Wedding Bells for Jarod and Ruth

It has been awhile since 3rd KL saw a wedding (for an active officer anyway, the last being Mr. Tan Chee Keong's wedding - way back in 2005), so when our two Junior Section Officers tied the knot it was quite a joyous occasion!

Jarod Kok and Ruth Boh both met while serving in the 3rd Kuala Lumpur Company. Jarod joined after Mr. Terence Tay, who were both church members in Life Methodist Church Puching, requested for help from Jarod having learned of his skills handling children. 

Ruth joined 3rd KL in 2009, after our then Staff Sergeant Justin Goh had a physical injury and was admitted to Assunta Hospital where Ruth was interning. Justin was wearing the 3rd KL t-shirt, where Ruth immediate recognised the BB emblem, as she previously served with the 2nd Melaka Company. 

From here on, a collision of fates was inevitable, as Jarod and Ruth soon fell in love with one another after serving for several years in 3rd KL. 

It was a beautiful ceremony, held at Trinity Methodist Church Petaling Jaya. Our Boys and officers were most honoured to be given the opportunity to perform a band item for the happy couple and a "Guard of Honour" as the newly weds walked out of church.

"Guard of Honour" led by Mr. Steven Voo

Trading swords for field service caps as the couple marched through underneath

All smiles from Mr and Mrs Kok

Officers Council Posing with the couple

The day was not done after the wedding service as the 3rd KL Boys joined the 1st Petaling Jaya Company for a round of fellowship.

Singspiration together with 1st PJ. The two GB girls posing were with me in my van during a recent Junior Camp.

1st PJ vs 3rd KL in capture the flag/footie ball. Many badges were lost. 

After the fellowship, the day was still not done as the gang proceeded to SS2 mall for a wedding dinner.

Wishing the couple much blessings from Above and their love to one another to be everlasting. 

Pesta 1996 Band Competition Videos

I've uploaded all the Pesta 1996 Band competition videos! Memories like this aren't meant to be locked away. 

Band Competition Results

Champion - 1st Johor Bahru Company

1st Runner-Up - 4th Kuala Lumpur Company

2nd Runner-Up - 1st Melaka Company

Drum Major

1st Place - 1st Johor Bahru Company

2nd Place - 4th Kuala Lumpur Company

3rd Place - 3rd Kuala Lumpur Company (Sgt. Chai Chee Kien) 

2nd TRAC BB-GB Junior Camp @ Ipoh

From the 13th to 15th September 2014, the BB and GB companies in Ipoh organised a Junior Camp for its primary school-aged members, opening up participation to other BB and GB companies elsewhere. It was first intended that this event be extended to all the Perak State Council companies, making it their event, but it was not well received, so they agreed to convert it to a TRAC event instead. Hoorah!

I followed the 1st Petaling Jaya BB and GB contingent, as I felt it was best for me to be there to support as the TRAC BB representative. My real role though was to function as one of the drivers. 

Opening Ceremony

We left PJ Trinity around 6 plus. I messed up that morning, having slept past my alarm (didn't hear it at all to be honest!), but fortunately I was not the last person to be late.. so it wasn't entirely my fault! Skipping a planned breakfast stop, our three vehicles departed for Wesley Methodist Church Ipoh, arriving just on time. 

All other participants were already there, mostly from Ipoh. The PJ Boys and girls, as well as a group from Sitiawan (4th Manjung Company) were the only ones from out of town. Interestingly, in general the officers played a minimal role, with NCOs and Young Leaders doing most of the work. The participants were divided into 10 groups, using the names of the 12 Disciples. I'm guessing Judas wasn't one of them, but I wonder who was the poor soul who didn't get picked. Hmm. 

Camp Commandant, Mr. Edwin Khoo

1st Ipoh BB's new captain, Mr. Edwin Khoo, was the camp commandant. Coming from the rank and file of 1st Ipoh, he was once the church's youth worker before working for SUFES. I have to say, the camp was well organised and prepared. The helpers all knew exactly what to do and there didn't seem to be any uncertainties with the task they were assigned. Well done!

Camp speaker, Mr. Koh Earn Soo from Scripture Union

The camp speaker was Mr. Koh Earn Soo, the Executive Director of Scripture Union Malaysia. He is a very down to earth and humble man. His messages were backed up with many relevant facts - quit a few from documentaries (many fun facts like the red skin from salmon is actually from them not eating till the skin dissolved, while making a point about endurance), which made it really interesting! Later on, I found out that he was the father of an OCFer friend of mine, Koh Chien Aun, and the brother of 5th KL GB's captain, Jane Koh. Small world indeed!!!

The camp was a mixture of a familiar Sunday School camp and a touch of Brigadism. It was a different culture for me as I was less accustomed to seeing participants take part in multiple sessions of sermons - 2 or 3 a day. I was more accustomed to just one short devotion in the day and another at night. The rest would be all fun and games - leadership and team building games. 

Game Sessions!

Not saying there were none, the station games proved to be quite a fun and enjoyable time. There were also handicraft sessions conducted by non-BB/GB volunteers. The extra spiritual components, although unaccustomed to me, was really good for the participants.

Madam Clareen Choo playing along being the "bad guy" for treasure hunt

Good on-site prepared meals for the participants

During the final night, many young people responded to God.. not just the participants, but the helpers as well. It was truly an eye opening event, as for many of us would be less-bold to do this in a BB camp. It was certainly a lesson of faith for me.

God moving on the final night

Well done to the officers and helpers from 1st Ipoh BB, 1st Ipoh GB, 2nd Ipoh GB, and 6th Ipoh BB for their hard works, particularly (and noticeably) Mr Edwin Khoo and Madam Clareen Choo.

