Funeral of Lim Tee Houw

Our good friend Lim Tee Houw went to be with the Lord on Tuesday 8th November. We felt a terrible sense of loss when we received an sms from his wife Soo Noi. We have known them before they were married. Mrs. Lim was my wife's Sunday School teacher. We were at their wedding and they attended ours in 1958.

Lim Tee Houw, Chia Cheong Fook, Mary Yeo, Tan Khia Fatt and Mak Su Lan were delegates to the International Youth Congress held in London in 1950. Tee Houw was the Corps Secretary for the Singapore Central Corps for many years. His wife was the Corps pianist. In later years they joined the Methodist Church, but occasionally would attend the Army's special meetings. We remained very good friends.

The last time they attended Salvation Army meeting was at the official opening and dedication of the Army's Headquarters at Bishan in 1995. We were stationed in London then and came as the International Seceretary for South Pacific and East Asia to perform the ceremony.

When we saw him in Changi Hospital he was very sick. That was the last time we saw him alive. We were able to share a prayer with him.

My wife and I were away from Singapore for many years - twenty eight years in total. We spent 14 years in Malaysia, both East and West, and the last 15 years we were in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Phlippines and England. We quite often invited to their home to share meals with them on our visits to Singapore and enjoyed many hours of fellowship together. They came to visit us when were were stationed in Hong Kong.

We attended the Wake at Mount Vernon Sanctuary, Tranquility Hall at Upper Aljunied Road on Thursday and met their lovely family whom we had not seen for many years.

The funeral was on 11 November and we joined their many relatives and friends to say our last farewell.

The mourning of the followers of Christ is sorrow for one who has left temporarily. The word of God assures us that our trust in Jesus, we shall meet again in Heaven where the Lord has gone to prepare a place for us. Those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus will be together with Him.

Saying goodbye is always a sad thing. Good bye means 'God be with you.' The literal translation of the term 'good bye' in Chinese is 'meet again.'

God be with you till we meet again,
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you,
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain:
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again,
’Neath His wings securely hide you,
Daily manna still provide you,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again,
When life’s perils thick confound you,
Put His arms unfailing round you,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again,
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you,
God be with you till we meet again.