Good friends inspire each other

The Lord has given us with many friends who are of great blessing to us. Many live locally here, others reside elsewhere; Where they live is immaterial. It is a small world and with modern technology we can always connect with each other.

I recall the year 2002 when my wife and I were invited to visit Perth to preach and conduct Bible studies at Floreat Park Corps (church) The following week we took on responsibility of preaching at the Perth Chinese speaking Corps. The officers in charge, Keith and Mary Cheng were originally from Hong Kong where we were the leaders from January 1983 for seven and half years. Keith was then the Social Services Secretary.

This couple resigned and emigrated to Australia where Keith worked for the Australian Government as a social worker for quite a number of years. However, one day they decided to return to The Salvation Army. They were reaccepted as officers of The Salvation Army and appointed as the pastors of the Chinese Ministry at Perth. We were invited to preach to his congregation.

Keith introduced us to his brother Kenneth and sister-in-law Wendy, a lovely devoted Christian couple belonging to the Anglican church. They were very hospital to us, invited us to their home for dinner and I recall we spent a whole evening singing hymns and Salvation Army songs.

We learned that day that Kenneth was formerly a Salvationist of Kowloon Central Corps Hong Kong in his younger days! He was one of the delegates to the Salvation Army International Youth Congress held in London! I could sense his heart was very much "Army."

At present he and his wife worship at a Church in Perth where the pastor and his wife were formerly from Trinity Christian Church Singapore! In fact she is Angelina Yeo of Balestier Corps (church) and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Yeo!  My wife dedicated Angelina when she was a baby! What a small world.

Kenneth and Wendy Cheng decided to attend Changi Corps (church) on Sunday and  I happened to be the preacher for the meeting. After the service we went for lunch and spent the whole afternoon together reminiscing the past. They are here to visit their daughter and family who are now Singaporeans.

We had a great time together and felt truly blessed by their company. We thank God for our many friends like the Chengs.

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” Anon.

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”– Albert Schweitzer

Visit of Ng Kim Loh of Melaka

On Monday 15^th August, we received a pleasant surprise. Our doorbell rang and when I opened the door, there stood two men and a woman! I immediately recognized Ng Kim Loh, one of my former young people Melaka Corps. His sister and husband are Singaporeans. Lily was a little girl of four when I was the pastor in Melaka. What memories!

Sixty two years ago at the age of 22, I took up my first appointment as the pastor of Melaka Corps (church) On the Thursday following Commissioning the Public Relations Secretary, Major Stanley Gordon, fetched me to the Sing Liang Malacca/Singapore Express Bus terminal at Beach Road to begin a six hour journey by bus to Malacca. It had to cross two ferries, at Batu Pahat and Muar. There were no expressways then!

On arrival, I was met by my predecessor, Lieutenant Douglas Kiff. He and his newly married wife, Jean, had delayed their departure for Penang in order to conduct my welcome meeting. Douglas and I sat in one trishaw, while all my worldly possessions, comprising a suitcase, a small bag and a carton of books, went into another. We did not have far to go from the bus station to 69-A Wolferstan Road. Malacca Corps occupied the premises above the wine shop.

On the front of the building was the sign board with the words THE SALVATION ARMY in English, Malay and Chinese. Directly below it was another signboard - CHOP SI SOON, WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS. What a strange juxtaposition!

We ascended a narrow staircase and entered the corps premises. The main floor area was the corps hall, with 30 chairs. A small corner at the back was partitioned off for quarters - a cubicle, which served as a bed-sitting room cum office for the Corps Officer. It was most convenient for the officer to get out of bed and there was the office desk to work! At the back was a small kitchen and bathroom, but toilet facilities were downstairs. To get there meant descending the spiral staircase, walking past the living area of the people living downstairs, past a fierce German shepherd, tied up during the day and freed at night to roam the backyard!

There was plenty to occupy me – Sunday Holiness meeting in the morning, and Salvation meeting at night, the Sunday School in the afternoon and an open-air meeting prior to the night salvation meeting. During the week there was a tuition programme, Joy Hour and Thursday night Holiness meeting. Later on I added Youth fellowship, plus Saturday night English meeting.

Ng Kim Loh  then 16 years old was one of my young people. He helped his Mum run a provisions shop in the village. I managed to persuade his parents to let me teach him English. He progressed very well and I was able to get him into a Christian School for those who were overaged. He had only four years of formal education, then entered training and started to teach in Muar. He continued his studies and returned to teach at the ACS Melaka till he retired.

