Volunteer reflection from Gladiolus Place

Volunteer: Amadis Ong

What has been encouraging to you as you served ?

What encourages me the most is seeing the girls each time, growing together with them whilst being able to show them a sliver of God’s grace. Relationships take time, but it always encouraging to see girls open up gradually. Their willingness to trust / open up is something I appreciate and don’t take for granted.

What is one thing God has taught you through serving?

God has taught me to humble myself as I try to serve Him and serve others. He is teaching me that the most valuable thing I can do with my time is to see people as they are and hopefully show them His love in small ways. Even when I feel like I have such a busy schedule and surely not enough time, God convicts me to give just a bit more time and to not be self-centred.

What is a story that comes to mind that has been unforgettable?

Some moments that are most memorable are always the ones when a girl asks “I heard you have to do good works to go to heaven” and there is an opportunity to share about how Jesus accepts us in spite of our mistakes if we repent and turn to Him. To see the girl’s composure relax as she slowly realises or her face stuck in quiet contemplation- that is where there is room for the Gospel to seep in. Another one is when I got to share with a girl how Jesus forgives all of our sins and everything in our past is forgiven. Some of the girls who carry great burdens from the past seemed somewhat puzzled and enticed to hear more.

What is one encouragement you have for a new volunteer signing up for GP?

Just come! I believe your heart will enlarge as you get to know the girls, and the truth of the Gospel will become more real, at least for me because I have to think about how to share the Gospel, both verbally and in tangible ways the girls will appreciate. It has helped me realise how precious knowing Jesus is!