Thank you very much.

Hey peeps! I just got back from my church's Annual Gospel and Healing Convention at HGH Convention Centre in Sentul. It was a four day event and i took charge mainly on waste disposal management while serving, being a runner, and a chef (actually, just cut vegetables only.. LOL) were among my other tasks.

Throughout the four days for prayers and services, we catered for some 1000+ believers. We had help from some believers to cook and serve food after the services at lunch, tea, and supper (9.30pm). Cooking for 1000+ people for four days is NO JOKE man, i tell you. Hats off to the sisters and believers who toiled diligently to put food on the table for the congregation.

On the other end of it, there was me, and a bunch of dedicated youths managing waste disposal. Like previous years, we served food on styrofoam plates and cups with plastic cutleries. We began separating the garbage since 2 years ago. I suddenly had an urge to save the planet. The idea of a church event that effects the environment? Just kenot lah. XD

Read about it here.

L-R: (Shy) Chee Heng, Navin, Joel (i htink) LOLx

Its difficult to inculcate something into people, especially if it something GOOD. That's why poeple go to school. And thats also why even some people who go to school, come out as screw ups. Anyway, back to the point, although there were signs with images of plates and cups, forks and spoons, and rubbish, people didnt seem to get it that they have to separate their food waste. We even set up a chain to direct traffic along the two bins so that people could #1. throw their food waste, #2. separate their cutleries, and finally #3. put the styrofoam into the respective bins.

No.

They walked up to the bin, looking like they actually know what they have to do, and the next thing we see is a plate full of food waste and cutleries dropped into the either of the bins. *CLANG!*

By this time, most of us will just say, "Oh, its okay auntie, nevermind. *smiles*" and dive alomst half our bodies into the bin to retrieve and separate waste from the plate while some others wasted no time cursing in their hearts. XD

We went on the four days doing just that: separating the garbage and managing our waste effectively.

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Why we do what we do?

We get that alot when we separate the garbage. Some will ask further, but most will just look at us with a smile and say nice things to us for the work we are doing. Truly, all glory be to God -- for without His grace to be humble, no one would be doing this s**t.

If you have read my previous post, you will understand why we are highly encouraged to separate our garbage.

Yes, to recycle.

Now, its not like the usual recycle you always hear: paper, tin, plastic, or aluminium. This is styrofoam. And very very few palces in Malaysia accept styrofoam for recycling. Yet, the irony is, Malaysia uses a helluva lot of styrofoams where tonnes and tonnes of them are ending up in our land fields, waiting like for eternity to biodegrade. And thats a LONG time.

So, what we are doing is really part recycling (the plastic cutleries) and part effective waste management. An event of this scale and cooking for 1000 odd people for four days will create ALOT of garbage. The least we can do is to seperate the garbage on site, and when it gets to the land fields, it will be properly disposed of.

But in essence and matter of practicality, we separate the plastic cutleries to prevent the garbage bags laden with food waste at the end of the day, to be accidentally punctured when we tie up and move the garbage bag. It has happened before and it was havoc i tell you! And separating the styrofoams are for a more proper disposal.

At the very least, we wont be contributing to mini torned sized styrofoam pieces "bersepah" all over the landfield. The general idea is, its better to pick you a whole styrofoam plate than the millions other sums of its parts in the landfield. Pay a worker $$$ ka-ching! also they will think twice. =S

It's time we take the environment and our actions more seriously.

If we dont, the calls to protect and preserve the environment from movies like 11th Hour, Inconvenient Truth and global events like Earth Hour (however overrated it was) may have fallen on super deaf pekak ears. Even if you don't care about your lives today, at least think of the future generations. Its always the smarter choice. =D

FYI, Alam Flora have been notified about it and they are well aware that we have separated the garbage. Get in touch with them for your waste disposal needs, click here.

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Before i continue rambling and eventually bored you to stop breathing, i wana say it was a privilage getting to serve along side the youths who came by to help me out throughout the convention. God has truly raised them up to labor for love. And i thank God for giving each and everyone of them the grace to be humble and the willingness to help out, although it may not have been their task.

I wouldn't dare imagine what i would do without them. =D

You know, it is not easy to bring yourself down and manage waste and digging through the garbage bin and through the leftover food itself. It is really a humbling experience, and for those of them who have experienced it WITHOUT murmuring and complain, they are truly blessed and will be rewarded "up there" when the time comes.

I would also like to mention something that i have observed. When people come to dispose their waste, we tell them what to do. And when they do it, regardless correctly or not, we make it a point to say, "Thank you very much."

Most poeple will smile back with a sheepish reply, but others have a feeling like they have done something good. Take for example the anology of kindy children. teachers instructs to do something. Child does it. Teacher offers compliments as a form of encouragement. And the child is affirmed that he/she is doing something right, and therefore must do it again. Well, something to that effect happend here too. =)

A senior believer separating his leftovers. Yay!

After a few times, most actually separated their waste. And seeing that, was like the bestest thing ever!! We felt a small sense of achievement. Nevertheless, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, thus we will continue to create awareness and inculcate the habit of proper waste management until it sinks in, eventually. =D

We may not be able to change the whole world, but we should always do what we can to change our very own 'world', the environment that we are most found in, for the better.

Most volunteered to help out with the garbage, and i was surprised myself. Mostly girls, and boys too, who wore nice punjabi suits and clothes offered to help me separate the garbage. They have truly been a blessing, i can't emphasize that anymore with words than i already have! =)

To all of you youths; friends: Philip, Liviana, Hilda, Jennifer, Sanjeeta, Navin, Chee Heng, Krishanti, Michele (my monkey sister), Joyce, Joel, Joash, Annie, Rebecca, and the many othersn parents and believers,

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ps. sorry not much nice pics, was busy separating the garbage, remember? =D