GRAPE-PICKER WHO FILLED THE WINE PRESS | KAIROS GLOBAL | NOVEMBER 2021

Author: Daniel T Benny

Intro: Daniel T Benny writes about the miracles God worked in his work life, despite being a ‘below average’ engineering student.

As for me, I have been the last to come on duty, as if going through vineyards to gather whatever the grape-pickers had left behind. But the Lord blessed me, and I did well, like a grape-picker who has filled the wine press (Sirach 33:16, 17).

Praise be to God Almighty!

I take this opportunity to share about a blessing I received recently. A great blessing, it has also become a great miracle in my life. 

But first, I would like to emphasise one thing I learnt. If we work for the Lord or if we spend time for HIS Kingdom, he will repay us in ways beyond our imagination. He is faithful in all his deeds and each moment we spend for him is accounted for.

I was an average student during my academic years and it took an additional ten months to pass my electrical engineering degree due to arrears from previous semester exams; this delayed my getting a job for almost a year. It was during this time of crisis that I began to spend most of my time with God, through prayers, JY activities and youth events in my parish. When finally God blessed me with a job, it was without a salary but I gained an in-depth knowledge of electrical engineering. After working there for more than a year, the Lord brought me to another location to work on a small salary. There I worked with a very diverse group of people and it was a tough time. I went through a lot of hardship, but then God transformed all those sufferings to great blessings and my colleagues came to realise that I was a Catholic through these situations. 

From there God took me to the Middle East. After reaching there, I continued to spend time for Christ; I managed to take most of my Catholic colleagues for daily Holy Mass, in a country that had only four Catholic churches. Though I had many trials in the beginning, the Lord blessed me abundantly from there until now. He has been providing for all my desires. Now when I look back, I wonder why I did not realise Father God earlier, desired or dreamt more about my future or about my needs – when my Heavenly Father was willing and waiting to provide for me. God transformed all my struggles in life to success according to the promise in Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Recently I changed my job and I will say it’s a great miracle from the Lord. He, who is faithful, reminded me once again that I am his son and that he cares for me. He even knows each of my thoughts and dreams.

I came to Singapore after getting married to Rose Mary and I started off with a simple job as an electrical engineer in a semiconductor manufacturing company. For several reasons, I wanted to change my job and last year I applied for openings in a few big tech companies (let’s say Company A and Company B) but never got a reply from them. And as time passed, I simply forgot about it, convincing myself that being a below average student, those opportunities  were beyond my reach.

But the Lord had not forgotten about my desire, he is such a great Father. After about a year (in March 2021), recruiters from those same companies pinged me on LinkedIn, enquiring about my interest in much better positions there (it was during that time I had my hands full with many activities, supporting Crucis Singapura 2021 , an annual event organised by JY Singapore, during lent, reflecting on the Passion of Christ). Being part of the Music Ministry, I used to spend many hours, sometimes staying well past midnight on many of those days. It was a bit tough, with work during the day and thereafter staying late to support JY activities. It was also during that time I took the effort to learn about new equipment and various tools that could be used in the Music Ministry. Though I was not inclined to music, I spent many hours helping improve the ministry so that team members would benefit. And I can say, God blessed me more. 

When I passed the screening interviews of both companies, I realised the meaning of the Word of God in Matthew 6:33, Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

Praise be to GOD!

Company A started the interview process and there were seven rounds, while Company B scheduled the interview after screening, and it got postponed a couple of times.

With Company A, I was interviewed by people from a few different countries  and it was a bit challenging for me, having never been exposed to such a style of interviews. Before each day’s interview, I sought prayers from friends in our JY circle and also from Shalom World, where they offered my intentions in the Holy Mass. On 6th May, Company A sent me the offer letter, while Company B had scheduled the interview only for 11th May. Though I would have loved to join Company B, when I asked the Lord through Scripture, I was convinced he wanted me to go ahead with Company A.

Only by his grace and mercy, I cleared all the rounds. It was not me, but it was HE who had performed in the interview. As I mentioned, our Lord knows us and He will provide for all that we need and what we dream for. The offer was exceedingly good – much beyond my expectation, that there was no reason for any offer negotiation. Praise God!

As I do not hold a Permanent Resident visa status in Singapore and because of the Covid situation, getting a new work pass to join a different company was not easy as well, especially with my academic grades being far below that of an average engineering graduate (<60%). But our God is greater than the greatest problems we carry. He has solutions for all the problems we go through. We can't imagine or fathom how the Lord works.

He who lives forever created the whole universe;

the Lord alone is just.

To none has he given the power to proclaim his works.

and who can search out his mighty deeds?

Who can measure his majestic power?

And who can fully recount his mercies?

It is not possible to diminish or increase them,

nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord. (Sirach 18:1-6)

He is so merciful and wonderful that I finally got my pass approved in June this year and I started off in my new role with this company from August 2021. I still face challenges in this new role but since God has given it to me, he will take care of my responsibilities and difficulties. I give all glory to God for this blessing. God, our dear Father, waits to bless us. When I put more effort and more time to serve the Lord, he blessed me exponentially. I am reminded of the Word of God in James 4:8, Draw near to God and he will draw near to you

Amen, Praise God!

Daniel T Benny is an electrical engineer residing in Singapore with his wife Rose Mary. He and his wife are part of JY Singapore Music Ministry.