Each morning, Arlene Moreno, an Employee Relations Specialist for Human Resources Management, prepares for the day ahead with prayer. “With a twenty-five mile commute into work I have time to start each day in prayer and reflection on what lies ahead of me, who needs my help, what needs to be accomplished, how I will help bring about a resolution.”
Arlene realizes that her job is one that affects not only the employees involved, but also their teammates and the entire department. “I depend on the mission and values to guide me as I review and investigate the facts presented by each challenge.”
Arlene appreciates that she has the opportunity to incorporate her spiritual life at work. “The whole idea that we embrace God in our every day work is so important. It’s a big part of who I am, so away from work I still get to be the same person that I am here.”
“I have worked in Employee Relations for eleven years,” Arlene continues, “And I know how fortunate I am to have spent these years working for an institution that provides staff an opportunity to embrace the ministry of Christ in our thoughts, words and actions.”
“The work that is done by Employee Relations assures that our most valuable commodity – staff – are provided a work environment that is safe, fair, and directed by comprehensive policies and procedures, as well as compassion.” Arlene says.
Arlene enjoys sharing her other talents with the Human Resources team. “The serious nature of my work is balanced with a life shared with a spiritual and loving family, and the pursuit of my interest in art,” Arlene smiles. “I thank God for the gift he has given me and enjoy sharing my art and teaching others how to paint.”
Arlene’s watercolor paintings have been hung at the Drayson Center, Human Resources, and other locations around campus.
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“As an employee I know Loma Linda University Health encourages and expects me to uphold its values, contributing to and living the mission even when I’m off work,” begins Harold Ghosh.
For Harold, a Senior Records Analyst for Human Resources (HR), the way that he goes about work extends beyond the hours of “8 to 5.” “I think the mission of Loma Linda is not limited your working hours. It’s a way of life. What we represent at work, we also represent outside of work,” Harold explains.
Harold is committed to “servant leadership” after 5 o’clock, when he serves three elderly gentlemen.
“Every day before I come to work, I prepare breakfast, I prepare their medications, I make their beds, and then I come to work every day.” Harold explains. “I also have opportunities to help others as I help my wife with her private patients and friends.”
Harold tells the story of one patient who, despite a severe medical condition, was full of joy in her newfound faith. One day when Harold and his wife went to visit, the patient said, “Harold, do you know that I’ve become a Christian? And I am so happy!”
“In our brief visit,” Harold remembers, “The patient said, ‘I have a song that I sing about it, and this is how the song goes, ‘I am happy today, I am happy today, in Jesus Christ I am happy today, for he has taken all my sins away, and that’s why I’m happy today.’”
Harold explains how touching this moment was for him. “I saw what a conversion experience can be like for someone who has never known Christ.”
The patient passed away a few months later and was unable to reach Harold or his wife, but gave another nurse a message to deliver to the couple.
With tears in his eyes, Harold continues, “The nurse said, ‘A few weeks ago before the patient died, she asked ‘Can you get a message to Harold and his wife?’ The nurse got busy and forgot, but just before the patient passed away, the pateint said, ‘Tell Harold he has an appointment to meet me in Heaven.’”
Harold and his wife also took care of a visitor to their church who was interested in learning more about being a Christian. “We started visiting her at home and became great friends. We would go Friday evenings and I would tell parables from the Bible,” says Harold. “We talked about the life of Christ, how he healed and how he talked.”
Remembering how he told her about the story of salvation, Harold explains how their friend came to be a Christian, and loved to sing songs about Heaven.
In closing Harold explains, “This is what Loma Linda is all about. People from all over the world come here to be trained and educated, and then they go back out into the world to serve as physicians, health educators, and administrators. So if we as employees can go outside on the street or go to Redlands or wherever our friends are, we are accomplishing and fulfilling the mission of Loma Linda.”