Choir from St John's College, University of Cambridge, sings "Home" at P...

Signed the condolence book at Tampines

The body of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, our first Prime Minister is lying in state at Parliament House. Thousands brave the heat and long wait of up to eight hours in the queue to pay their respects. The response from Singaporeans, permanent residents, visitors is overwhelming.

Because of the distance and other factors we decided to go to the nearest centre at Tampines to pay our respects and sign the book of condolences. We were welcomed by the volunteers this morning. People have taken leave to volunteer to man the centres.

We stood for some quiet moments and thanked God for raising such a man as Lee Kuan Yew. He was the man for the hour. Thank You Lord for all Your goodness.

Mr.Lee Kuan Yew passed away peacefully 23rd March 2015

We woke up as normal 5.00 a.m. on Monday 23rd March 2015. Suddenly the music from the radio was interrupted by the announcement that our nation's founding father, the first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew "passed away peacefully at 3.18 a.m"

Frankly we were saddened, but we give to thanks to God for Lee Kuan Yew. Without him where would Singapore be?  History would have to be written differently.

My wife and I belong to that generation referred to as Pioneer Generation. We went through those difficult days.

I shall keep the special edition of the Straits Times.  Wonderful to read the tributes which have made by people all over the world and our own Singaporeans and even the non-citizens residing in Singapore.

Three months in our new home

Exactly three months ago we moved to our present home at Changi. By the end of that day we were really tired physically. The staff of Peaceehaven came to help us unpacked and we settled for the night on a new bed.

We are quite settled now. We have been exploring the neighbourhood. This morning we went to Simei East Point to do some shopping. We got a lift from Mr. Michael Ng in the Peacehaven van. He dropped us at the car part and we made our way to the mall.

We were to meet him again at the Car Park at 11 a.m. Unfortunately we made the wrong turn and got lost. We asked a young man for directions. He used his phone to check the location and even spent time to take us to the car park. His was a national serviceman.

We hear criticism of today's youth for being thoughtless. Certainly there are many thoughtful and kind young men and women around who will go out of the way to help someone particularly the elderly.

We step into a train or bus and someone is sure to give us his or her seat. Thank God for good and kind people everywhere. Here in Peacehaven we are very well cared for by our many friends. God has certainly blessed us with good friends.

Family gathering for Chinese New Year

The Aws and the Lims - First day of Chinese New Year at our Changi home.

Prayer on giving

Let me share a prayer written by John Gowans, a former General.

"Please let me be extravagant
In what I give or do.
I want to spend my 'Everything'
And all my time with You.

Not penny-pinching, miserly,
Not keeping strict account;
Investing all I have and then
Forgetting the amount!

If, feeling sorry for myself,
I start to count the cost,
Then I shall be the poorer -
What I have gained will all be lost.

O Lord when I begin to stray
From dedication's track,
Remind me of the way You gave
And I'll hold nothing back!  (from "O Lord" by John Gowans)

Privileges of ministry

We have been living in Changi since 16 December last year, almost three months. How fast time flies! The speed of time increases as we get older. By the end of May I shall be 83 that's past the average life span for Singaporeans! I do enjoy life and still find fulfilment in ministry.

We are able to visit our special daughter every day and let her have her bottle of Vitagen or Yakult. She enjoys this. The question is often posed to us, "Does she know or recognise you?" Well we don't know as she cannot indicate, but I believe in her own way she knows God and she is in communication with the Almighty. We always pray a simple prayer with her and commit her to Him.
Sometimes we sing to her songs like "Gentle Jesus meek and mild, Look upon a little child" or "Jesus loves me, this I know."

We still have a ministry here at the Corps (church) and Peacehaven. Every alternate Wednesday evening we have a fellowship meeting with the Indonesian nurses. They are the newest lot of nurses at the Home and we have been asked to specially care for them. All of them are from Palu Salvation Army Academy of Nursing.

We start the evening with singing. They love singing from the Salvation Army Song Book in both English and Indonesian. We are brushing up our Bahasa Melayu which is similar to Indonesian. We do not get the same nurses each week because of rotation of duties. These nurses are good support to the Corps. We have been much blessed by these new nurses.

Of course we do meet with the other nurses as well. The Home has nurses from Philippines, Myarmar, China, India, Malaysia and of course Singapore.

We have been retired close to 18 years but there is no retirement from ministry. Thank God there are always opportunity for ministry.