I am a 4th generation Christian, baptized in WMCKL in 1946. My late grandparents, namely, Mr. and Mrs. T.K Cheong were the first couple to get married in WMCKL in 1917. My grandfather was the first chairman of our Church Board (pre-curser to the LCEC). My late Mum, namely, Mrs. Lee Min Yin founded the Wesley Fellowship of Young Adults, and was a Sunday School teacher and counselor to the MYF. Although my grandparents and parents were actively involved in church ministries, I became a pew warmer for 40 years, but nonetheless would tag along with my parents to fellowship gatherings.
ESCAPING FROM DANGER
In 1969, my family came to fetch me from the office to visit my grandfather’s grave on his 1st death anniversary. After paying our respects to Grandpa, we proceeded to pay our respects to Puan Sri Gunn Lay Teik who was lying in state at her house in Jalan Pekeliling. As I was complaining of stomach pains, we then proceeded to Dr. Too Chee Kwong’s clinic at Jalan Bukit Bintang. However, on our way there, the pain disappeared and we decided to go home for dinner, instead of stopping by in Campbell Road for dinner. As we were driving along the Federal Highway around 7pm, we saw 2 groups of about 50 people each, wearing bandanas, along each side of the highway. We later found out that they were stopping cars driving along the highway and attacking them from about 7.15pm. Thank God, we were protected from the horrendous attacks by minutes. As we drove to PJ New Town, policemen with loud hailers asked everyone to go home as a curfew had been put in place. We managed to grab some loaves of bread at a neighbourhood store before returning home. As soon as we reached home, we switched on the television and heard the announcement about the curfew.
Later that evening, Dato’ Lau Foo Sun, the late Puan Sri Gunn’s son-in-law, called to find out if we were safely home. Indeed, God kept our family safe in spite of the dangers that we were exposed to during the May 13 incident. We had shifted from Kampong Bahru to Petaling Jaya 3 months prior to May 13. The whole area of Kampong Bahru, Princes Road, Campbell Road, and Chow Kit were in the forefront of the racial riots. Our former neighbours on Hale Road had to run for their lives when the hordes banged on their doors. They managed to escape and ran to the Campbell Police Station for cover before being transported to Chin Woo Stadium and other places for shelter. Friends asked if we knew of the riots beforehand; we testified that it was God who protected us because of His mercy on our family.
In January 1971, Kuala Lumpur experienced devastating floods and the water rose up to 4 feet, almost submerging the hibiscus hedge fence of our former house. We had never experienced any floods before that; we had been living there since 1939. The decision to move to PJ in 1969 saved us from the terror of the May 13 riots and the flood. Indeed, God is so merciful and was very good to our family.
CHURCH MINISTRY
I decided to teach at the Sunday School in Trinity Methodist Church Petaling Jaya after being persuaded three times by Mr. Harry Fang, the Sunday School Superintendent of TMCPJ. Over the years from 1970 -2000, I feel blessed to have taught 3 future pastors – Rev. Andrew Lim, Rev. Yong Wai Yin, and Rev. Stewart Law. Two other pupils included Mr. Christopher Cheah of Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and Mr. Paul Khoo, a leader in his church in Sydney. Paul, an engineer, is the son of one of the TMCPJ founders, Mr. Khoo Oon Soo. Mrs. Grace Lee recruited me to the Methodist Women where I served 16 years in various positions, e.g. Spiritual Life Coordinator; before becoming the Vice-President, President and Advisor. I decided to give up the Sunday School when I became the President of MW.
WORK LIFE
Personally, I had a blissful and enjoyable working life in IPPF, an international NGO, from 1970-2010. I had the opportunity to travel a fair bit while working at IPPF.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND HEALING MERCIES
One early morning, in 2005, my maid found me unconscious when she came into my bedroom. She alerted my mother, who was sleeping beside me. I was immediately sent to Assunta Hospital by ambulance. A variety of scans could not detect my condition and I was warded at the ICU for a week. The hospital bill came up to RM51K. Later, my boss, who is a medical doctor, told me that I was lucky to be alive as my body system had collapsed. It was cholangitis – I was having diabetes without knowing about it. If my maid had not found me that morning when I was in a diabetic coma, I do not know what would have happened to me then.
A year later, during a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with 1st stage breast cancer. So, I had a mastectomy done. Later in 2017, I had a second mastectomy. Thank God, I had the screening done on time with Mr. Peter Ho’s daughter, Dr. Evelyn Ho, a Consultant radiologist. Praise the Lord for His healing mercies on me for the 2nd and 3rd time!
God is so faithful. Once, on my way for a cruise trip to Shanghai, departing from Singapore, I forgot to bring my passport. The bus stopped me along the Highway near the Mines, Sg. Besi, for me to rush home to Petaling Jaya to get my passport. Thankfully, my niece-in-law, helped me locate it in my cupboard. I had to proceed to Singapore by flight. It was a harrowing experience as I had to get to the cruise ship on time. The taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore drove me calmly to my destinations. Singapore’s immigration allowed me an easy and hassle-free check-in. The check-in to the cruise boat was a breeze because there was no queue, and I was the last person to board the boat. It departed minutes after I had checked in. When reminiscing later that I could have missed the boat and left my friends wondering what had happened to me, my cruise room-mate, Ms. Esther Chong, told me that she was earnestly praying for me. I remember this incident so vividly as it was in March 2014 when we heard about the disappearance of MH370. It did mar the cruise trip somewhat as I was thinking about the flight passengers and crew who were missing in the ocean.
CONCLUSION
I have experienced these real-life challenges and seen God’s miraculous hand of help and healing, His wonderful grace, and His love and guidance in my life’s journey. This is my testimony of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. From little everyday-mercies where He helps me at opportune times to find things that I had lost/misplaced, to spotting a parking lot that He reserves for me and to preventing an accident when I landed on the opposite side of the road while driving in Petaling Jaya. I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus for His loving kindness to me. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!
I conclude with this beautiful psalm:
Psalm 121:1-8
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