1st PJ BB and GB contingent 

My last task of the event was to send a van full of girls from 1st Petaling Jaya GB home. That proved to be the most stressful part of my responsibilities. A noisy van was expected, but over 20 replays of Let It Go from Disney's Frozen and it's parodies proved quite a challenge. We stopped at Tapah for lunch before continuing on back to KL, when the most testing moment came. Mid-way,  I suddenly noticed that my van's engine temperature was above its maximum tolerance. Knowing that the engine could give up at any moment, I said a short prayer of protection and hoped for the best. It was raining heavily on the North-South Highway, a mixed blessing as it provided some small relief in cooling the engine, as well as drowning out the sounds of a sick engine. Then, the Rawang rest area came to view I pulled into it, deciding not to take the risk. As I was just meters away from the intended parking spot, the engine finally gave way, and I coasted to the lot with pure momentum. God's timing was good. The situation could have been far, far worse (ie.a stationary van in the middle of the North-South Highway full of young girls). I would like to thank Mr Andrew Tan, daughter of Audrey Tan for coming to the rest area and assisting in transfers as well as providing the much needed water and radiator coolant. Ultimately, thank God for his protection. We managed to bring all the girls back to PJ Trinity safely, though a little late. I was even able to drive my car back to my mechanic in Seri Kembangan after the jam subsided.

All in all, the past few days God's presence was with us and there was certainly no regrets coming along for this camp. Till the next one!

Visiting the Founder

I was in the United Kingdom for holidays during the British Summer of 2014. Travelling between Sheffield and Edinburgh with extra time to spare, I decided to take a trip to Glasgow to visit the final resting place of BB's Founder, Sir William Alexander Smith.

Glasgow, where it all begun

I got into Glasgow via the Queen Street Station, before taking another train to Gilshochill, just another three stops away. After that, it's just a short five minute walk to the Western Necropolis. All ticket prices between Edinburgh to Gilshochill cost only £14.90 which allows you to travel any time on a Sunday. It's actually okay to "not buy" a ticket between Glasgow to Gilshochill as you can purchase tickets on the train which will be 10 pence cheaper.. and if the conductors don't get to you in time, I guess it's free!

Glasgow's Western Necropolis

A rough map of Sir William Smith's grave can be found in this book. It turns out Sir William Smith was quite the star in this grave yard, with his name imprinted on the on-site map.

Zoom in of the site map, showing the location of Sir William Smith's grave 

Locating the actual grave-site was another matter. In my excitement, I rushed about searching for the grave and ended up overlooking. I had to comb the area 2-3 times before locating Sir William Smith's tombstone. That said, it only took 5 minutes to localise. The tombstone was relatively new, no doubt due to the generous efforts of the BB in the United Kingdom.

It was undoubtedly an emotional experience for me, finally meeting the man in person, the one who started the organisation which has deeply impacted my life, as well as the lives of countless others. I am truly grateful for his heart and passion for Boys and to save souls for Jesus, mine including. Not realising at the time, it has been 100 years since his death (though I missed the exact 100th year anniversary by several months -  he died 10th May 1914, also two months before the start of the First World War). It was a privileged I could personally come honour the Founder on the centenary of his death. 

I did feel a sense of regret for coming empty handed, though I do have an excuse for that. Sir William Alexander Smith would've been too man for flowers, I couldn't bring Scottish whisky as it might give our younger members visiting this blog the wrong idea, and it was too short a notice to make a wreath (manly-flowers). So paying my respects to the man was the best I could do. Perhaps one day, I shall return and be more prepared. 

I spent the next half an hour in silence (as well as working out how to take photos of myself with Sir William Smith in a respectful way) before leaving the Western Necropolis.

Apart from Sir Smith's grave, there is also a memorial write up about the war graves, one which mentions the 16th Highland Light Infantry which comprised of former members of The Boys' Brigade.  I'm sure Sir William Alexander Smith would've been proud of the brave men of the 16th HLI.

Write up of the Commonwealth war graves, which had a short mention of BB's service in the war

I am grateful for this opportunity to experience this pilgrimage and visiting the Founder and I thank God for his life. I cannot help but reflect on the reasons why he started The Boys' Brigade so many years ago and wonder how he feels about the way we are running the BB now, particularly about doing things properly, uncompromising, and steadfastly in accordance to what is right, rather than relenting for the sake of convenience. I feel even more determined to serve the Lord as how Sir William Smith did until his death, running the race and fighting the good fight till the very end.

Rest in Peace, Sir William Alexander Smith.


PS: Special thanks to Mr. Darryn Chiew of 2nd KL for advice and a map of the necropolis.

Parade on 6th September 2014

We tried something different for CE today. Instead of going straight into the Word, we played a game. I broke the Seniors into squads and gave them a 1/4 cup of hair gel. 1 comb, and a pair of scissors. The idea was to come up with the most creative hairstyle. Each squad had to send one keen volunteer, of which at the rest of the group's mercy, will do up his hair. It was a spontaneous activity, but I think one the Boys enjoyed. 

Getting to work with Private Chan Kai Hei's hair

Our brave models!

The lesson was based on the Book of Acts, with the focus on the Apostle Paul. The idea is that we all have choices in life. Some will lead to outstanding results, while others can be catastrophic. Paul, then Saul, was a grand prosecutor of the new Christian faith, but God gave him a choice. He could've disobeyed and continue wrecking havoc, or he could agreed to change, leading on to be the true founder of the church as an organisation. We too have a choice to mould ourselves and the people around us, or we could end up doing something we cannot undo. This is the illustration presented by the hair gel (to mould) and the scissors (something which cannot be undone - cut hair). The potential of this exercise to be used in other scenarios, like friendship or coaching is also possible. Fortunately, none of them dared to use the scissors! 

I was also happier today with attendance and the flow of programs was good. Hopefully things will continue to improve for the company.