House of Tan Yeok Nee - Memories

Some of our friends have written or telephoned to comment on the article in the Sunday Times published last Sunday 26th August which featured us standing outside this old building. Today when I went to the bank the clerk was quick to tell me she read the article and how she enjoyed it.

Actually that article was not about The Salvation Army, but the House of Tan Yeok Nee. The writer, Clarissa Oon was featuring a series of old buildings gazetted as historical monuments. This was the sixth and last in the series on "If walls could talk."

She first contacted our Territorial Headquarters to get someone who had lived in that building for an interview. Our Chief Secretary gave our names hence we came into the picture.

Memories of the past, some are painful, but some joyous. All our experiences contribute to make us what we are today.

If you have read my wife's blog www.livingforjesus-pcfong.blogspot.com you would know her story of how she and her sister came to The Salvation Army Children's Home. She was only six and her sister four years old when they were evacuated with the other children from Pasir Panjang Home because of the advancing Japanese army. The missionary officers brought them for safety to this old building. The Japanese had cut off the water supply from Johor and the folk had no water even to drink. Somehow F & N must have donated some bottle drinks and the children were given these to drink. The kids thought it was great treat. That was 1942.

Although I was from Balestier, I attended combined Youth meetings at Central in the late forties and early fifties. There we met when we were teen agers. It was in this building we were trained as officers in 1954 and got married in 1958. Never did we dreamed that 54 years later we would be standing outside the same building to have our picture taken. God is great, is always good and gracious to us.

It was to the Central Corps that we were appointed in January 1970 and spent four wonderful years as the pastors. Later we had training work added to our portfolio and then I as the General Secretary. "If walls could talk" yes what interesting stories would we hear. Walks cannot talk, but while we are still alive, we tell the story of what the Lord has done for us. To Him be the glory.

All through the years his providence has led me,
His abounding goodness has been all my song;
All through the years I tell his love and mercy,
Singing Ebenezer as the years roll on.