Lieut. Colonels Tan Thean Seng and Pat Tan were very gracious to treat us to lunch yesterday. We have been friends for many years. We met them when we became Corps Officers (pastors) of Penang Corps (1959-1962) That's half a century ago!
Thean Seng was a junior soldier and Corps Cadet and a very good one too. He not only attended classes very regularly, participated in meetings, he also used to go out with my wife to sell the War Cry on Saturday evenings. My wife and I took turns to sell the War Cry at the Clubs and the Restaurants along Penang Road. I would alternate with her, but I did not want her to go alone. When it was her turn, Thean Seng would accompany her on the bicycle to sell the papers. In those days we did not just leave the papers at the back of the hall for all and sundry to take - gratis. By the way, the only transport we had were two bicycles for the Corps officers.
Pat Loo then, joined the Army through Guides. My wife ran the Guides and Brownies on a Saturday afternoon while I conducted the outpost Sunday School at Glugor and Bayan Lepas.
In 1965 we returned to Penang to take charge of the Boys' Home, he was still in school, he would help to teach at the Salvation Army Primary School. Our appointment covered the Boys' Home, the Primary school, plus a chicken farm! The farm made money to support the Home. More on this at another blog.
After commissioning as a Lieutenant, Thean Seng was appointed to Kuala Lumpur Corps to assist us in the pioneering work. Well he had to work extremely hard. We went round from door to door, giving out tracts and inviting people to the meetings.
So you see, our association dates back a long time. When we left Hong Kong to be the Territorial Leaders of the Philippines in 1990, the Tans moved to Hong Kong, he as the General Secretary and she as the Command Secretary for Women's Organisations. They occupied the quarters we vacated for the Officer Commanding and his wife Lieut. Colonel John and Mrs. Muriel Banks preferred to live upstairs in the two storeyed building.
Fast forward to 1997, Major Tan was appointed to be my Under Secretary at IHQ while his wife assisted Lieut. Colonel Linda Bond, now Commissioner Bond.
So you see we had much to do with them all through the years. No wonder the lunch took three hours! Nostalgia indeed.
What a lot to talk about. We've been through many storms together. We've spent happy moments with each other in Singapore and Malaysia.We were blessed by their lovely spirit and their hope and desire for the future of The Salvation Army. Once again, thank God for friends who care and pray for each other.
We've had change of leaders. Sometimes we fear changes, but we are optimistic as our Territorial Leaders, Colonels Keith and Beryl Burridge are people God, of vision and compassion and we know will lead us forward by the grace of God. To God be the glory!
A thought: We have God with us so 'If you cannot be optimistic then you must have a misty optic."
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