import ActorDSL._

case class Work(...)
case object AfrerTheLastMessage

actor(system, "test")(new Act {
  val waiting: Receive = {
    case w: Work =>
      self ! AfrerTheLastMessage
      become(searchingForWork(w, sender))
  }
  def searchingForWork(lastWorkSoFar: Work, itsSender: ActorRef): Receive = {
    case AfrerTheLastMessage =>
      processWork(lastWorkSoFar, itsSender)
      become(waiting)
    case w: Work => become(searchingForWork(w, sender))
  }
  become(waiting)
})