November 20, 2011, Sunday in the afternoon, I with my husband, two of my church friends and a classmate in Mindanao Regional Bible College (formerly AGBIM) volunteered to participate in OMF GenSan’s Pre-Christmas Sale Caroling. After church service, we eagerly prepared ourselves for the three-hour experience.
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| My husband & I |
Robinsons Place was packed with people doing their shopping and dining with friends and families. The mall held Jollibee's Jollitown activity so kids were seen everywhere in their fairy tales and cartoon character outfits. The movie house was fully booked due to the first Sunday of the much awaited Breaking Dawn Part I of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. And, in trend for the Sunday’s happy commotion, the well-fired up staffs and volunteers of OMF Lit GenSan also have their own event inside the bookshop. When we arrived, book lovers already conveyed their own stations inside, scanning and reading the front, back and few first pages of what they have in hand then proceeding to the cashier for the final buy. We were served personally by Ms. Nenet Daguro, OMF Lit GenSan's Bookshop Team Leader with coffee and cookies. We also have company from the UCCP City Church where one of them served as our program master who looks much alike of our famous young female singer Charice Pempengco. Customers gave her minute-long-stare because of her ‘borrowed’ famous face, even her voice and her tone resembles to Charice’s. Hehehehe.
Our host started by giving a welcome address, few lines of introduction and acknowledgements. A brief praise & worship (I and my husband tandem) followed, singing the famous old songs “We’re Together Again” and “Great Is the Lord (We Want To Lift Your Name on High)”. While a pair was singing, others were rummaging through the bookshelves. It was the last day of the 20-30% day sale and customers were buying in heaps. Books were sold at 75 Php from 225 Php! Even my husband got an 86% off on the book he eyed for almost four hours, the Surviving Financial Meltdown was priced at 575 Php but he just paid 75 Php for it! And, FYI, that same night, he finished the book.
Coffee, I mean for free were also offered to OMF Lit customers. Almost all of them meant to stay inside the bookshop for an hour while listening to the songs we played and sang, mostly from Hillsong and lyrics and songs composed by a friend. People inside (even not knowing each other personally) made conversations with each other regarding comments and information of the books they intend to read. I had observed that people who believe in God even if belonging to different religious groups and doctrines still unite when it comes to Christian music and Christian Literature. And I am one of those who are very grateful to OMF Lit for being an instrument to bridge the gap and help diminish divisiveness we have in the Christian community today – through its ministry.
There was this loyal customer (according to Ms. Nenet) of OMF Lit named Ms. Ellen who purchased thousands worth of books that afternoon. God bless her more. I believe this so, when you buy any books from OMF Lit, you are helping missionary works. And you are helping yourself too with the books you read. OMF Lit Special Sale events are great privileges to everybody especially since Christmas time is here. Books are great gifts. Some of my friends who had read my post in Facebook about the OMF Lit GenSan’s Sale also came to visit the bookshop. We, the volunteers even the staffs felt overwhelmed seeing people engrossed in reading. That’s why we were groomed that afternoon wearing the I READ shirts. Thanks, OMF! Not just that, before we prepared to go home, we were given the much anticipated freebie-time of being a volunteer – BOOKS! It took my friends almost an hour to choose from the different OMF Lit published titles. Words of gratitude were exchanged thereafter promising to inform our friends that when it comes to Christian Literature in GenSan, South Cotabato, Sarangani and even for those who are visiting, we will have OMF Lit GenSan in our directory.
GOD Bless, OMF Lit and long live! We are still waiting for more of your books, fun-filled events and a lot more of your sale and freebies! ^^,
