Croaky Cashier

Every quarter, the kids earn points (through activities, scripture memorisation and exemplary attitude) and they get to redeem them on such cuties (among other cool toys as well). Seeing toys like these kinda made me wish that I was a kid again.


In my opinion, this is the cutest toy of the lot. See how he beckons me to bring him home and give him a hug... awwww...


Due to the lack of people to man the gift redemption counter at the children's church, I was roped in at the last minute to help out.

"I'd love to help out but my voice is nearly gone. Can meh?" I asked.

"Can what! You just need to use the calculator. No need to talk wan," replied Ken, my recruiter enthusiastically.

So today, my brother and Grace (my cell member) trooped alongside to help out - kind souls that they were.

None of us knew what to expect other than these brief instructions:
1.) Calculate and total up the points for each gift that the kids chose
2.) Calculate the total points from the coupons handed over by the kids to redeem those toys
3.) Place the used coupons into a bin

Sounds easy, right?

No need to talk and just use the calculator, right?

Yeah, right.

First of all, these kids range from the ages of 2 (the ones that can walk) to about 12. As I gazed and smiled at their cute faces, I realised that most of them couldn't count. And it broke our hearts when:

- we have to tell them that they are just short of 100 points to get the toy of their dreams
- we have to tell them that they can't afford to get a 25,000 point toy with a 5,000 point coupon
- a kid comes up to us with an empty basket and asked if he can participate if he had no coupons because he just joined the children's church. We had to tell him no.

To the kids with not enough coupons, I would show my written calculations of the "money" they have and that they have to choose which toys that they have to let go. Kinda like a chidren's financial planner... ceh...

"Choose the toys that you really, really want," I asked them and most of them would settle for the ones which they feel they cannot live with and actually seemed happy about letting go some of the paltry ones.

There was this little boy who brought a packet of hairpins and a packet of colorful erasers. His coupons simply couldn't cover the costs of both. As I gently told him that he had to choose between them, he did not even hesitate.

"I'll take the hairpins," he said with a smile. "My sister will love them."

Grace and I felt so touched by his love for his sister that we nearly teared. This boy might be small in age and size but in terms of sacrificial love, he understood it more than most adults do. I sure can learn a lot from him.

These kids are really trusting creatures. They would put their basket of goodies on the counter and then hand you all the coupons they have got, and expect you to return the change if there is any. I hope that's not how their parents teach them to shop outside with real money! Still, it gave me the heavy sense of responsibility of not short-changing them. I don't think I can sleep at night if I ripped-off some kid of his hard-earned points!

So as you can see, I had to do quite a lot of talking. Quite the opposite of what Ken said. It must have traumatised some of the kids to see this sweet and smiling auntie (the kids call everyone who's helping out in the children's church 'aunties' and 'uncles') opening her mouth and let out a horribly croaky voice - like a man. Most of the kids understood me fine but there were some who did not. To all those kids I have traumatised or caused confusion to, please accept my humble apologies. I hope that when I see you guys again, I would have regained full use of my voice.

And I guess I would most likely help out again during Gift Redemption day if I am available. Mingling with kids is the best theraphy to look at the world with unjaded eyes. Makes us believe that yes, all you need is love and trust. Besides, we had so much fun that it hardly felt like serving at all!