Yesterday we had a lovely reunion of old friends at the Peach Garden Restaurant at Thompson Plaza. Lieut. Colonel Wright is on her way to Hong Kong for the 80th Command anniversary.
This morning on our way to Peacehaven, we picked her up at Bishan. She wanted to visit a few of her old friends as well as see our daughter Dora Poh Chin at the Nursing Home. It was in 1988 that Poh Chin was admitted, at her suggestion, to the then Lee Kuo Chuan Home for the Aged at Upper Bukit Timah. Lieut. Colonel Wright was then the Officer Commanding.
We had already been in Hong Kong for five years, and Moira had a feeling that International Headquarters might transfer us to another territory. So she suggested to us that we should bring Poh Chin to Singapore and put her at the Lee Kuo Chuan Home for the Aged. Her needs after all were no different from many of the ladies of the Home. We agreed and on my way to Indonesia to conduct SPEACO we brought her to Singapore, put her in the Home.
Two and half years later in July 1990 we were transferred to Philippines. It would have been difficult to have Poh Chin with us in the Philippines. As the Territorial Leaders we had to do a lot of travelling all over the Archipelego. We are always grateful to Moira for that suggestion. I believe the Lord prompted her to make that suggestion. We are always grateful to friends like Moira who care for each other. There is a wonderful bond of fellowship within The Salvation Army.
Moira Wright is a New Zealander who came to Malaya in 1958 where she was appointed to the Ipoh Children's Home. She served in Malacca, Batang Melaka and Kuching. There she was awarded the Order of the Star of Sarawak in 1972.
She spent nine years in Singapore as the Social Secretary and we worked closely together. I was the General Secretary. Early 1980, she was appointed to Hong Kong/Taiwan Command as the General Secretary (second in Command) and there she prepared the way for us to serve in Hong Kong! In January 1983, my wife and I were appointed to take charge of the Hong Kong Taiwan Command. She was a tremendous support to both of us. She was very loyal and worked extremely hard for the Lord.
She was appointed to Singapore again in 1987, this time as the Officer Commanding with the rank of Lieut. Colonel. It was during her time, that the old Command Headquarters was sold to the Cockpit Hotel. This sale was instrumental in providing funds for the building of the present Headquarters at Bishan. It was also during her time that the Army opened Gracehaven.
Memories! how precious they are. We thank God our paths crossed. We thank God for this wonderful woman of God who gave of herself for the sake of others. It is unlikely we will meet again here on earth. Age is catching up on us and we rest in the assurance we shall meet in our Home in Heaven. O what a time of rejoicing that will be.
No comments:
Post a Comment