My Grand Mother

International Teaching Conference in Hong Kong

On 29th November 1976 (photo above)

“Emancipation of Women” Talk by

Shirin Fozdar (1905 - 2 February 1992)

On 29th November 1976 (photo above)

“Distinctive Character of Baha'i Life” talk by

Hand of the Cause `Alí-Akbar Furútan (29 April 1905—26 November 2003)

During his talk, Dr. `Alí-Akbar Furútan  related a humor. He said he hope we wouldn’t mind he keep on repeating on some points. Because Abdul Baha also repeated his points from different views when he gave talks in America. In one occasion, an American lady became impatient and complained Abdul Baha that He kept on repeating points.

Abdul Baha asked her gently

“ Can you tell me which part I have repeated?” Abdul Baha asked her.

The American lady could not remember any point that Abdul Baha has repeated.

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Message to the International Teaching Conference, Hong Kong -- November 1976

November 1976

To the friends assembled at the International Teaching Conference in Hong Kong

Dearly loved friends,

With grateful and joyous hearts we extend our warmest greetings and express our highest hopes to the followers of Baha'u'llah gathered, at this critical point of the Five Year Plan, in this Conference on Asia's eastern shore. This great continent has nourished mighty civilizations; above its horizons the suns of major Revelations of God have risen; on its soil many of the heroes of this New Age have shed their blood and offered their lives in token of their love for Him Who is the Beloved of the World and the Desire of the Nations.

What an imperishable glory has been bestowed upon the people of Asia, the first to be illumined by the rays of God's Faith, the first recipients of His Call and the first promoters of His Cause. Their spiritual capacity is extolled and the great role they are destined to play in the strengthening of the foundation of the New World Order of Baha'u'llah unhesitatingly affirmed by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Tablets of the Divine Plan

This great continent contains within its boundaries the heart of the Faith and its Cradle, the lands wherein its Founders toiled and suffered, and not only the great majority of the human race but the great majority of the followers of Baha'u'llah. The potentiality of such a situation cannot be underestimated, nor must the great force latent within so large a proportion of the Army of Light be neglected. They must be mobilized to accelerate the expansion of the beloved Cause, to consolidate its victories, to enhance its prestige and to augment its influence. We appeal to every participant in this historic Conference to become conscious of these tremendous but hidden potentialities which, if properly tapped and directed, can hasten the process of the spiritualization of the nations of Asia, the influence of which will extend far beyond the confines of that continent -- even to the entire planet.

We eagerly await news that from this Conference will surge throughout Asia a wave of vigorous activity devoted to the execution on the individual, local and national levels, of systematic plans designed to attract the great masses of that continent to the life-giving, all-embracing Message of Baha'u'llah. Such plans must provide opportunities for those thousands who in recent years have swelled the rank and file, as well as for those veterans who have, for so many years, striven in the path of service to the Cause. It is through active participation of more and more new believers in both teaching and administration that the consolidation of the Baha'i community can best be achieved.

In a continent so richly endowed, so greatly blessed, new generations of Baha'is must continually be raised up, trained from childhood in the school of the love of God, and nurtured under the shadow of His Cause. Baha'is in every country must be constantly urged and, wherever necessary, assisted to pass on to their children as their most cherished legacy, the precious Faith they themselves have embraced. Those new generations of Baha'is will have a vital role in consolidating the Cause of God on a firm foundation.

The establishment of Local Assemblies as the basic administrative unit of the World Order of Baha'u'llah and as rallying points for the Baha'is of every community should, in accordance with the objectives of the Five Year Plan, be multiplied no matter at what cost of effort and endurance. The process of invigorating the Local Assemblies requires, during the Five Year Plan, the consultation of all the institutions of the Cause.

Publication of literature in many languages as part of a determined campaign to win thousands upon thousands of diverse peoples in all spheres of life must be vigorously pursued. Participation of all believers in supporting the Baha'i Funds, the lifeblood of the Cause, must be given adequate attention, and the blessings which reward the act of voluntary giving for the promotion of the Faith, no matter how small the amount may be, must be lovingly and wisely explained.

May this Conference become a landmark in the process of attracting vast numbers of the great Chinese race scattered throughout the world. May it be a prelude to the unprecedented expansion of the Faith in all the countries of Asia. May it become a source of strength to the supporters of the Most Great Name so that despite the rising tide of trials and upheavals afflicting the world, and whatever forces of opposition may be mounted against the Cause of God itself, the believers will not waver or become diverted from their course, but be ever more confirmed in their determination to raise the edifice of the Faith of God as the last bastion of hope to a lost and wayward humanity.

