After driving the 1700 km (1,056 miles), we arrived a couple of days early. Sugu greeted us with a big smile and a warm welcome. We felt like long-time friends after so many interactions.

Somewhere along the way, Sugu learned that our 52nd wedding anniversary was to occur during our stay. To our shock and amazement, on Tuesday, August 15, there was an interruption to the evening program. Sugu entered, surprising us with a beautifully decorated vegan chocolate cake fit for a king. We got to cut into it and feed each other, just like on our wedding day. We shared it with everyone following the evening program, bringing a delightful end to a very memorable day.

As we reflect on our interactions over the past months, we thank God for the opportunities that we have had to engage Sugu in spiritual conversations, and we pray for her as we maintain this friendship.

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