Near to the heart of God

Saturday evening and I am in my little room I refer to as 'office' and 'sanctuary.'

This lovely song written by Cleland McAfee came to my mind.

There is a place of quiet rest,
   Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
   Near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus blest Redeemer,
   Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
   Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
   Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Saviour meet,
   Near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
   Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace,
  Near to the heart of God.

The writer was a pastor in Chicago. In 1901, he went through much sorrow when he received within the space of twenty four hours the sad news that his two nieces he loved dearly had died of diphtheria. In his sorrow he wrote this poem to comfort himself.

On the day of the double funeral he stood with his choir in the home of his brother and sang this song.

I mentioned that during the week we went to our Salvation Army Nursing Home to conduct chapel services and also visited the residents, many bed ridden. Our forty five year old daughter Dora Poh Chin is one of the residents. She has never uttered one word in the whole of her life.  Whether she recognizes us or not, we don't know, but I believe the Lord has her own way of communicating with her. After all He created her.

We've prayed for her healing for years, but for some reason the Lord has allowed her to remain wheelchair bound, unable to communicate her needs. We still love her, visit her and believe the day will come when we shall meet in heaven and hear her call out to us "Mummy, Daddy" We will then say to her, Dora, we love you as we have always done."  She is our eternal innocent child. She was born in sin, but she has never wilfully committed any sin. She is our Precious Treasure. And she is near to the heart of God.

Lord thank You for giving us Dora - Your precious gift entrusted to us.

Dora Poh Chin's birthday

Time flies, and the older one gets the more one feels its speed. A whole week has gone since I last wrote.

However I do keep a diary and scribble something each day. The big event for the week was the celebration of our daughter Dora Poh Chin's birthday. She turned 45 on Saturday 26th April.

She is very well cared for at our Salvation Army's Peacehaven Nursing Home at Changi. Our daughter Gladys was free on Friday, so she was able to fetch us there for the celebration. The nurses and residents in her ward joined in the celebrations. Everyone was given a piece of her birthday cake. The staff and nurses are wonderful people serving suffering humanity in the name of Jeeus.

Hard to believe that it was 45 years ago when Poh Chin was born in Kuala Lumpur where we were stationed. It was a year of the terrible racial riots in Malaysia where many lives were lost. God wonderfully preserved us those traumatic days.

This morning in our meeting we sang that lovely song by Fanny Crosby a blind poet. She scorned the idea that God had planned her blindness. She wrote in her autobiography , "The idea is repulsive to me that the Lord looked down on baby Fanny Crosby and ordained that she should be blind for life. I do believe that God permitted me to be blind, when that affliction had been put upon me by a doctor's blundering, and I believe that the way has been shown to make my blindness a blessing."

She wrote further that she had prayed: "About being blind, Lord there is something else. At first I had a hard time dealing with me. And then I learned to accept it. And now something even better has happened. I thank God for it!"

I must have the Saviour with me,
   For I dare not walk alone;
I must feel His presence near me,
  And His arm around me thrown.

Chorus:
Then my soul shall fear no ill;
Let Him lead me where He will,
I will go without a murmur,
And His footsteps follow still.

I must have the Saviour with me,
  For my faith at best is weak;
He will whisper words of comfort
  That no other voice can speak.

I must have the Saviour with me
  In the onward march of life;
Through the tempest and the sunshine,
  Through the battle and the strife.

Our Poh Chin is handicapped. We do not blame God. What caused the doctor to delay coming to perform the delivery, we still do not know. Later when we went back to the Hospital at Petaling Jaya, the nurse explained that her records were lost. We did not want to pursue the matter further.

One thing we know Poh Chin has brought blessing to many people and certainly to us her parents. She has in her own way added a new note to our ministry in helping suffering humanity. Our LORD is with us and we still hear "His words of comfort that no other voice can speak." He  equips us to share His words of comfort to those who are suffering. All glory be to our loving God who revealed Himself in Jesus His Son.
  