The Universal House of Justice

SMK Ranau - A school of natural and artistic charm

Bundu Tuhan Village

4th April 1976

Lim and I came for a day visit of this lovely village of Bundu Duhan. Lim's sport moto bike has no trouble in scrambling down and up the country road.

When driving up to or from Kinabalu Park, the view of this charming village is along the way. This distance village gives a splash of color to the green of the valleys and the white of the clouds.

Bundu Duhan is a Christian missionary agricultural station. This village is the home of the Dusun people. Because of Christian’s strict discipline and good education in the local schools, this village produces many good local leaders.

By the time I scan this slide on 7th August 2011, patches of color already fading (photo above).

Further reading :

Bundu Tuhan folk conserve their forest : http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?sec=lifefocus&file=/2011/3/29/lifefocus/8327518

Kundasang Town in the year 1976-1978

Kundasang Town in the year 1976 (photo above) and in 1978 (photo below)

On 1st September 2011, after 33 years I returned to Kundasang locating the location I took the above photos. The landscape has changed so much that I could barely recognize.

The spot I stood 33 years ago is now flatten and occupied by a private house. Tall trees have grown up around the houses that clocked the view for photographs of the same angle 33 years ago.

To get a picture as close as the same angle, I moved further down where an area is cleared with trees being cut down for building a new house (photo above). Here is a clearer unblocked view of Kundasang Town and I snapped a few picture.

Thought tall trees blocked the view, but trees grew up is a good sign of hills and land protection.

This quiet village town is renowned for temperate vegetables. Beside the road at town center a long row of wooden stalls bustling with vegetable whole-sellere.

Pick-up trucks fully laden with vegetables from farms around the valley deliver and unload their goods at the stalls.

Bulk-buyers come from all over Sabah. Passing travelers also stop to purchase.

In 1978 first few rows of concrete shops are being constructed between the road and the memorial gardens. (see the 2nd photo above)

In Kundasang town itself, the vegetable and fruit market is a popular shopping spot.

The Dusun natives inhabit the surrounding villages of wood and stilts, perched randomly on hill slopes and beside roads across the valley. For decades they have sustained a frugal lifestyle through crop farming.

The local people continue to achieve a peaceful existence with humble spirit that astound visitors. Their sincerity and heartfelt warmth are characteristics unique to the local native people of Sabah and else where in this Borneo Island.

Vegetable farming is a major economic activity along with the cultivation of exotic roses that grow well in the cool highland temperatures.

Kundasang is 6 km (4 miles) from the Kinabalu Park HQ. A pleasant village town nestled between lush valleys at the eastern base of Mount Kinabalu. This Cameron Highlands of Borneo retains a charmingly simple yet idyllic environment bereft of major tourist development.

Kundasang remains the most popular highland destination in Sabah, being just 6 km away from Kinabalu Park. By 2000 Kundasang has a range of hotels and resorts to choose for accommodation.

Some of the villagers even organize home stay programmes for interested travelers to experience their culture.

Visitors from major destinations in the state, such as Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and even as far as Brunei, often come up here to escape the heat and shop for choice vegetables and fruits.

The main attraction in Kundasang is of course, Kinabalu Park (6 km away) and within its confines, the highest mountain in Borneo.

War memorial is a tribute to the Australian and British soldiers who died during the Sandakan Death March, is a thought-provoking and touching monument with beautifully landscaped gardens.

"… Kundasang has been facing landslides, open-burnings, uncontrolled clearing of lands and development activities that cause erosion, ……., which can get worse with the climate change going on right now……."

Mr. Wong Tack

President

Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA)

Monday, April 19, 2011

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=77729

Fishing

Kota Kinabalu Reservior

Kuala Sapi

Every Saturday evening I would walk over to their house to watch the weekly series Twilight Zone.

Kuala Sapi

September ? 1972 Group of students from St. Michael Secondary School, Sandakan visited Kuala Sapi for a 1 Day School Outing

From Sandakan Town they came by land to Beluran Town, from here they took a boat to Kuala Sapi.

After a few rounds of "Shell be coming round the mountain when she comes....." at the village community hall, the boys have an enjoyable football game at the field just beside this hall. The girls stroll around this small simple village of about 100 villagers young and old including me.

