Fellowship among believers

We hold a cell group at our home every Friday morning. We meet regularly every week for prayer, fellowship and study of the word. We normally begin with coffee or tea and some simple refreshments. Every now and then we would invite them to stay back for lunch, or go out as a group to have lunch somewhere.

On our 55th wedding anniversary, twelve of us went to North Border at Rochester Park to have our lunch of Texan American delights! This was to celebrate our Emerald Anniversary. We enjoyed the lovely meal and wonderful fellowship.

We've been blest by this group of like minded folk. We always begin with prayer. We believe we are in the presence of God, we cannot get out of His presence for He is omnipresent, but what we ask for is that we should be aware of His presence.

All are encouraged to express their opinion, even if that opinion is not shared by others. We learn to give each other a hearing. There is never any impatience, no one is ever made to feel he is a time waster. We all are prepared to listen to each other. There are times when we have to admit we are wrong after we have heard others speak.

We encourage each other. There is nothing in this world which will bring out the best in us as encouragement. To have that feeling that your group is with you, there are others value you lifts you up.

There is more than enough criticism in our society, let's encourage each other instead. And that's what we do in our cell group. We build each other up. Yes, we set aside every Friday for our cell group and it has been very rewarding, like we set aside every Tuesday for Peacehaven Nursing Home. We've been really blest by our brothers and sisters in Christ. God has blessed us mightily, let us share blessings with others.

Emerald wedding anniversary

Today is a special day for us. We have been married 55 years. We thank God for bringing us together and enabling us to love and serve Him and minister in His name. To Him be the glory.

We met at The Salvation Army Youth Group. In those days we called the members Torchbearers.
So we were Torchbearers.

Our grand daughter Cheryl has posted on Face Book the article written by Clarissa Oon of the Sunday Times under the captain "Oasis in the City" featuring the House of Tan Yoke Nee at the junction of Penang Road and Clemenceau Avenue.

We were married in this building on Saturday  7th June 1958. We lived there for a short while when I was pastoring the church at Martaban Road.

Then as a married couple we moved to Penang and served in West and East Malaysia for 10 years before returning to Singapore to run the Central Corps (church) for four years followed by administrative work till the end of 1982. In January 1983, we were transferred to Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong we celebrated our Silver Wedding Anniversary! Five years ago as retired officers we celebrated our Golden anniversary.

Now in our old age, we look back and thank the Lord for these 55 years together. There has been no regrets but praise and thanksgiving to God for blessing us all these years. Will we live to celebrate our Diamond Anniversary? Only God knows but whatever happens we know we are in His hands.

We thank our many friends, local and overseas who have sent us greetings and their best wishes. God has blessed us with three children and six grand children. God has been good to us.

Welcome - Lieut. Colonels Leopoldo and Evelyn Posadas

We attended the usual Thursday Prayer meeting at Territorial Hqrs this morning. We stayed on, visited Major Wasagam and her sister, chatted with some of the staff and then attended the Welcome meeting for Lieut. Colonels Leopoldo and Evelyn Posadas- the new Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries.

We first came to know them when we were appointed to Philippines. They were Corps Officers at Camiling in the northern Division.

This morning they reminded me of the day when I as the Territorial Commander of the Philippines sent farewell orders to them and appointed them to Lebe in Mindadoa in the southern Division. This change was made at the recommendation of their immediate superiors - the Divisional Commander and Field Secretary. The reason for the change was to give them wider experience.

They requested me to rescind the appointment, They gave their reasons. I spent some time with this couple, explained to them the reasons for the change. For me to give in to their request would set a chain reaction in the territory. They should go to the new appointment and should difficulties arise, I would then consider my next step. I prayed with them and they went to their appointment as all good officers would do.

As leaders one has to use the heart as well as the head. I believe that was the right decision for them at that time.

This morning they expressed their gratitude for my understanding, counselling and prayer for them. That appointment turned out to be a fruitful appointment and brought them much blessing. They thanked me for the decision I took as their leader. No bad feelings, only appreciation for what we did and gratitude to God for His blessings.

What a joy it was for my wife and me to join the congregation to welcome them as our leaders in this territory. They have given excellent service in their home country as well as Bangladesh. They served in this difficult country for the last six years. God bless Paul and Evelyn. They are God's faithful servants.
T

With family and friends at Food Haven

We love to take friends to Food Haven - the staff canteen at Singapore Polytechnic, Dover Avenue.  The price is reasonable and the food good, the ambiance is nice and staff friendly.

Yesterday we took our good friends Commissioners Garth and Mel McKenzie there. We included our grandchildren and eight of us had a good time as we shared meal and fellowship together. We really enjoyed our time spent in fellowship and lunch.

The Commissioners were here to conduct the installation of our Territorial Leaders.

We first came to know the McKenzies when we visited New Zealand to conduct Brengle and Holiness convention in Wellington in 1988. Among the Corps (churches) visited was one pastored by our friends, the McKenzies. We can never forget their kindness to us.

The father of our current Territorial Commander, Colonel Lyndon Buckingham, Major Hilmon Buckingham who later became Commissioner was then the Training Principal. Our paths crossed again when they were stationed in Australia.

Thank God for friends who have brought so much blessing to our lives.

Celebrations with family and friends.

I recall when I was a child, once a year when it was my birthday according to the Lunar Calendar 25 day of the 4th moon, my mother would cook me a bowl of sweet noodles and two boiled eyes for me for breakfast. That was all the celebration according to the Teochew custom.  Birthday celebrations were organised for the elderly, not children!

