Truly a God-send

I never imagined this was ever possible to happen to me. To others, yes. To me, well, not very high chances lah… But I really didn’t expect this to happen this Thursday.

Since I listened to Ps Keith’s sermon last Sunday about the importance of Christians to have a vision which propels us forward enthusiastically into each new day, I have begun to wonder every morning, why many of us (including myself) are so lacking in inner joy and living our days aimlessly, with little or nothing to really look forward to in life.

That morning is just like any other, which left me feeling empty, so I decided to sing a worship song to God to distract myself from thinking negatively. As I walked to the office, I wondered what would be that day’s highlight or would it be that morning’s meeting with the company Studio You Pte Ltd. This is the playback of what happened a few days earlier…

A few days ago, this lady by the name of Lois sent me an e-mail to enquire about the ENABLE fund which SNEF administers for companies who are willing to hire People With Disabilities (PWD). That was followed up with my reply e-mail and thereafter a call, in which a meeting was arranged for me to meet up with her to discuss more about how this funding scheme could benefit her company.

Normally I do not often take the additional effort to search for a company’s website to find out more before the meeting, coz I would usually have already asked over the phone or e-mail. But this time, I just felt a curiosity that probed me to search out this website… which I did… and through reading this website, it made me tear a little bit. It was touching, about how Lois struggled through tough times while keeping her faith in the calling that she received from God.

For those who would like to read her website, it is at http://www.you.com.sg.

This Thursday morning, I was to meet with her to share about the ENABLE fund for hiring people with disabilities. I had some difficulty finding the place as it was located at a side of Geylang which I and the taxi driver could not easily locate. Finally, I managed to see a familiar sign board and alighted from the taxi, only to find myself being directed to different directions by two different men.

As I was walking around, searching for the place, I turned round a corner and saw this lady walking up to me. I asked if she is Lois and with a sigh of relief, we introduced ourselves and walked to her office.

While walking to her office, I noticed that this is a rather run-down place, in terms of typical corporate office standards. There were wooden doors everywhere, some of them looking old and with their paint wearing off. In my mind, I was thinking – hmm… it is not easy working in a place like this… especially when corporate executives are used to working in high rise buildings, with lots of clear glass doors, fully air-conditioned walkways, nearby cafés and structured office work cubicles.

Suddenly my mind rang out, “Wait! Didn’t I recall seeing on the map that the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) building is situated right next to this building?” In my hope to strike up a conversation, I casually asked, “Is there a YWAM building located around here?”

Believe me, Lois looked surprised. She looked really surprised that someone would ask this question… or perhaps I read her facial expression as more like, “How would you know of this place, when this is such a secluded spot in Geylang?”

Lois turned to ask me how did I know of this place, so I paused for a moment, thinking whether it was a wise move to start sharing that I’m a Christian, when this is an official ‘business’ meeting. Well, it turned out that I did share that I am a Christian and Ross Tooley (from YWAM) came to speak at my recent church camp. Lois said, “Oh, that’s good!” And indeed, that question was successful in making initial conversation and I felt the ‘ice’ breaking after revealing that we are of the same faith.

As I entered her office, I observed that it was a humble dwelling; a simple office which showcased and allocated more space for the glass display cabinets than the actual space for her work station.

Lois asked if she could offer me a drink, which I obliged. It so happened that I glanced at her refrigerator as she opened its door to get me a cold drink… and I noticed that her refrigerator was rather empty with merely a few bottles of mineral water. My thoughts went like, “Wow… this is indeed humble living…”

Lois brought me on a short tour around her small office and studio, where I was introduced to 3 young people with intellectual disability. They were 3 of the 6 PWDs hired by Lois to work on making gifts for sale at shops around Singapore. In fact, the business is so good that Lois was hoping to hire more PWDs and give them a chance to work, but could not because of the lack of funds.

I was so carried away that I had forgotten to exchange my name card with Lois; and that was what we next did, before sitting down at the small table to discuss about the grant. It was fruitful discussion and I learnt about the nature of the business.

In the early years, Lois started this business because she prayed and asked God what He wants her to do with her life. God directed her to look to her interest, which was drawing and painting. And God specifically told her to hire PWDs to help her in this business; to give these people a chance to work and earn a living; in other words, to care for them.

