Page 41 - Malayan Story
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MALAYAN STORY
CHAPTER 11 RELOCATION OF KUALA LUMPUR HQ
By the end of 1953, Percy was feeling that the house in Princes Road was already too small for us as
more workers began to come out to work in Malaya. After much searching he found a suitable house
at 11 Penang Road which was for rent. The frontage was about the same as Princes Road, but it
extended twice as far back. There were ten bedrooms and six bathrooms with showers and one
proper bath with a heater.
Writing to Singapore, Percy said, “As far as the position is concerned, it is quiet and only about
seven minutes from the nearest bus stop. The landlord is willing to give us a 3 year lease with an
option of 2 more if we want them.” It seemed suitable in every way, but the rent he was asking was
$800 per month, $150 more than the Mission was prepared to pay. After some negotiation, he came
down to $700, but even that was $50 higher than we were prepared to pay.
We were beginning to think this might not be the house God wanted us to have. Then a phone call
from Singapore intimated that, even if the landlord was willing to come down to our price, we
should only sign for 2 years with an option for three. But they were still not willing to pay the extra
$50 per month.
That night, a friend of the Mission came to see Percy. He said that the Lord had been speaking to
him about our need for a house, and he felt that he should give us $50 per month for two years. He
still thought the difference stood at $150 and was completely amazed when Percy told him that the
amount needed was $50 and for two years, not three. We had no doubt now that the Lord intended
us to have this house.
Before we moved I told the three servants what we were going to do and asked them if they would
be willing to continue to work for us in Penang Road. Ah Soong, the house woman, and Ah Sam the
cook decided to leave. Before Ah Sam left, I heard her explaining the Gospel very clearly to Ah
Ying, the new girl that I had engaged as the house woman. I said, “Ah Sam, do you believe then?”
and she said, “Of course I do.” She went on to tell me that she had fallen in to a storm water drain
on her way to work and, when she couldn’t get out, she just prayed “Jesus, help me.” Almost
immediately a big Indian man came to the side of the drain, put out his hand and pulled her out. He
didn’t wait for her thanks and disappeared. Ah Sam was quite convinced that God had sent one of
His angels to help her.
We moved in early February 1954 and for the next six years this became the centre for the work of
the CIM/OMF in South Malaya and the R & R centre for the soldiers of the Cross who were being
deployed to the villages of Malaya.
We had our normal weekly Friday night prayer meeting, but it gradually became a district meeting
that was attended by many of the interested people in the city. There was also, what we called a
“Forces Fellowship” when we loaned the sitting room for the use of Army personnel who needed a
place to meet at least once a week.
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41
CHAPTER 11 RELOCATION OF KUALA LUMPUR HQ
By the end of 1953, Percy was feeling that the house in Princes Road was already too small for us as
more workers began to come out to work in Malaya. After much searching he found a suitable house
at 11 Penang Road which was for rent. The frontage was about the same as Princes Road, but it
extended twice as far back. There were ten bedrooms and six bathrooms with showers and one
proper bath with a heater.
Writing to Singapore, Percy said, “As far as the position is concerned, it is quiet and only about
seven minutes from the nearest bus stop. The landlord is willing to give us a 3 year lease with an
option of 2 more if we want them.” It seemed suitable in every way, but the rent he was asking was
$800 per month, $150 more than the Mission was prepared to pay. After some negotiation, he came
down to $700, but even that was $50 higher than we were prepared to pay.
We were beginning to think this might not be the house God wanted us to have. Then a phone call
from Singapore intimated that, even if the landlord was willing to come down to our price, we
should only sign for 2 years with an option for three. But they were still not willing to pay the extra
$50 per month.
That night, a friend of the Mission came to see Percy. He said that the Lord had been speaking to
him about our need for a house, and he felt that he should give us $50 per month for two years. He
still thought the difference stood at $150 and was completely amazed when Percy told him that the
amount needed was $50 and for two years, not three. We had no doubt now that the Lord intended
us to have this house.
Before we moved I told the three servants what we were going to do and asked them if they would
be willing to continue to work for us in Penang Road. Ah Soong, the house woman, and Ah Sam the
cook decided to leave. Before Ah Sam left, I heard her explaining the Gospel very clearly to Ah
Ying, the new girl that I had engaged as the house woman. I said, “Ah Sam, do you believe then?”
and she said, “Of course I do.” She went on to tell me that she had fallen in to a storm water drain
on her way to work and, when she couldn’t get out, she just prayed “Jesus, help me.” Almost
immediately a big Indian man came to the side of the drain, put out his hand and pulled her out. He
didn’t wait for her thanks and disappeared. Ah Sam was quite convinced that God had sent one of
His angels to help her.
We moved in early February 1954 and for the next six years this became the centre for the work of
the CIM/OMF in South Malaya and the R & R centre for the soldiers of the Cross who were being
deployed to the villages of Malaya.
We had our normal weekly Friday night prayer meeting, but it gradually became a district meeting
that was attended by many of the interested people in the city. There was also, what we called a
“Forces Fellowship” when we loaned the sitting room for the use of Army personnel who needed a
place to meet at least once a week.
Return to Table of Contents
41
