6. THE LORD HAD PREPARED A GERMAN SHEPHERD

The guns had fallen silent, the war was over. The British were confined to Changi Prison, the Japanese were in charge. Our family of nine — refugees in Singapore — were ordered, with other refugees from Malaya, to return to our homes. That was in March 1942. We took that order seriously. From reputation and hearsay, we regarded the new masters with great apprehension.

Before the throne of grace, we committed the matter to the Lord in prayer. The transportation system was still in shambles. Naturally, we were concerned: what sort of vehicle can we find? But God’s Word said, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:6,7 ).

We have a God who works wonders on behalf of His people. "He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap... He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire" (Ps 78:13,14 ). Then He did it for a nation, but now we are only nine souls. Is He concerned? We knew, the same God who led His people through the wilderness, is our God. Surely He will not fail us, for we also are His people.

We prayed more. Were we truly trusting Him as we prayed? Again we have the assurance of God’s Word, spoken to doubting Sarah "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?"  (Gen 18:14 ).

That morning Father and I set out to look for a lorry. But the Lord had something better: two brand new Japanese Army trucks, complete with drivers and fully covered, at our disposal!

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear" (Isa 59:1 ).

Question: And how did this come about?

Answer: All because of a dog! For the Lord had prepared a German Shepherd to be the vital link in events and circumstances more strange than any fiction story. Is any thing too hard for the Lord?

.........................

February 15, 1942, first day of the lunar New Year was a black day. The mighty British had surrendered to the all-conquering Japanese Army under General Yamashita. A new power had arisen over the Far East. Great fear and uncertainty came over the city. Reports of Japanese atrocities, the infamous “Rape of Nanking” of 1937, and other horror stories had preceded the Japanese.

Our family, except for essential business, stayed indoors most of the time, just to keep out of harm’s way. By much prayer and supplication, we had escaped the so-called “registration” and “identification parades” which resulted in unknown numbers of innocent people being taken away for “revenge killings” and “retributive executions” in Changi beach and Pulau Belakang Mati (renamed Pulau Sentosa).

Our daily prayer was “Lord save us from the terror by night and the arrow that flieth by day. Keep us safe under the shelter of Thy wings. ”

Instead of trying to move the entire family back to Batu Pahat in one operation, Father decided that he and I should return first and get the house ready for the rest of the group to follow at a later date.

As we contemplated the return, grave concerns troubled our minds. Supposing the Japanese should stumble upon the many photographs and literary material linking Father to the “top brass” in China, including Chiang Kai-shek, the archenemy of the Japanese, that would have been fatal for our family. (Those materials had been left behind in Batu Pahat when we evacuated to Singapore in a hurry in December.)

Only God can help: Lord, Thou only art our defence, our Rock. In great anxiety, Father called on a certain Pastor Marcus Chen, well known preacher from China, and shared with him our fears. Then on our knees we poured out our hearts unto the Lord. The elderly saint of God, with full confidence, assured us, “Go in peace. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Take with you this Psalm 121 . Amen. ”

The next morning, the family gathered together in prayer to send off Father and me. After prayer, Brother Timothy drove the two of us to Woodlands and we got off some distance from the check-point. We said Goodbye and he drove off. There we met up with three friends who were also returning to Johor. From then on, like the Israelites, we made our way on foot.

Along the roadside were many burned out British military vehicles, silent casualties of the war. At the check-point we bowed to the Japanese sentry who barked some unintelligible words. We had learned to say, “Ohayo gozaimasu” (“good morning”). The greeting worked.

The causeway crossing was uneventful. In Johor Baru we found a lorry bound for Batu Pahat.

Arriving in Batu Pahat we found, to our immense relief that our friend, Mr Lim Hoon Siang, who had been entrusted with the keys to the house, had taken the initiative and had destroyed all of Father’s incriminating photographs and papers. All those materials which had any connection with the Chinese Nationalist Government, especially the pictures taken with General Chiang Kai-shek and other prominent government officials, had been safely consigned to fire. Thank God!

Father breathed a huge sigh of relief, and thanked Mr Lim and other members of the Church who had helped.

Very wisely, however, they had preserved the priceless calligraphy written for my Fahther by Dr Sun Yat Sen. Dr Sun was well respected by the Japanese as a peace loving man and “Father of the Chinese Republic. ” During the early days of the revolution, he had lived some years in Japan, and was known as Mr Nakayama, the Japanese translation of his other name Sun Wen.

