Part of a series ‘Voices of Volunteers from Around Australia’.
Sarah Kuswadi: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the volunteering ministries that you are involved in?
I am seventy-four years old. I grew up in Hong Kong and came to Australia about fifty years ago. Before retiring, I taught nurses and coordinated clinical trials to test new drugs.
I volunteer to cater for university students on camps such as the Mid-Year Conference (MYC) and other camps that our church runs. MYC involves preparing six meals a day—the students are very hungry! I have been doing this for twenty-nine years and really enjoy it. I also cater for church functions such as Christmas dinners, training days and conventions. Honest and hearty food helps to set the tone of events.
Why did you get involved in volunteering in this way and what have you found encouraging about it?
It’s not my background at all but God had a plan for me. Years ago, my son asked if I might be able to help at MYC as they did not have a caterer and without this it would be expensive. Initially, I was unsure I would be able to do it, and so was my son! Well, I gave it a go and it has evolved from there.
When we were growing up in Hong Kong, we greatly benefited from high school and university ministry work (similar to AFES) so we wanted to support this work when we came to Australia. We really wanted to have an opportunity to contribute to the work of God for students at university because that is such a pivotal time for them.
Full commercial catering is quite expensive. By making everything from scratch, my team and I help save money which keeps the cost down and enables more students to come.
While we cook, other leaders are doing their part in challenging them in the Christian walk; we are all part of one body. We see the students learning about Jesus, singing and having a good time. The students get to see how to live a Christian life in this world and also be encouraged by others to live for Jesus.
What is your background and what is something that’s unusual about that?
I always liked cooking. However, coming to Australia, I did not understand the eating habits of Australians! In Hong Kong we would never encourage our kids to have snacks in between meals. I would send my kids to school without morning tea.
I did not know how to make sandwiches, or even what they really were. So, I would guess and send my children to school with 2 pieces of bread and a piece of processed ham with no butter or spread or salad. My children never complained. They joke about it with me now!
The first camp started with 50 people and now there are over 120. We try our best to make them meals that they all enjoy. Our team has diversified to cook both Western and Asian meals. Sometimes the students tell me one of the reasons they came to MYC was because of the good food. I pray to God that a happy meal would help them listen to the talks.
My hope is to show a variety of ways Christians volunteer around Australia. What do you want to share with others about how volunteering has changed your life?
The students’ joy is infectious and invigorating. I also find it really great to get to know some of them. I have met campers who were the children of someone I cooked for years ago. They tell me that their parents say hello. It is so lovely and encouraging and affirming knowing that their parents are still walking in the Lord. Sometimes I feel rather grandmotherly.
Many of the students I have cooked for have become full-time ministry workers. I feel blessed that I have participated in ministries that have led to a life-changing and wide-ranging impact.
There are many big and small ways one can help to support core Christian ministries. During these twenty-nine years, I have met and worked with many other volunteers who, in their own way, give their time and expertise to make the various camps and events work. For example, one lady is unavailable during MYC, but every year she bakes and sends hundreds of biscuits for the students to snack on. There are others, who do not feel confident to cook, but instead offer to help by washing seventy-plus tea towels each week. These efforts seem remote from gospel work, but catering can facilitate outreach events and build up Christian community.
As I am getting older, I have started to train younger people in catering, hoping that some of them may pick up the reins when we get too old. There are young people helping out in this year’s camp and it is great to be able to share our experiences and skills with future generations. I have much to be thankful for.
Can you tell us about some things that you have learnt recently in your volunteering role?
The Australia food industry landscape has changed. There are now more and more requirements for compliance with food laws. These are important but I find some of them onerous and hard. I must be nimble to ensure we are compliant and that we do the right thing to provide safe as well as tasty food for the students.
Complying with the new laws involves writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It is a big, joyless, boring task. Yet these SOPs are essential for the camp and church events to run smoothly and for all the cooks to prepare the meals hygienically and safely. There are quite detailed requirements about monitoring and documentation, and they take a long time to write. Pray that God will enable me to be faithful in executing these boring but important parts of community cooking.
Is there a Bible verse that you often come back to for encouragement?
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. (Philippians 1:18)
People come to camps for different reasons. Some come for the food, others for friends, but the important thing is that they are there sitting under the teaching of godly leaders and have the opportunity to hear God’s words. For that I rejoice.
