Handphone Woes

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Fun with Eggs
This week had been wonderfully fun as we continued with our in-house fundraising. This week, my department offered to sell a set meal including fried beehoon with poached egg, otah, chicken wing with achar, belachan chilli and cut pickled green chilli by the sides and chin chow drink. It was really fun coming together early in the morning, moving the microwave oven into my office and together making poached eggs :) (Picture Poached Eggs 1 by woodsy)

Fun with Sweet Stuff
Then, on Tuesday, we offered soya beancurd with gingko nuts and fried fritters. It was really encouraging that everything got snapped up rather quickly because the previous day, we only had a few orders. But bit by bit, the orders the following morning and before we know it, everything's sold out, leaving only three bowls of soya beancurd to share among my whole department :) All we had left was a big bowl of syrup for the soya beancurd. I later learnt that my colleagues suddenly was inspired in the afternoon and while I was away for a meeting, they bought chin chow and longan and wahla, served chin chow and longan drink with syrup for dessert in the afternoon. Wow quick thinking! :D Anyway, the whole experience had been fun and although I must agree that we might not make great entrepreneurs, I really thank God that we can have fun together while helping to raise funds for another home.

Why Be Competitive?
But then one day, I heard about how someone sarcastically commented how we are so blessed because we sold fruits last week and even if we cannot finish selling within the day, we can keep our fruits overnight and sell fruit juices the next day. Whereas for them, they have to finish selling their food items by the day because the food items cannot be kept. Well, for one thing, I am not sure if indeed this person was indeed sarcastic but then if she is, then all I can is "come on, this is not a competition. We are all putting out hands together for the purpose of raising funds for the needy so why be so 'competitive'?" (Picture "morning run" by lusi)

No More Zeal
I really have to admit it, I seem to have lost steam at work. Compared to the past, I realised how I have come to lose steam at work. I am still doing my work as per normal but then I realised how I start to lack that zeal at work, working at a slower pace than the past. The good news is that some career advancement is on the way but then the thing is that I am feeling guilty about the advancement given my current zeal level. In fact, I am so tempted to just tell my boss that I am OK to stay the way things are and don't feel I deserve anything else. Yes, I have been inspired by my volunteers last week and this week, I had a meaningful conversation with a senior colleague of mine which further inspired me. It was really great being able to sit down with this colleague because all these while, we had a "hi-bye" kind of relationship and I did not get to talk to him much.

Inspired by a Senior Colleague
But this week, I had the chance to visit him to discuss his centre's volunteer needs and through the conversation, he shared stories of people he crossed path with. It was really inspiring to hear of his passion and dedication to the work of building God's kingdom and extending a hand to share God's love for His people. Heartwarming storied about how an elderly woman took in a stranger elderly man and who later took care of her when she suffered a stroke touched my heart. But even though these talks inspired me, I just can't help feeling that my zeal and passion at work is waning. I can't explain why and whether it might be soon that I need to move on to something? But one thing I am sure is that I will surely miss my current working environment should I move on.

Inspired by Childlike Faith
Then yesterday, I attended a cell members' grandmother's wake. Although I did not know this member and her grandmother very well, it was inspiring to hear the testimony of this old lady, who despite having passed on, had the wish that people will come to know the Lord and accept Him. Her daughter shared her testimony how from being one who is illiterate, she had such faith and determination to want to learn from the Word of God. Her daughter shared how as they were tidying her stuff, she realised that her mother had read and underlined verses from Genesis all the way to Revelations. What great faith. Then, several years ago, as she climbed the Great Wall of China with her daughter, the Lord impressed unto her daughter that she will be around until her 84th birthday when she will be called back to be with the Lord. And indeed, my cell members' grandmother as able to celebrate Christmas, New Year and subsequently her birthday and soon after, she was called home to be with the Lord. Her daughter thanked God that she was able to be discharged from hospital always in time to celebrate Christmas, New Year and her birthday and then go back into hospital. In a way, I am also glad that this old auntie is now back home with the Lord because she no longer has to bear all the pain. I had went to the wake with the intention to support a cell member but in the end, ended up by encouraged by someone who I did not even know till the wake; someone with such child-like faith. Thank you auntie and may God bless you. (Picture "Praise" by jynmeyer)

When Saying "No" is so Difficult
I have always struggled with saying "no" and some time back, I mentioned about a volunteer who wanted to come to Singapore to volunteer in our organisation, despite me having told him that there are no opportunities. Then, he told me he is already in Singapore and wanted to meet me. He came to office today and again I struggled with breaking the news that I am unable to accept his services. I think he did look disappointed which made me feel bad but then, I am reminded that I did tell him there are no opportunities. Anyway, seems that he has managed to travel around Singapore quite a bit, visiting Sentosa and Marina Square, so he does seem rather well-to-do after all, which makes me less worried and guilty of him coming over. Initially, I had thought he is not so well-to-do because he mentioned he had to raise money to come to Singapore. Anyway, we concluded out meeting and I prayed for him and sent him out. Hopefully, the case is closed here.

Handphone Woes: Inspired by Edison?
Just as the dust settles for the recent Edison sex scandals and following a former local example of such a scandal (the Tammy sex scandal in 2006), I was again surprised to find out that people actually record their sexual acts in their handphones. Just today, I found out from a friend who recently bought a second-hand handphone from a lost and found fundraising sale found I don't know video clips or photos of him engaging in sexual acts with different partners. I mean, is this becoming a social phenomenon or what? Kind of worrying. This person must have been worried when he found his phone missing but maybe he should thank God it ended up with my colleague and not some other people who would post his videos/photos onto the web. But then, what are these people thinking and what are their sexual partners thinking too to allow them to film such things? Apparently, another colleague also shared that there were pornographic contents downloaded from the internet, in a second-hand phone she bought and given to her daughter. Anyway, I bought one too but it is locked, so have to get it unlocked. (Picture "Motorola E398" by edwinyn)

Handphone Woes: Getting Agitated
I do not know why but then recently, I find myself getting rather agitated by my dad rather easily. He had bought a new phone and in the last couple of night, he would be asking me questions after questions on the usage of the phone. Deep inside me, I know that it is understandable that he might need a little help getting used to a new gadget and me being more tech-savvy, should patiently help him. But then, I do find myself getting rather agitated easily as I teach him how to use the phone; feeling that it is kind of frustrating that here I am trying to get some rest or get something done and there I am keep being bombarded by questions after questions and that he does not seem to "get it". Sigh... I shouldn't be feeling so agitated, why ah?

OK, other matters. Thank God for Ministry Team Worker training last Sunday and also for having the chance to talk to my fellow cell leader. Seems he is rather OK now, thank God. OK, tomorrow's medical appointment. Keeping fingers crossed as doctor will tell me about my MRI results.