Memories! How precious they are to us as we reflect on the past. Thank God for calling me to be a Salvation Army Officer.  Sixty two years have gone by, thanks be to God.

John and Narrelle Rees

What a thrill to see John and Narrelle Rees once again. We first met them in 1970 when we were appointed to Singapore Central Corps as the pastors in January 1970 - 46 years ago! 

They arrived on Saturday 30th April, the day we left for Batam Indonesia. They took part in the meetings at Central. John brought his cornet and played in the band. Ng Seng Chow used to play in the Central band with them. At that time most of the bandsmen were from overseas serving in Singapore like John.

What a joy to have them for lunch and fellowship in our home on Tuesday. Memories of our days spent together in Singapore and later in Australia.

A few weeks earlier David and Christine Rees visited us and we spent a very pleasant afternoon together . David is the twin brother of John.

Janice and Malcolm McInnes

We were pleasantly surprised to receive a call from our good friend Sister Yeo Soo Hong last Sunday telling us she would bring two old friends to see us. They were Janice and Malcolm McInnnes originally from New Zealand and now living in Australia. They still consider themselves as Kiwis. But we had a very busy day with tight schedule so could not fit them in. So arrangements were made for them to come to our home last Tuesday 26th April.

These lovely people served with ANZAC in the early 1970's and while in Singapore attended the Singapore Central Corps where my wife and I were the Corps Officers (pastors) for four years. They gave good support at the Corps. They played in the Band, Malcolm on the bass and Janice on tenor horn. They integrated well with local people plus servicemen from UK and Australia.

What a lot to talk about after forty years! Time went very quickly; They had other appointments in the evening and we had to attend the Bible Class at the Corps. Anyway we promised to keep contact and now with modern technology this is made easy.

God has blessed us with many friends - some make regular contacts via e-mail, face book etc. Others nearer home make telephone contacts. Some we hear maybe once a year during Christmas. Families and Friends are God's blessings to us.

Outing with friends.

As we get older each day and being far from the city, we seem to be quite comfortable staying home, just the two of us. There are times when friends would invite us to share their outings and visit some tourist spots.

We had an extremely busy and interesting weekend. We had some visitors from Indonesia. The Executive Director decided to take these visitors to spend an evening at Gardens by the Bay and we were included. We had dinner at the Kopitiam selling local dishes and from there proceeded to the see the lights. What an interesting evening and we toured the gardens.

What a thrill to soak in the beautiful experience of lights dancing in the Garden and be dazzled by the sight of our "Supertrees" and listen to the “Garden Rhapsody.” This was the first time we visited the Gardens by the Bay in the evening. 

From there we made our way to see other parts of "the little red dot" called Singapore!
It may be tiny in comparison with our neighbours, but there is much to see and enjoy.

Thank God for friends who care and share our joys and sorrows. We are glad we belong to The Salvation Army. It has been our privilege to serve in so many countries. We have friends all over the world, thanks be to God.

Lieut. Colonels David and Christine Rees

It was real joy on a Sunday afternoon (28th  February) to have David and Christine Rees here to visit us, thanks to our good friend Ng Seng Chow who brought them. The Rees had only arrived that morning, put their luggage in the hotel, rushed to join in the service at 11.00 a.m.at Central Corps and to meet old friends. They used to worship in this church more than forty years ago. We were then the Corps Officers (pastors)

We had a great time recalling the good old days. We were very nostalgic indeed.
We then made our to a nearby restaurant to have a late lunch; returned to Peacehaven to have a brief tour of the Nursing Home, had a drink before they left us.

David and Christine had gone to visit their old mission field Sri Lanka and were now on their way home. They are here for a couple of days as tourists.

David and John his twin brother did their national service in Singapore. As good salvationists they spent their Sundays and other spare time at The Salvation Army. They played in the Central Corps Band and with their wives  Christine and Narrelle respectively sang in the Songsters. We were privileged to have such good people supporting us. In fact they used to help us with Christian broadcasts over Radio Singapore. They used to sing quartets. David and Christine were also the pianist and organist.

They left us some 46 years ago to return to their homeland Australia. Both couples entered The Salvation Army Training College and became officers. They have retired recently. We look forward to meet Majors John and Narrelle when they will be Singapore for a few days holiday at the end of May.

Good friends when they part may not have the opportunity to meet because of distance, and other reasons such as work commitments, but when the privilege comes for them to meet, it seems like no time  separation at all.

Modern life is hectic especially for Singaporeans. Our schedules are packed even for us retirees! There are channels that we can make us of - the internet, e-mail etc and for us who know the Lord, we can intercede for each other.

Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes , our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship gain
Through all eternity.   John Fawcett

Farewell of Chief Secretary and TSWM

Lieut. Colonels Leopoldo and Evelyn Posadas who have been working here for two years and ten months will be returning to their home territory on 28th February 2016 to take up the same role as they held here - Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary of Women's Ministries.

When we first met they they were Corps Officers (pastors) of Camiling in the Philippines. Since then they took up other appointments in different parts of Philippines and spent a number of years in Bangladesh. The Army wheel turns and soon they will be back home to take up their last appointment (probably) before they retire.

God bless our comrades as they leave us for the Philippines.

Blessings from family and friends.

The year is coming to and end and soon we will celebrating the New Year 2016. We have been counting our blessings - spiritual and material and our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude.

God has wonderfully blessed us with children and grandchildren and many friends. Older friends have left us for the Home above, but God has added new ones.

The last few days we have been wonderfully blessed by the visits of friends. Yes, just to sit and chat, recall the days that are past, sharing fellowship and parting with prayer.

We are so glad we are part of the family of God.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God  - William J Gaither

Pleasant surprises

Last Friday a group of our former young people of Central Corps were visiting one of the residents of  Peacehaven Nursing Home. We received a surprised visit from them, one of them we had not seen for at least the last 25 years. I conducted her wedding way back in 1975. I was able to show her the photograph taken all those years ago.

Then the next day Saturday another group turned up with our son and daughter- in- law who normally visit us on a Saturday. They normally bring food to share. This time the group brought a lot of food and we had a wonderful time of fellowship and feasting!

It is wonderful that friendship formed all those years ago when we were the Corps Officers (pastors) of Singapore Central Corps from 1970-1974 still remain intact. God has blessed us with many friends.

As age catches up with us, we are inclined to stay home most of the time. We do appreciate the visit of these old friends - former songsters, bandsmen/women, youth group members etc. God bless these our former young people now in their middle age.

Reason and season for friendships

Everyday we are making new friends. At our age, often we get news of another friend has passed away or 'promoted to Glory' or "gone Home to be with the Lord forever."

Some of our friends are unable to connect with us through e-mail or snail mail. They are too old, too frail or the mind has gone. We know they are still alive, but we cannot communicate, but we continue to pray for them. We thank God for  they came into our lives for some reason or season.

In my note book I found the following poem by an unknown author and I would like to share with friends who read this blog.

Reason, Season, Lifetime (Poem)

 People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you figure out which one it is,

you will know what to do for each person.

 When someone is in your life for a REASON,

It is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and  put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

 

— Unknown

 

 

Esther Lau Ee Soo (Mrs. Foo Kia Pang)

 This saintly lady went to be with the Lord on 11th July. the funeral was held on 15th July. We have known Mrs.Esther Foo for many years - my wife first knew her more than 70 years ago!

When we were Corps Officers (pastors) of Singapore Central Corps from 1970 to 1974, we made regular visits to the Foo family at Pasir Panjang.  

After 15 years away on overseas service (January 1983- 1997) we returned to our homeland Singapore to retire. We spent another three months holding on at Central Corps. We made pastoral visits to their home at Jalan Lengkok Mariam in Changi. We enjoyed fellowship with them.

Within weeks of our arrival home for retirement, Mr. Foo Kia Pang was promoted to Glory. We were able to minster to him at Changi Hospital and later I conducted his funeral.

Mr. Foo was a Salvation Army officer before the war. He was assistant to Adjutant Fred Harvey in Penang. Mrs. Foo as Esther Lau was about to enter Training to be an officer, but war came. Colonel Lord commissioned her and another officer as Lieutenants (although they were not trained yet) and appointed to do social work.

She married Lieutenant Foo Kia Pang. Later they resigned from the Salvation Army and joined the Social Welfare. They remained as Salvationists.

God bless the Foo family.

Thelma Webb (Major) Promoted to Glory

Today is the funeral of Mrs. Major Thelma Webb, a very close friend of ours. She was promoted to Glory last week. The funeral is being held at Box Hill Corps, Australia.

30th April 1962, my wife and I with our two children - Gladys two years' old and Stephen a baby of six weeks arrived at the Wharf at Pending, Brigadier Elsie Willis and Captain and Mrs. Robert Webb were there to welcome us and take us to the quarters at Sekama Road, Kuching. That was the beginning of our friendship with this lovely couple who were stationed at the Boys' Home. We were appointed to the Corps. Since that day we have remained the best of friends.

