On Monday, I bade farewell to a bunch of lovable people I've grown to love and banter with. Yeaps, have been volunteering at a Christian organisation for the past one and a half months*. It has been a good time labouring with fellow brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. Even though we were not doing the same work, I can sense that we are all workoing for the Lord.
Well, learnt a few things while voluntering there:
1) It's not all airy-fairy, roses-champagne working for the Lord.^ The workplace just went through re-envisioning and merging of few regional entities into one office. Due to bugetting constraints, people were laid off in the process, which in turn raised questions and concerns among the staff. I guess saying that you trust in the Lord for providence, and actually living it out is pretty two different matters altogether. It's a real struggle, but that's where building your faith comes in, I think...
At the same time, I am gladdened at the way the leadership handled the questions of the staff. It was prompt and transparent, with leadership coming all the way down from the top. I am also heartened by the way the staff chose to respond. Brings to mind Hebrews 13:16-17:
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. - Heb. 13:16-17 (NIV)
2) It's good to start off the work day with corporate worship and devotions. This is my first time experiencing morning devotions at a workplace environment. The spiritual food that is passed out every morning during these times are so essential to setting my posture and position before the work I was to do. Basically, my job function wasn't a very glamorous one.** I was to be in charge of cataloging the audio recordings at that palce. In the end, it came up to about 5000+ CDs and 2000+ audio-record tapes. Yes, pretty mundane and boring job, by job nature. Thank God for the constant encouragements and help I had from my other team-mate and the rest of the staff, in doing this task. Also, the morning corporate-session helped to anchor my thoughts in "I'm working for the Lord". Think that was one big element absent in my attitude in my previous employment.
3) I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination - not only materially, but spiritually. I have 2 fellow workers who came and share with me their personal journeys. How what I am going through is not an accident or punishment, but something that is intended by God. And the prayers that were prayed over me and for me - really, really appreciate that.
Also, technically I've only worked 1 and a half months, by my count. So I filed in my re-imbursements for transport and lunch money. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I received additional money - it was a love gift from the people there. It was not much^^, but it was not the amount that counts. It's the thoughtfulness and appreciation that goes behind the love gift.## Plus that little amount does goes to contribute me being a little more merry. 
Well, I still haven't written that farewell message to the bunch of peopel I left on Monday. Still thinking of what I'm going to write. Lets hope I can get that out by next week... 
In the meanwhile, have a merry, merry Christams, and a blessed, blessed new year, my fellow brothers- and sisters-in-Christ!
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* yea, the days where I've been working la. in actual fact, it was around 2 months, if you count in all the Public holidays and sick and rest days that I took...
^ erm, guess i'm a bit naive to think that la. But that's what a lot of people wish for, that life would be smooth-sailing and troubles-free... Guess I'm still a babe# with regards to that thinking
# as in a "baby" or "infant", not "hot chick" 
** haha, when I first told people about my volunteer stint, they always ask me "Singapore got Christian radio station meh?". Then they would follow up with "So, you now a radio deejay ah?" 
^^ not that I was expecting a lot, or even expecting the love-gift in the first place.
## John 21:15-18. "Feed my sheep..."
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