As part of the WFF 39th Anniversary celebrations, TIDINGS spoke to two members of the Wesley Filipino Fellowship (WFF), who shared their stories of their journeys in Singapore and in the WFF.
Here is the second.
An interview with Amalia E. Gadier.
Tell us about yourself and how you came to be in Singapore.
I am from Alincaoeg, Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, in the Philippines.
I have been in Singapore for 16 years as a domestic worker, with the same employer. Before Singapore, I worked in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Lebanon. I really enjoy working here and I find that it is safe here in Singapore.
Coming to Singapore was a really good opportunity for me and I am so grateful for my employer.
How did you first come to attend WFF and how was it like for you at first?
My boss brought me here 15 years ago. It was the start of my having Sunday as my day off, and my boss thought it would be good for me to join the WFF.
I was observing in the beginning, what the differences were between Wesley and my church back home. I found that I was more comfortable here worshipping God in Wesley. I was open to everyone, and I found myself changed (I had a bad temper back in the Philippines). I also got to know God and His work deeper, and I understand His Word in the Bible.
What do you like most about the fellowship?
I enjoy the sharing, and praying for each other. I was facing some family problems in the past, and the advice of the members really touched me.
If I come early to church, I sometimes join the prayer focus group to pray, before the service.
I hope that I would be able to continue to have this kind of fellowship, even when I return to the Philippines in the future.
What is it like serving in WFF?
I really like being a volunteer with the meal group — serving food. For the anniversary celebration today, we did the decorations and prepared the arrangements for the catered food. It is not too tiring and it is enjoyable.
From August 2022, the post-service fellowship would be back, and we would be organising and preparing food to serve.
What are some challenges?
I don’t feel that there are many challenges here in Wesley, where people are friendly and the fellowship is enjoyable. There are new members joining every week and we can make new friends.
Every Sunday is my employer’s family dinner time, so I would need to prepare and serve food after going home from church. But my employer is nice and understanding and it has been okay for me.
How was it like for you during the Covid-19 pandemic?
It was okay, as I only had to serve my employer, so I did not feel that it was tiring. My employer would drive me to the market to pick up the food.
My last vacation back to the Philippines was in 2019. Hopefully, I would have a vacation this coming December, which I am looking forward to.
What suggestions or feedback do you have about how the church can do better?
Things are good for me, and I like it here, so I don’t have any particular suggestion.
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