After her struggle with doubt, Lois decided to take the leap of faith to start this company from scratch. It was a difficult time and I cannot describe this any better than how Lois herself shared over her website. She didn’t have any money at all, but she made her decision to obey God and trust Him to provide.

Several times over the past 5 years, she had met with tough obstacles in life that made her want to close this business. In fact, the SARS period was so bad that it affected her business for a whole 6 months! All these years, she has been running this business on her own and it has been very draining, both physically and financially.

She really wanted to give these PWDs an opportunity to work, but at a period of time, she had to let a few go because she just didn’t have the money to keep them on the job. My heart just went out to her, as she shared about how she would plow the business’ earnings into the small few hundred dollars income of these PWDs and giving them CPF even though she is not required to. In some months, she would go without a salary, as she does her best to help these PWDs continue to work and earn a living for themselves.

Lois shared that in her despair, she cried out to God for help and after years of prayer, God finally answered her prayers by allowing this grant to be introduced by the Government to help companies who are keen to hire PWDs.

This has been something that she has been praying for over the past few years and finally her prayers have been answered! She exclaimed excitedly that she felt as if this grant was designed just for her business and I was a God-send! Through me, God has answered her prayers!

I never felt so honored to be used by God. Nobody has ever told me that I was a God-send in their desperate time of need. She was overjoyed and I was just bursting with joy inside of being able to help, especially in this area of ministry.

Earlier that morning, I was just asking God about what I can look forward to each day when I go to work… and sometimes I have to handle companies who are crafty and try to work their way around the loopholes, so as to get more funding. Thus, I am really glad to have met Lois and upon seeing her passion, made me feel that if these PWDs can do this; God has given me an able body, so I can do more for Him!

Of all the projects that I have done so far in my job, I can foresee this project with Studio You Pte Ltd to be most satisfying, because it is really helping a company committed to train and employ PWDs and also being a testimony of helping a fellow sister in Christ fulfill her calling in life.

What really amazed and inspired me is Lois’ courage to heed God’s calling, go ahead and persevere despite many tough trials; holding the fort of this selfless giving of an opportunity for PWDs to have a chance to work. So that these PWDs can also find fulfillment and meaning in their lives.

After the discussion ended, Lois asked if I want to have lunch… so off we went to eat at this famous beef kuay teow stall nearby.

During our chat, I discovered much deeper as to why and how Lois came to start up this business. This is no secret to hide, for her story is listed on her website as a testimony for all to read.

Lois’ was previously a reporter at SPH. When she received a calling from God, she decided to obey and attended a 6 month Discipleship Training Program organized by YWAM. This program brought her to places around the world, where she had a chance to learn how to evangelize, both in theory and in practice.

When she returned, she found her Dad to be ill and took care of him for a year. After that, she asked herself what she should do with her life and that was how God directed her to start this business for the PWDs; which is still what she faithfully did till this day, sometimes even working for 7 days a week.

During our sharing over lunch, I shared about myself too and soon we found the conversation moving towards the topic about YWAM. I felt stirred in my heart to join the Discipleship Training Program, but I knew that now isn’t the time yet. But I enquired more and Lois was glad to share with me. She even invited me for this 5 days 4 nights YWAM gathering at Batam in September, which I am considering whether I can go.

I was so hyped up that almost every bit of my heart was calling out to me to join YWAM in training and ministry. It was through my experience with Lois that I felt that I had discovered a reason to go on in my daily life… that making a difference in a way that God has called and equipped me to do, is of utmost crucial to giving glory to Him and giving me fulfillment in life. I really wanted to live for Him and make my energy count for a good cause.

I wouldn’t call it a discovery of a vision yet, coz I am still unsure of which direction to take in my life, but all I knew was that I wanted to move up to the next level in my faith and transformation in Christ. And I want to thereafter inspire and lead others to the same level as I am. Be it playing my role as a brother, son, husband, father or friend, I really want to experience a faith in God that goes beyond what I know and am capable of now.

In fact, I grew even more passionate to the point where, while walking home one evening after work, I prayed and told God that when I go to Heaven to meet Him in the end, I want Him to prepare a work for me to do up there for Him, so that He will be glad and glorified, and I fulfilled in Him.

All these may sound like big talk, but I do hope that I can rise up to the next level of faith and relationship with God. And when I have done so, be able to lead my wife, children and others to Him as well. Dear God, please help me. Amen.