We were Uncle and Aunty to their two children Geoffrey and Carolyn. To our two children they were Uncle Bob and Aunty Thelma. We shared fellowship in each other's homes. Quite often on  a Monday, we would take time off and had picnic in the Park. The four adults chatted while the children played together. The day would end with a meal in what they called the 'coffee shop' across the road.

Later in 1965 they left for homeland furlough, we took over the Home from them. We ran both the Corps and Home.

After furlough they returned to the Command, and were appointed to Singapore Children's Home. We moved to Penang Boys' Home and Primary school. We kept up our friendship through correspondences.  Their last appointment was at Balestier Corps. We have kept up our friendship and we count them as our very close friends.

Just recently Julie visited us in Singapore.  I recall dedicating her in Kuching Corps!

The Webb family are dear to us  - Geoff, Carolyn, Julie and Russell and spouses still keep in touch with us and our family. God bless the Webb family. Thank God for friends who have enriched our lives.

Lieut. Colonels Allen and Esther Satterlee

In our lifetime, we have met and worked with many reinforcement officers, or missionaries as we used to refer to them. Some came and worked for a term or even less, others served more than one term; a few served a whole life time here in Singapore and Malaysia. In the past they used to work for five years, then the length was reduced to four. Then there was a further change to allow a mid-term furlough after the first two years. Now the term is changed to three years.

Some officers do not connect with us after their return to their home country. There are others who keep up the relationship. Among these were the Satterlees.  Lieut. Colonel Allen was our editor of the War Cry and his wife Esther worked the Women's Department. They were appointed Corps Officers (pastors) of the Pasir Panjang Corps which later moved to Upper Bukit Timah and became the William Booth Corps. We were privileged to work with them through the years and have been blessed by their ministry.

We have kept contact with them since they left us to serve in Papua New Guinea, the Caribbeans and now back in their homeland, USA. They were on their way to visit Thailand and was able to break their journey to spend some time with old friends in Singapore. They visited us and we were able to share lunch fellowship with them.

One of the precious gifts in life is friendship and my wife and I have been truly blessed by many friends. Of course the majority live in Singapore our homeland. But we have friends all over the world. Now with modern technology we are able to make contact very easily.

Kind neighbours

Just across the road from where we live is the company called APPLIED MATERIALS. There is a standing invitation from the management for residents of Peacehaven and Hope Centre to visit their canteen every Wednesday for coffee and refreshments. The number forming the visiting giroup depends largely on the number of volunteers coming forward to help our residents.

We have been invited to join them any time we wish. We have been three times since we moved in here.

Farewell of Majors Raelton and Lynn Gibbs

We were invited to join the staff of Territorial Headquarters and representatives from the various centres to bid farewell to the Majors who will be leaving for England on 24th October 2014. They both served for one term of three years in this territory, Raelton as the Programme Secretary and his wife Lynn as the Assistant Programme Secretary and Editor of the War Cry.

As retired officers we have little interaction with them except when we see them in meetings or when we happened to meet at Territorial Headquarters. They have always been friendly and courteous.

We recall during their term of office, they came to our home twice to make pastoral visits. This was much appreciated.

God bless our comrades as they leave us to take up their new appointments in the United Kingdom Territory.

Marilou Ventura - farewell - Sunday 28th September 2014

We first came to know Marilou Ventura when we were stationed in the Philippines. She was a bandswoman, songster, timbrellist, a very active Salvationist.

Eighteen years ago she came to work at the Home for the Aged in Singapore and attended the meetings at the Pasir Panjang Corps (church) which shared the same premises with Home. We were asked to hold on as pastors for the church in 1998 for ten months. So we worked closely with Marilou. She gave excellent support.

The Home later moved to Changi and a few years later was changed to the Peacehaven Nursing Home. Marilou of course had to move to Changi, but she continued her membership with church.

Pasir Panjang Corps later moved to Upper Bukit Timah and became the William Booth Corps. Marilou continued worshiping with us at William Booth Corps.

Last Sunday was her farewell. As usual she took part in the band, and worship team and after the message by our pastor Major Ruth Pascoe, it was my privilege to offer the special prayer for Marilou.

She is leaving today for the Philippines. She will be living at Tondo and look after he aged mother and support the family. She will be back in the Tondo band and Songsters and take an active part once again at the home church.

God bless Marilou. She has relinquished her responsibilities in Singapore but that is not the end of the road for her. It was just a bend and the journey resumes that will take her to new responsibilities or ministries bringing glory to God.