A wooden school hostel is just behind the football goal where all the young boarding students sit by the stair and amazed at these big brothers from the town, a "big big town' in their mind at that time a town where they wish to go see one day. They are the children of the Kazazan farmers. They are boarders here because their isolated Kadazan villages just too small to a school. So their parent had to send them here to pursuit education.........

Its time to go home, students from town all return to their waiting long boat. We waved good bye to each other...........

A week past, I received a letter from one of the student " Dear Wong, ...................... I left my coin box at the corner of football goal....... can you find it and keep it for me?........................."

I delightfully reply instantly. " Dear.................... Don't worry. After you left. A school boy came to me and gives me a heavy coin box with lot of coins inside....... He told me he found it at the football field .................... I am keeping the box for you...."

An honesty of the village children is a virtues difficulty to find in city children. Thought living in little material means, they up keep the Kadazan traditional of honesty and this small boy, I have no knowledge of his name, but he is among the many many children from the near by villages with the same quality of honous tradition.

True enough, among these pure hearted village children, one is to arise in years to come to be a bishop of the Anglican Church of Malaysia - the first from Kadazan tribe to be made an Anglican bishop in the world.

萬道寛

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萬道寛讀經員- 我似乎很少看到他笑, 戓許年少的我不懂得察言覌色. 他在我十一歲時就鼓勵我當教會司琴, 然而笨笨的我，坐在龐大的電風琴前, 雙腳不到地，短手不聽話， 雖然如此，他還是很有耐心的培養我. 己故萬弟兄不但努力服事詩班：又彈，又教，又指揮，還毫無怨言的到處載送。他在靑年團契聚會時，也是又載又送，又帶領。他不計較的付出才幹與時間， 是我學習的榜樣。萬伯伯，謝謝您 . 余梅美: 1956-2006聖多瑪座堂華語部五十週年紀念特刋

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Rev. Arthur Tudball, St. Thomas Church, Kuching City

台德宝牧師 Rev. Arthur Tudball

萬德傳牧師

萬道宽

Rev. Arthur Tudball served the Chinese Congregation of St. Thomas Church, Malaysia from 1971 to 1972.

Rev. Arthur Tudball came from England and first served in the Anglican Mission in Beaufort Town of Sabah, Malaysia in the 1960s. Its was here in Beaufort Town he met and married his Hakka speaking Chinese wife. While in Beaufort Town he began to learn to read and write Chinese Language and speak Mandarin and Hakka.

In last 1960s Rev. A Tudball was transferred to St. Thomas Church of Kuching Town. The members call him "Father Tudball".

During his 2 years in the Chinese Congregation. Father Tudball frequently spoke in the Chinese Radio programme "Heavenly Message". He spoke in Mandarin through the radio. This "Heavenly Message” is a 15 minutes religious programme of Radio Television Malaysia conducted by several Christian churches on each Sunday. Each church takes their turn in routing.

One day in 1971 during my visit to Father Tudball's quarter in St. Thomas church compound, a young student was also around. Father Tudball told me the boy was his adapted son. He adoupted 2 sons from the longhouses' poor families and sponsor their living and schooling in St. Thomas Secondary School.  His 2 adopted sons stay in the school hostal (?)

Father Tudball has no children of his own.  I became acquanted to  Mrs. Tudball when we realized each other were from Sabah.  Both of us are Hakka people. She was from Beaufort Town of Sabah, the town known for its coffee and rubber export.  Hakka Chinese farmers have been intensively involved in rubber and coffee plantation since the British era before First World War.

Young Tudball was sent by the mission to this small Beaufort Town for the Chinese ministry. Here he met a girl who later became his wife. (Most probably the first Chinese girl in this town to marry a Westerner).  This explains why Father Tudball understands and speaks Hakka dialect.