The westerners and the modern generation in Singapore celebrate children's birthdays.

Our daughter and family celebrated my birthday at Jurong Point. We had a lovely meal with them. Sorry our eldest grandson could not be there as he was not feeling well after two weeks of doing audits at Kuala Lumpur. He fell ill and had to rush home. He works as an auditor with Ernst and Young.

Last Saturday, we had celebration with our son and family at a Japanese Restaurant at Riverview Hotel. This time the celebration was a combined one - our grand daughter Rachel's birthday and mine. We had a great time. We don't normally go to a Japanese restaurant so it was a nice change.

Earlier on I did mention that Peacehaven Nursing Home celebrated my birthday.

God has been good in giving us three children and six grandchildren.  Everyday we thank God for them and pray for them. And in Peacehaven a number of nurses address us as 'Grandpa and Grandma.'  The majority of them are from foreign countries - China, Philippines, Myanmar etc. have adopted us as their grandparents! How nice and we are always touched by their love.

We thank God for family and the extended family.

"Thank You Lord for all Your goodness;
Through years of yesteryear;
Thank You Lord for present mercies
And Your blessing on my way." August Ludwig Storm trs.by Flora Larsson.

This is my story - Hong Kong/Taiwan - 80

80 – Farewell Hong Kong and Taiwan

I have devoted 25 chapters to Hong Kong and Taiwan. A lot remains untold, but time is passing so quickly and I feel I should conclude my series with this chapter.

One evening whilst enjoying our dinner a call came from Commissioner William Rivers of International Headquarters. After enquiring about our welfare, he proceeded to tell us that General Eva Burrows, our international leader who was on tour at that time, had requested him to convey to us her intention for us to farewell from Hong Kong then added, “She is appointing you and your wife to the Philippines Territory – as the Territorial Commander and Territorial President of Women’s Organisations respectively. The change is to take effect on 1^st June 1990. You will receive the confirmation in writing in due course.”

We received the news with mixed feelings. We were sorry to leave the folk in Hong Kong and Taiwan; people we had grown to love. However as officers of The Salvation Army, we were committed to go where our leaders chose to send us without questioning. When we signed our covenant, we vowed that we would obey the lawful orders of our leaders.

It came as no surprise for we had already served more than seven years – the longest serving leaders in the Hong Kong/Taiwan Command. We were then informed that my General Secretary and Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Banks would be our successors.

In the period of our leadership we had seen many changes. Not only in Hong Kong have there been changes, there were also momentous changes in China. We were happy to hand over the Command to our General Secretary who had served with us for the last couple of years and had an understanding of the situation in Hong Kong. They had seen service in Japan, United Kingdom and South Africa. Their knowledge and experience in working in cross cultures would be of great benefit to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The highlight during our term of office was the official opening of Command Headquarters. It was a thrilling and exhilarating experience. The presence of the Chicago Staff Band added colour to this momentous event in the history of The Army. Busy Nathan Road came to a halt while the band led the march of representative Salvationists all in full uniform from the old Headquarters at Nathan Road to the new Headquarters at Wing Sing Lane.  The Governor of Hong Kong Sir Edward Youde and the International Secretary for South Pacific and East Asia Commissioner William Cairns officiated. The latter prayed the dedicatory prayer and led the weekend’s meetings.

We give thanks to God for making it possible to re-open the Training College in the new building. There had been no training of cadets in Hong Kong for several years. Three cadets were sent to the Philippines for training during that period. We prayed hard and in 1984, we were able to welcome seven cadets to the ‘Proclaimers of the Gospel’ Session. What an answer to prayer and encouragement to our faith! At the same time, we were processing the papers of more cadets for the 1985-87 session.  We were pleased to have Captain Robert Paterson of Australia appointed as the Training Principal with Mrs. Captain Margaret Hay, a New Zealander as the Education Officer. Her husband Captain Laurence Hay was the Principal of William Booth Secondary School. Mrs. Captain Glenda Paterson was the Home Officer.

We then began our round of farewells throughout the Command of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Philippines Territory was not new to me for I had visited a couple of times before to conduct meetings. For my wife it would be a totally new experience.

The Command farewell meeting was held on Thursday 25^th May 1990 at the Kowloon Central Corps led by the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel William Banks. The meeting ended with the congregation singing “I’ll go in the strength of the Lord.” 

Then the final farewell was to our faithful dog, Rex a German shepherd. Lieut. Colonel Banks was not interested in having him; neither did Major Tan Thean Seng, the newly appointed General Secretary. In the end we offered it to our former neighbours Mr, and Mrs.Yue who were delighted to have him.

We were now ready to go. We closed another chapter of our lives, and moved forward to our next appointment – Philippines. We gave thanks to God for the privilege of serving the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan for the seven and half years. To God be the glory!

Intallation of Territorial Commanders

Sunday afternoon we attended the installation of our Territorial Leaders - Colonels Lyndon and Bronwyn Buckingham and also the welcome of new Chief Secretary Lieut. Colonel Leopoldo Posadas and Secretary for Women's Ministries Lieut.Colonel Evelyn Posadas.

Commissioners Garth and Mel McKenzie retired officers from New Zealand did the installation.

It was a very happy occasion. Never in the history of The Salvation Army have we seen so many New Zealanders gathered in an Army Hall at one time. The family of the Buckinghams came to witness the installation.
Wonderful celebration.