The closing song was No 821  which says,

"We're an Army fighting for a glorious King;
We will make the world with hallelujahs ring;
With victorious voices we will ever sing:
   There's salvation for the world.

Chorus:
For the world, for the world, Jesus died, Jesus died,
For the world, for the world, there is room in Jesus' side.
   All the world to save, to battle we will go,
   And we ever will our colours boldly show
   With a trumpet voice we'll let the millions know
        There's salvation for the world.

This song was written by William J Pearson (1832-92) an early day salvationist. Converted at the age of 14 he later became a local preacher. He moved from Derby to London in 1874 and joined The Christian Mission (which later became The Salvation Army) He travelled a lot preaching the gospel and was well known for his ministry of faith healing. For a number of years he wrote on song per week and contributed to the Army's publication "The War Cry" and occasionally "The Musical Salvationist" In our present Song Book there are 21 songs written by him, e.g
"Come join our Army to battle we go" 681
Joy, joy joy there is joy in The Salvation Army"807
"O Thou God for every nation" 622
"I'm set apart for Jesus" 495

Alex and Ruth Craig visit to Singapore

On Wednesday, we had fellowship lunch with three old friends. The lunch was hosted by Mrs. Lim Soo Noi at Tung Lok Vivo City. Soo Noi and her husband were salvationists of Central Corps - he was the Corps Secretary and she the Corps pianist. Soo Noi now worships at Wesley Methodist church. Tee Houw was promoted to Glory three years ago. Soo Noi was my wife's Sunday School teacher. She was a school teacher by profession and her last posting was to Raffles Girls' Primary School as the principal.

Visiting Singapore were two Australian Salvationists - Alex and Ruth Craig from Canberra. The last time we saw them was 41 years ago! They worshipped at Central Corps in the 60's and 70's. He played in the band and both sang in the Songster Brigade. We came to know them well when were appointed as Corps Officers from 1970 to 1974. They left Singapore  in 1973 and went to work in Vietnam.

What a lot to share with each other after all these years. Good to journey down memory lane. Thank God for friends.

"Life brings tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry, the smiles fade and the memories last forever."

Precious memories, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;
How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.

As I travel on life's pathway,
Know now what the years may hold;
As I ponder, hope grows fonder,
Precious memories flood my soul.

Precious memories, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul.
In the stillness of the midnight,
Precious sacred scenes unfold. "  J B F Wright

Lieut. Colonels Bob and Wendy Lee

Last Tuesday it was our pleasure to have our friends, Bob and Wendy Lee visit us. We shared a meal at Teck Kee Restaurant at RailMall. After that they spent time with us at our home. We had a great time recalling old days.  What memories!

When we were overseas, often when we visited Singapore they would invite us out for lunch. So it was time for us to reciprocate by giving them lunch.

We shared our common experience of the Philippines. How wonderful to belong to the international Salvation Army. We are all one in Christ.

We are one in the bond of love.

Commissioner Robin Dunster and Colonel Edna Williams

This afternoon we had our good friends for a cup of tea at our place prior to their departure for UK. They have been very busy touring Singapore and we've been very busy with funeral, memorial, visits to Hospitals, etc. The time just went by.

We've never been stationed together with them and met them for the first time when they came to the Zonal Conference a few years ago. Yet in this short period we have shared some wonderful moments together. The Commissioner was Territorial Commander for the Philippines, so we have much in common to talk about. The Colonel also worked in the Philippines especially with training and women's ministries.

We have been much blessed by their friendship and we look forward to their next visit. God has blessed us with many good friends.

Fellowship lunch with an old friend

We had lunch with a very good old friend we have known for a long time. In fact Mrs. Lim Tee Houw (Soo Noi) was my wife's Sunday School teacher at Central Corps when it was still at 30 Oxley Road just after the war.

Her late husband Lim Tee Houw was one of the delegates to the International Youth Congress in 1950. I remember as a teen ager attending a concert to raise funds for the five delegates to attend the International Congress in London. The concert was held at the Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

I recall attending their wedding and they attended ours in 1958.

Quite often the couple would invite us to their home for dinner. She is now 86, still strong and healthy, but somewhat hard of hearing. Every now and then she would invite us out for lunch and today we went to the Teochew Sea Food restaurant for lunch. It was to celebrate our 56th Wedding anniversary. We were away at a Retreat in Johor with the Balestier folk hence the belated celebration lunch.

God has blessed us with many friends and everyday we are adding new ones.

A friend is like a star that twinkles and glows.
Or maybe like the ocean that gently flows.
A friend is like gold that you should treasure,
And take care forever and ever.   Ashley Campbell