Dora Poh Chin's birthday

Forty four years ago, 26th April 1969, God gave us our third child and we named her Dora, Gift of God. We were pioneering the work of The Salvation Army in Kuala Lumpur. The location, an area called Petaling, five miles from the city of Kuala Lumpur and not too far from Petaling Jaya was where we were based.

The political situation was tense and on 13th May racial riots broke out in Kualu Lumpur. This led to the declaration of national emergency. A 24 hour curfew was imposed and we were all confined to the house. The atmosphere was tense, food was scarce, Poh Chin kept vomiting and cried most of the time. From our bedroom window we could see armed men carrying sticks, changkul and whatever weapon they could get hold of parading our area. We witnessed a group of men smashing vehicles followed by riot squad and police. When the police were not around, I sneaked out to try to get some food and milk powder for Poh Chin.

A lot of things have happened during the period of 44 years. One thing is certain, God never changes and we believe He has sent us many friends who have given us support throughout the years. They have blessed Poh Chin and in turn have been blessed. She is well cared for by a team of devoted nurses and caregivers.

Yesterday at Prayer meeting, we met Major Lim Chee Kwee who told us that  he and his wife Annie visited Poh Chin. They sang to her and prayed with her. We appreciate the pastoral care given by them and the chaplain of the Nursing Home, Mr. Jimi Tan. Poh Chin may or may not understand, but I believe she can feel the warmth of these caring visitors. Poh Chin belongs to Changi Corps. The monthly pocket money we give her goes straight to the church. She tithes 100% of her income!  We do this for her!

Pope Francis has called on the world's priests to bring the healing power of God's grace to everyone in need, to stay close to the marginalised and to be "shepherd living with the smell of sheep."

We believe in  priesthood of all believers - this means we are to care and pray for each others.

Poh Chin's birthday celebration.

We were at Peacehaven this morning to visit the residents and conduct chapel service at HOPE centre. We had a good time, chatting with the residents, staff and nurses offering words of encouragement.

Most people think we have two children and six grandchildren all living not far from were we live.

But not many are aware or perhaps have forgotten that we have a third child Dora Poh Chin who will be 44 years old on Friday 26th April. She was born in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia at a time when the country was going through political turmoil which later led to the racial riots. We were caught in the storm raging in the country.

Then we received a change of appointment to Ipoh where things were very difficult. The area called Tambum where the Home was situated was under curfew. Besides there was trouble among the staff and boys.

Somehow we noticed Poh Chin was different from her older siblings but we consoled ourselves that each child was different. It was in 1970 when we were appointed to Singapore that we saw the paediatrician who made that statement that shook us "You child is mentally retarded."

To cut the long story short, she is now a resident in Peacehaven Nursing Home, very well cared for by the staff and nurses. She is in good and capable hands. We see her every Tuesday. The chaplain Jimi Tan visits her regularly to pray with her for which we are grateful.

To day was a special day for us. Majors Susan and Amaro Pereira, Regional Commanders of Myanmar came to Peacehaven and requested to see Poh Chin! So after lunch we took them to see her who by that time was in bed. She seemed happy and I saw her smile. She must have sensed the warmth of these Majors.

Earlier on a 10.30 a.m. we had celebrated her birthday in advance. The nurses surrounded her and we all sang Happy birthday to her.

Well, we have prayed for healing, but for some reason, God has allowed her to remain in this condition where she needs full time care. I believe He has a purpose, for Poh Chin touches lives and as I have often said,  she brings a new note into our ministry. Everyday we thank God for our children and grand children, Poh Chin included even if others have forgotten. God does not forget her.

You know, we all offend God, but not Poh Chin for she is eternal innocence. So one day we shall meet her in heaven and hear for the first time, "Mummy, Daddy, I love you." And we will hug her and reply, "We love you too as we have always done on earth, but you could not respond."  There in heaven she will sing with the holy angels praises unto God.