1970年至1980年代，華語部經歷了牧者流動性最大的年代，也經歷了許多第一次的年代。 自賈夢九牧師於 1970年底返回台彎後，在無牧者的過渡時期，就請了來自英國的台德寶牧師來替。台德寶牧師積極地學習中文，為要向本地的華人傳福音。當時的崇拜是以雙語進行。台德寶牧師用英語講道由萬道寛弟兄作翻譯。台德寶牧師任職期間，他發動了關懷老人院的事工，還帶領首著弟兄姐妺裁剪褲子給老人，也帶領在麻風病院的祟拜。雖然說是過渡時期，但台德寶牧師任職期間也事奉了兩年之久。 1956-2006聖多瑪座堂華語部五十週年紀念特刋

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台德寶牧師Rev. Arthur Tudball 一位從英國來的牧師, 學習中文向我們傳福音. 我最記得, 有一個主日祟拜,主日學兒童坐在第一排聽他講道. 他那一句充滿英國腔的”讓小孩子到我這裡來”深深旳的吸引我, 至今那一幕還是很清楚. 七十高齡的他, 服事了五十一年,目前居住新加坡, 今天仍然活躍地到處教導和帶領聚會. 他全身,全心的奉獻, 是我學習的榜樣. 台德寶牧師, 謝謝您. 余梅美 : 1956-2006圣多瑪座堂华語部五十周年纪念特刋

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On 25-10-2010 someone commented in this blog : Praise the Lord! I am trying to locate a long lost family friend of mine, who goes by the name of Rev. Arthur Tudball....he was a school teacher in South Africa and is originally from England. He lived for a short while in Singapore, and he had a ministry in India. If this is the same gentleman in the picture, and if you have any news of his contact details, would you please write to me on the email address given below. I will be greatly obliged. God bless, John jubix88 (at) hotmail.com October 25, 2010 1:59 PM

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1966 - Transition Class - 13 years old.

1966    I was 13 years old.

 

In 1966, I studied only two school terms in Sabah College in Sabah then came to Sarawak to continue the third school term in Kuching High School in Kuching.

Why this transferred?   Well, while in Bridge Class in Sabah College, the government launched a Tuberculosis (TB) skin test (TST) on all students in the school.  I was found positive in the health test.  My parent immediately called me back from Sabah.

During that health service to the schools, a medical assistant came to the school. With an injector, he gave a very shallow injection into the skin in the lower part of the left arm.  The injector has eight tinny needles. The injection was shallow and quick that no one felt any pain.

After couple of days, the health care worker came back to school to look at each of our arms. From the needle marks, the medical staff would know whether the student is TB positive or negative.  A positive TB skin test mean the student has been infected with Tuberculosis (TB) bacteria.

There were two boys in my class shown positive TB skin: a Chinese student and me.

Yes, I was TB Positive, means TB bacteria in my body.

The medical team gave me packages of tablets and instructed me remember to take a tablet each day. No chest x-ray. No clinic visit. No doctor.  Because TB infection does not indicate TB disease.  But it will develop into TB disease if no medication.

So it’s lucky to be able detected earlier before develop into lung disease. The government health authority has done good health care to the schools even back then in 1966.

Few weeks later, my father in Sarawak sends a telegram to Uncle Choi (James) in Sabah with only two words “COMING SOON”

“YOU COMING OR I GOING?” Uncle Choi sent a reply question the very same day.  Uncle Choi was who I stay with that time (in Grandmother’s old wood house).  My father suddenly sent a telegram because I wrote home a letter mentioning the school found out about my TB Positive.  So my parent decided to bring me back from boarding with Grandmother and Uncle Choi.

This explains why I came back to Sarawak again from Sabah.

1966 impression of the old wooden house

1966 impression of the old wooden house where I was born.

I was born inside a wooden house surrounded by rubber trees in 1953. But I did not live and grew up here except a brief period 1964-1966 when my parent send me back to stay at this house with grand mother and uncle James’ family.

I left that wooden house in 1966 to Kuching to continue secondary school. Those who stay in that wooden house also moved out to a new concrete building just several meters above near by.

The house was abandoned and left to slowly decay.  By 2004 I came back with a digital camera, the complete house was gone.

There is not a single photograph on this wooden house. So I sketch the house out with a pencil.  

1965. I was 12 years old.

1965. I was 12 years old.

My primary six was completed in Chung Hwa Primary School, Kota Kinabalu in 1965.

My exam result was grade B and was accepted into Sabah College the next year 1966 to continue secondary education.  I started with a year of Bridge Class before starting Form one. As I came from a Chinese school and now wish to continue in an English school, a year of English training was necessary as according to the Government education system.  Such Bridge Class or Transition Class system still continue till today.

1964 I was 11 years old

1964 I was 11 years old

For 6 years of staying in Simanggang Town, our family only had one photograph session.  A photographer from one of the two (or three) photo shops was invited to come to our Government Quarter to take some family photos.  Normally ordinary family like us could not afford to ask a photographer to come for photo session. We could afford it.  But my parent decided to call for one indicate the occasion was a very important one and must be remember.

