Money Matters

Every time I depart from one place to another, one of my first tasks is to reset every thing and look at my finances. I know it will be a long wait before gainful employment (if ever). My one year EPF (Singapore's CPF) while I served at a local Seminary was used up while I waited for 5 months to enter this current pastorate which I am about to leave in the next month. This is no EPF paid at my current place and I was told to deduct from my salary and save up myself. In fact, if not for itinerant ministry (6 times in 2025 outside of KK and three times within KK) and books sold, I would not have enough to make ends meet, let alone save up in my EPF account.

Yesterday I went to EPF central office here in Kota Kinabalu and withdrew a sum of money to pay for my tickets to two places. I just bought tickets for my writer's scholarship later in November, but I purchased tickets early when I saw that there was sale on just like three years ago when I went to New Zealand to visit my son in Auckland. I may visit Singapore before my writer's scholarship trip. 

It has been 6 years since I last visited Singapore (except for a 4 hour stopover in May 2024), just before the pandemic to arrange for my 300 books to be sent back to Sabah. The 13 boxes arrived at my house one week before the Movement Control Order (MCO) and subsequent lockdown. 

I realised that if one wants to do something, after prayers and a time waiting on the Lord, one has to take action. One cannot afford to procrastinate nor hesitate as the saying goes -"he who hesitates is lost". More so, in my early 60s now, I can't afford to wait too long, either visiting a foreign country or doing something important. I need to plan and put my plan into action and whenever opportunity comes, one has to grasp in both hands and run with it. 

Last Sunday I had opportunity to share with a former church member all the way from my Ranau church. I have not seen him for 10 years until last Sunday. We chatted nearly an hour during drinks fellowship when almost everyone had already left the hall. He asked me about my plans and I told him about my writing projects, explaining to him from the inception to finishing a book, proofreading, publishing and the costs involved. 

So money matters came up. My last book costs RM10,000.00 from my own money and after selling about 150 books (RM40.00 each), I had earned about RM6,000. There is still RM4,000 shortfall and I consider that I had already made even because at the book launch (1st Dec 2024), a couple of friends gave me love gifts, either for the book launch or wishes for my 30th anniversary in full-time service. 

I remember one friend who read my "Anak Panah" said, "Tony, you have done so much for SIB" SIB is my church or the name of my denomination., But no one remembers one's good deeds now. When I saw the news about a former ruling political party holding its AGM and all former Youth chiefs were invited to the AGM, I thought to myself how nice it would be, that present and former leaders sit together as Christ's body reflecting Christian unity for the world to see. But it is just wishing thinking now and I wait on the Lord, yes only on You, O Lord I wait!