Thank you Majors Susan and Amaro for taking the time to visit our Precious Treasure. Thanks Pastor Jimi for so faithfully visiting and praying with her. Thanks to those who make the effort to visit and pray for Poh Chin even if she does not respond to you.

Dora means "Gift of God" and Poh Chin means "Precious Truth"

Visited our daughter Poh Chin

Normally on a Tuesday, we visit Peacehaven to conduct chapel service and also visit Poh Chin. Today, Labour Day, public holiday, there was no chapel, so we made our own way just to visit her.

We started our journey at 9.30 a.m. and it took us almost two hours to get to Peacehaven by bus. We visited Poh Chin, prayed with her then it was time to have lunch. We sat in the garden to have our lunch of sandwiches which we brought with us. It was so quiet and peaceful. First we chatted with the two Malay gardeners in bahasa (Malay language). Then after they had gone we were left to ourselves to enjoy the peace and quiet of the beautiful and well kept garden.

The journey home took much longer - two hours sitting on the bus. And it was quite crowded. We thank God we can still get around by ourselves on public transport.

Now back at home, I am reflecting on the scene in the garden.

"God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures." Francis Bacon
"How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and gardening." Alexander Smith

Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959)  was a twentieth-century gospel hymn writer and publisher. Ordained a minister in the Church of the Nazarene, author, song evangelist, poet, music publisher and prolific hymn writer is estimated to have composed over 4,000 hymns, the most famous being Wonderful Grace of Jesus. Here is one of his songs - "In the garden of my heart."

There’s a sacred and hallowed retreat,
Where my soul finds a fellowship sweet,
Where the Lord of my life I may meet,
In the garden of my heart.

Refrain
In the cool of the day He walks with me,
In the rose bordered way He talks with me;
In love’s holy union,
And sacred communion,
In the garden of my heart.


There is naught can disturb or molest,
There my spirit finds comfort and rest,
And my soul is no longer distressed
In the garden of my heart.

Shut away from earth’s strife and its din,
And protected from soul staining sin,
For my Savior is dwelling within,
In the garden of my heart.

There the dove of sweet peace always sings,
And my faith ever trustingly clings;
And the chime of sweet happiness rings
In the garden of my heart. (Haldor Lillenas)

Dora Poh Chin's birthday celebration

We were at Peacehaven Nursing Home this morning.  We celebrated our daughter, Dora Poh Chin's birthday (the actual day is 26th April) We bought a two-kg. birthday cake for her to share with the residents and staff of the ward called Partridge.

Brother Jimi Tan, the Home chaplain was there. He always makes it a point to be present on Poh Chin's birthday to pray for her. We also invited the Corps Officer (pastor) of Changi Corps Major Annie Lim to be present for the occasion as Poh Chin is an adherent of the Corps. Major Lim Chee Kwee is attending the International College for Officers in London at the moment. We sang Happy Birthday to her.

Present was also Lan Ying who now works at the laundry. In 1976, when the Home for the Aged at Upper Bukit Timah was without an officer, my wife had to take over the responsibility as Acting Superintendent for about three to four months till a new superintendent was appointed. I was then the General Secretary.

Major Norina Staples the superintedent of the Girls' Home in Singapore very kindly arranged for Lan Ying a 16 year old girl to look after Poh Chin so that my wife could concentrate on the residents and adminstration. I had to remain at Command Headquarters at Clemenceau Aveune. Our two older children were with me. They were still at School - Gladys at Singapore Chinese Girls' School at Emerald Hill Road and Stephen at ACS Barker Road. Sometimes I would drive over to the Home in the evening to have meal with my wife and also visited the staff and residents. So Lan Eng was like a big sister to Poh Chin and still maintains a close relationship with us. So we make sure she is at the celebration every year.

We had sufficient cake for the residents of the ward as well as for the nurses of the other two shifts as well.

After the celebration, we made our way to HOPE Centre where we did the chapel service this time on Level 2. We normally conduct services with Level 3 group, but in the absence of Major Lim Chee Kwee at the ICO in London, we covered for him.

