Thursday...

Part of my work in church requires me to over-see the church care-takers... i.e. the very important people who do the maintenance work all over church (cut grass, clean halls, clean toilets, do the gardening, clean the church kindergarten, prepare meeting rooms and the Sanctuary for Sundays, direct traffic during events, etc, etc - too many things to list here - to cut it short - amazing people whom we cannot do without!) Giving instructions to them, following up, getting their feedback bout their jobs, delegating tasks to them, writing cash-claims, etc. This has been one job I've been struggling with since I started working fulltime at Trinity. Especially the past few months - what with the transition (our former pastor was transferred to CGMC beginning year 2009) and the many changes that followed.

For one thing, I'm really young compared to the care-takers... so it felt so awkward at first giving them instructions. Icks!!! Then secondly, I had to learn to be more firm (coz I was too soft and gentle in the beginning). Thirdly, when problems cropped up, I found it so difficult to deal with them, being very alone in this. Last but not least, I found it tricky to juggle between having to go out to visit the homebound folks and dealing with our church care-takers back at the church office (It can't be anything else than God's grace that pulled me through this!) I'm thankful I learned alot through these 6 months though.

When our pastor suggested a Pastor-Meet-Church-Caretakers meeting, I was really happy. We had our first meeting today (will meet once every month)...Basically it was so that our pastor could meet them properly, evaluate their job requirements, listen to their complaints (if any) and pray with them. Despite the tension we had, it was a good meeting. Praise God for that. I do hope that our dear care-takers will now work with more peace and joy in their hearts.
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Another thing I would like to give thanks to God for is... ehem, ehem...

In the midst of my busyness today, a mysterious parcel with no sender name on it arrived at church office. Very much mystified, I looked carefully at the writing...and decided that it wasn't quite familiar...
Did have a sneaky feeling who sent it after scanning the whole parcel... and the postal stamp.
Opened the padded envelope carefully... and discovered a very choo bee , polka-dotted plastic bag inside...*Still very mystified*
Opened it up...
And inside, lay a really adorable lil' keychain - with the initials F.R.O.G on it (Fully Rely On God)... Got me grinning like crazy... and laughing at the absurdness of things...
Still no sender identity. Would the one that sent me the gift step forward and own up - so that I can thank you properly?:P

Anyway, I thank God for that little piece of joy that arrived on my desk today.
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Had dinner at Sakae Sushi again today (Queensbay Mall this time)... with Ben's friends. We had a good time of fellowship and chit-chat. So much for my sushi/Jap food-craving. Now, all cravings have been satisfied! (Especially for soft-shell crab one!)

What to do... I love Jap food!