Church Weekly for 17 February 2008
My dear readers,
1. The story thus far
Father’s fishing stories were more about his style of regimentation than fishing. Be that as it may, those famous outings had their benefit. They worked toward a great bonding of father and son. To me they are specially precious for “distance lends enchantment to the view.” Now read on.
Fishing with Father
Father loved to fish at night, and took me with him for company and as an errand boy. He was so proud of his three-year-old son who could walk with him the hundred yards to his favourite perch on the far bank of Peach River, across a wooden bridge spanning the stream. At one end of the bridge was a path some fifty yards leading to the “fishing point.”
Those fishing trips took place after dinner. At Father’s command, I carried his can of worms, packet of tobacco, box of matches, and mosquito repellant coil. With rod in hand, he would lead on with me by his side. Across the bridge we took a right turn making for our chosen spot. There Father baited the hook, rolled his cigarette and lit up, and cast the line into the water - a set routine.
In these fishing trips I learned patience and courage, which meant, “concealing my fear.” More often than not, Father would send me home on some errand - to fetch his stomach mixture or his water bottle. I had a suspicion he was testing my obedience and daring to walk alone in the dark. But Mother had prepared me for it with prayer and a hymn. “God is always near me.” “Siang Hwa, there’s no need to be afraid because the Lord walks with you.” I grew to love that “Children’s Hymn” by Philip Bliss.
What fish did Father catch? I cannot recall Father telling any “fish story,” but telling of his son’s bravery, there was no end!
When I left Senai for school in Singapore, Philip Bliss’s hymn was forgotten. But when Mother passed away in 1946, in my deep sorrow, memories of Mother flooded back, arousing a keen longing to sing the old hymn. My search took me through a dozen hymnals without success. One day in 1956, ten years later, I stumbled upon it at a Sunday Service at the Irish Evangelical Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland! My heart leapt up at the sight of the hymn. At last I sang “God is always near me” in English, to Mother’s memory!
Great Excitement
One day Father announced: “Rev Quek Keng Hoon of the Presbyterian Church from Singapore is coming with his members for a day retreat. They have never been to a rubber estate, and we have not had such a large group of visitors, some twenty persons, including children.”
Then Father turned to me and said, “Siang Hwa, you will learn the Lord’s Prayer and recite it during the retreat. It is in three weeks’ time and you can easily learn it in one week.”
From then Mother took me under her wing and I recited the Lord’s Prayer after her, several times a day. Sure enough before the week was up, I had mastered the Prayer word perfect.
Father made a little mound of earth, for me to stand on.
As scheduled, on the appointed day the church group arrived. Excitement filled the air as our home had not had such a visitation before. The group went through the programme prepared for them which had little interest for me. My sole concern was my part.
When the time came, I mounted the earthern pedestal. All eyes were on the little boy. When eyes were all shut, I said my piece: the Lord’s Prayer, in flawless Teochew.
Eighty years have flown by. The other day I tried reciting the same Prayer in Teochew. To my surprise I managed without a hitch. What one learned well as a child remains.
2. Grandfather’s Cork Hat
In 1932, the time came for me to leave Senai and home to join my two elder brothers in Anglo-Chinese School (ACS). Mother taught me how to look after my own basic needs, to take a bath, brush teeth, comb hair, etc. Most important, to pray morning and night, at bedtime and on waking, and before meals, and to greet the elders - Grandfather, Aunties and Uncle. (To be continued)
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor
Weekly Supplement (11 February 2008)
Cootamundra update from Pastor Peter Clements
Chinese New Year greetings to our brethren in the Lord at Calvary. I am not sure what the "year of the rat" is all about, but next year it will be something else.
I trust many of the brethren have had a useful/fruitful time over this time of celebration, and that the Lord's people are somehow able to lead from all this into the Gospel.
It is mid Feb, and the year is going fast. Little wonder the Apostle Paul tells us to redeem the time, as the days are evil. Indeed.
The Bible Fellowship continues to encourage us, even as we encourage the members. There have been a few empty spaces over the holidays in January, but most are back on deck now. The messages in Revelation (now up to Re 16 ) are proving most challenging, and seldom have I seen such interest in a series of messages as this one. There is generally a "post mortem" after each message, as members find there are more questions than answers. Little wonder there is a blessing to those who understsand what is written in the prophecy of this book.
Family news: Grace is home at present. She landed a spot doing medical biology (or something of that nature) at the University of Sydney. She has some government help with her accomodation, which will be in an Anglican womens boarding house adjacent to the uni. That solves the transport problem, and the woman in charge squeezed Grace in as an extra, because she wanted to maintain a strong Christian blalance among her charges. Sounds good. Mercifully, the Sydney Anglicans have little to do with A'bishop Rowan Williams who is making news this week with his suggestion of parts of sharia law for UK.
Joy is back in Hobart, and has taken a job as house mistress in the school (Fahn) where she formerly attended. This will help her considerably with her finances. Unfortunately she lost her drivers license at Christmas for two "sins" committed in Tasmania before she returned here for hols. One was going the wrong way up a one way street, the other was exceeding the speed limit by 15kmh. She can get it back at the end of next month. She continues to spend her spare time with the Mitchells. She also has a boyfriend who appears to be ultra reformed and could even "out Calvin" Calvin. He and his family belong to a small Reformed Fellowship, and apart from that, he is a nice kind of guy. His dad is the Tasmanian man for "Creation in Genesis".
James has had plenty of work at the mower and chain saw agent, and also with a local electrical contractor. They are both fishing for him to do an apprenticeship. He needs to complete his schooling first, even though they would both take him on now.
Ruth has had her heart's desire granted, and is this year attending the Riverina Anglican College in Wagga. This week she shifted house from her temporary boarding place (a couple in their 80’s) and will now be domiciled Mon to Thu at the Independent Baptist minister's place. He also has a couple of young girls in his family. She catches a bus to and from Junee (half way) on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, so has the weekends with us. She fancies herself as a dietician if she can gain the right marks.
Andrew and Naomi are still doing home school with us. They have music lessons, swimming, bike riding and plenty of other amusements. Anne has been fearfully busy with travel arrangements to and from school and college, Uni appications to sort through as well as looking after things here at home. She gets quite tired at times, so this is a prayer point. She has to learn to say no to some things.
I have appt with the oncologist again on Wednesday. This costs $100 up front, with part refunded under Medicare. Also get the cancer jab on the same day. I have been getting quite tired of late, and often sleep 8 hours at night, and possibly 2 more during the morning. This is not a good sign. Also seem to have lost 1 or 2 kg in weight which is also an ominious sign. At 54kg (down from 78kg) I really can't afford to lose too much more. The good news is that I have not had an ascites drain since last November. Oncologist cannot explain this, as medicaion is unchanged. She said "keep doing whatever you are doing".
I understand there are amounts trickling into the "fund" in Melbourne from time to time. I am not always aware of these, so please accept our thanks for caring for us in this practical way. We do not drive new cars, or have extensive CD collections - everything is basic as we have great respect for what has been first given to the Lord, then on to us. May God bless you in ways we are not able. Our fuel prices have soared in recent months, and a litre of diesel fuel now costs us almost AUD$1.60/litre. Not much by Singapore standards, but trips to Wagga, Sydney et al, are costing noticably more.
My mother (aged 87) is moving into a unit in the retirement village at the end of the month. She has sold her house of 35 years, and moving into a new place. It will be the first new "house" she has had in her long life. She still drives, and knows quite a few of the folks already there.
Here ends the news. Once again we thank you for your prayer and encouragement.
In His abiding love
Peter C.