We thank God for Poh Chin - God's special gift to us. In her own way she has brought much blessing to us and many other people.

God cares for each one of us.

Yesterday we were at Peacehaven and what a joy to watch our daughter Poh Chin in the pool with Anthony Yeo the hydro therapist. He's quite a big man, but what gentleness as he held Poh Chin's hands moving her around the swimming pool; sometimes letting her go to float in the waters, then catching her again. He never took his eyes off her. It was a moving sight and we just lifted out hearts to God for such caring people. Our daughter cannot look after herself, but receives tender loving care from the staff of Peacehaven.

The words of the chorus came to my mind. God sends His servants to care for others.

"I know He cares for me,
I'll trust my Father in Heaven,
For I know He cares for me"

"His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me." I love to sing this song. It brings joy and comfort to my own heart.

I think of God my Heavenly Father who never takes His eyes off me.

Dora Poh Chin - God' special child

Normally on a Tuesday we are at Peacehaven to conduct chapel services. Now with the NIHI virus, activities are stopped for the time being. Of course, when we visit Peacehaven we also see our daughter, Dora Poh Chin who is a resident in the Home. Some people are not aware we have a second daughter who is seriously handicapped.

Poh Chin was born on 26th April 1969 when we were stationed in Kuala Lumpur. She arrived at a time when the country was very tense politically. In fact about two weeks after her birth racial riots broke out and the whole of Kuala Lumpur was under curfew. She was not a normal baby and we concluded that her condition was due to the tension at that time. Soon after that we received farewell orders to go to Ipoh Boys’ Home where things were very difficult. So we thought there were the factors that contributed to her condition.

In January 1970, we were appointed to take charge of the Singapore Central Corps. It was during this time that we were told by the paediatrician in a terse statement “Your child is mentally retarded.” He was a clever doctor, but perhaps lacking in tact and diplomacy. He could have shown a little more sensitivity which might lesson the pain for us. Anyway, soon after that Professor Freda Paul, a lovely Christian lady took over and she gave us a lot of encouragement and help. Through her efforts Central Corps had a very fruitful ministry at the Children’s ward at Singapore General Hospital.

We prayed for healing. We believed and still do, in divine healing, for this is scriptural. We prayed very hard. A very good friend of ours, Rev, Prabhu Das, pastor of the Tamil Methodist Church even brought a Divine healer to our quarters to pray, but nothing happened. We went in faith to a Divine healing service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the evangelist prayed very earnestly and fervently for divine healing. As he was praying, I had visions of bringing home, Poh Chin completely healed! But no, she remained the same - no change at all.

One dear lady, a Salvationist at our Corps, the one who recommended to us to the faith healer visited us during the week and said, “It is your lack of faith Major that prevents your daughter from being healed.” Momentarily we were thrown off balance and cried to the Lord for help and mercy. Talk about broken hearts – ours were completely broken. But our God heals broken hearts and that is divine healing.

We still do not know why God did not grant instantaneous healing, but we believe she brings healing to others. She makes us see human suffering in a different light. Certainly she brings a new note into our ministry resulting in healing to others.

I believe one day, our Poh Chin will be healed, and for this I am certain. We don’t know when this will be; only the Lord knows. Certainly we will meet her in heaven, completely healed. There is no mental retardation in heaven. We will hear from her for the first time, “Mummy, Daddy, I love you.” And we will respond, we love you too.

You see, our Poh Chin, although born in sin like all of us has not deliberately sinned. She has not consciously offended God or anyone. She is completely innocent. We look at a person’s actions and pass judgement, but the Lord looks at the heart. He is a gracious God.

She resides in Peacehaven Nursing Home and is very tenderly and lovingly looked after by the nurses, therapists and others involved in the welfare of the residents of the Home. At our age it is impossible for us to take care of her, but the Lord has wonderfully provided this facility. To God be the glory.