True enough, shortly after the photo.  One of the brother and I were send to Kota Kinabalu to stay with the Grandmother.  But another more memorial moment were the narrow escape of dead from XXX illness of Stella.  A young doctor arrive in time to Simamggane Hospital and performed an operation and safe her life from the very critical moment.

This photo was a couple of months after she was discharge healthy after weeks of stay in hospital. My mother plucked a few bunch of flowers for her to hold during the photo taking. Flowers as a symbol of blessing of a second life. One may not remember now how serious this hospitalization was. It was talk of every relative in those years.

And secondly, this family photo was also to welcome the birth of second girl to the family.  Everyone Wong was seen a few months old baby in the family photo.

1960s. My childhood was grew up in a tranquil British Colonial Town Simanggang in Borneo Island.

Family photo taken in 1962 and 1964 at Simanggang Town (Now Sri Aman Town)

 
The 1962 photo was in commemoration of birth of a new family member, the first  girl Stella Wong. My mother looked happy with the first baby girl. Her happiness was right, decades later when she was serious ill, it was the daughters who took care of her (not the sons).
 
The second 1964 photo was a meaningful photo. It commemorate the birth of second daughter Evelyn Wong, it also celebrate the successful operation of Stella, then this is also a farewell photo.

Shortly after this photo, my brother Frankie and I were sent back to Kota Kinabalu to stay with the grandmother for 3 years. And I never return to visit Simanggang until 44 years later in 2008.

My childhood was grew up in a tranquil British Colonial Town Simanggang Town.  My family album do not have  a single photo of how the town looked like in those day. In the 1960s, only those wealthy can afford a camera.

And from the internet there are so few photos of this town that after several searches, I could only find 2 images of Simanggang in the 1960s (from Hugh Blackmer's web site). Then a couple more of the 1970s (from 長屋攝影社 ).

These are the two images:

Looking down toward the bazaar from Fort Alice (at the base of the radio tower)

Simanggang in 1966, from the radio tower

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Lupar River in 1970s. Looking down from Radio Tower on the hill opposite Alice Fort

Simanggang in the 1970s. Looking down from Radio Tower 

In 2012, I draw this 1960s impression of the Club House on the hill with children in front the club welcoming father Christmas Santa Claus descending from the sky (a helicopter).

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Engage with Nature

During my childhood years in Simanggang between 1960 - 1964 there was no TV, no Internet, no Smart phone.  I spend most of my time engage with nature. The three most often things I gazed upon are : Sunset, River and Rainbow

If I ever to go back to Sri Aman again, I will look for these historical things in the town: the Old trees, my Old school and wooden houses.

Old trees, my Old school and wooden houses

1960 December.  I was seven years old

A Christmas party at a Government Staff Quarter just a few houses form our quarter.

Unable to remember any one of them now. But I like to meet up old friends for a last time. If you could help to identify, please drop a few line at the blog comment. My gratitude to you.

1959 I was six years old

1959 We were staying at 117 Batu Lintang Government Quarter. My father Wong Syak Kee was a clerk for the British Colonial Government.

This photo was taken for remembrance of staying in Kuching, because shortly after this photo, our whole family moved to Simanggang Town (Now Sri Aman Town).

Except me, who follow to Simanggang only at the end of the year after the school started the year end holiday.

1959 I was six years old

1959 We were staying at 117 Batu Lintang Government Quarter. My father Wong Syak Kee was a clerk for the British Colonial Government.

This photo was taken for remembrance of staying in Kuching, because shortly after this photo, our whole family moved to Simanggang Town (Now Sri Aman Town).

Except me, who follow to Simanggang only at the end of the year after the school started the year end holiday.

1955-01-02  One and half years old

This was my second photo taken standing on this bench. The first one in 1953.

The most prestige place in my Grandmother’s old wooden house was this long wooden bench in the Veranda (騎樓). When important relatives such as the Phang family came, my Grandmother would invite them to go up to騎樓 (sometime called棚頂)

No sofa, no chair for the guests to sit on, this long wooden bench naturally became the prestige place for guest to sit on.  The other sitting were some wooden stools.  

Below the騎樓 (Veranda) was an empty space suppose to be the “open space sitting room” for social. But it has been used as a store area for fire wood. No gas or electricity those days. Cooking were done by fire wood.