Our home was in a reasonable state of repair, after being unoccupied for three months. With the help of friends, we cleaned and scrubbed, and got the clinic functioning and the living quarters restored. Then Father began to see atients and bring in the “cash flow. ”

On one wall of the clinic, Father installed Dr Sun’s calligraphy as the centre-piece. This proved to be a master move.

Now our story enters its critical phase.

One day into the clinic walked a Japanese Officer with a large German Shepherd on a leash. Dr Sun’s calligraphy with the name Sun Wen instantly caught his eye, and he lighted up with a smile.

“Som Bong! ” he remarked. Som Bong is Japanese for “Sun Wen, ” one of Dr Sun’s three names.

“Please sit down. What is your problem? ” Father communicated by writing in Chinese. The message got through.

“Ear-ache. ”

Father examined his ear and gave him a bottle of ear-drops. “Use it morning and night. ”

“Good-bye. ”

“Sayonara. ”

The Officer holding his dog went on his way. A week passed by. Father saw a good number of patients daily. Some were old clients who were glad to see him.

Then, surprise! One morning, in walked the same Officer with the German Shepherd.

“How are you today? Is your ear better? ”

“No, the same. ”

Father examined the ear and gave him more drops.

“Sayonara! ”

Then Father decided that is was time to return to Singapore and fetch the rest of the family. We had been away for over twenty days, without contact with the family. We called a taxi. By then essential services were returning.

What a tremendous joy and relief it was when we arrived back at our apartment in Seng Poh Road, Tiong Bahru. Mother and the rest of the family received us with unspeakable joy, as though we had come back from the dead! They had not seen us or spoken with us for over three long weeks.

Together we fell on our knees and gave thanks to God for preserving us through all the days. Psalm 121 had been an immense source of comfort. Father and I called on Pastor Marcus Chen to tell of God’s goodness and to thank him. He was pleased and prayed for us.

Now, for the return trip with the family back to Batu Pahat. We held a family conference. There were nine persons: Father, Mother, six siblings and a relative, plus luggage of all sizes and shapes.

“We will need a large lorry to take all of us and the luggage. ” This was Father’s observation.

At morning Family Worship, we committed the matter to the Lord in prayer.

Then Father and I set out to look for our transport. In those days a common form of public transport was by man-powered rickshaws. These plied the streets everywhere. We found one in no time. Shortly, our rickshaw man was on Bras Basah Road, heading toward Beach Road where the Malayan lorry terminus was located.

It was late morning and a cool breeze was blowing. Our rickshaw man was running along steadily. Suddenly, across the street, walking from the opposite direction, appeared a Japanese Army Officer with a German Shepherd! Instantly I recognized the duo — man and dog. For some inexplicable reason, I thought to myself, “Let’s speak to him! ”

Impulsively, I said to Father, “Stop! See that officer with the dog? Let’s speak to him! ”

Father was puzzled, but agreed. We stopped and paid off the rickshaw man. Then we dashed across the street and ran after the Officer who, by then, was some distance away. When we caught up with him, he was puzzled and surprised.

Who are these people? He looked at us. Then a broad smile of recognition spread over his face. We greeted each other like long lost friends!

“Batu Pahat doctor! What is the matter? ”

Father took out pen and paper. “Vehicle! Return to Batu Pahat, nine persons. ”

The Officer thought a while. Then he beckoned us to follow him, back where he had come from. Together we walked in the opposite direction along Bras Basah Road, took the right turn into North Bridge Road, past Capitol Building on Stamford Road corner. Behind Capitol Building in the large car park were a score of brand new Japanese military tucks belonging to the Army Transport Corp of which our friend was Commanding Officer!

“Tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock two trucks will take you and family back to Batu Pahat! ”

Amazing kindness! God had sent His angel!

Next morning at 9 o’clock, two brand new covered trucks promptly rolled up in front of 21A Seng Poh Road. We had just finished Family Worship and breakfast.

With much excitement, we loaded our belongings and ourselves onto the vehicles. On the windscreen of each vehicle, was prominently displayed a white label: “Official Vehicle issued by authority of the Officer Commanding. ”

Before 10 am we were on our way. We thanked God for sending us help from such an unexpected quarter. We sang praises to God all the way to Woodlands and the Singapore-Johor causeway. At every check-point, the white labels worked wonders. They exempted us from having to get down, walk and bow to the sentries, while soldiers would inspect the contents in the vehicle. We were spared this security check a dozen times and more, all the way.

The entire 100-mile journey to Batu Pahat was a breeze.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? ”

Looking back, we see clearly the good hand of God ordering and directing an amazing sequence of events to accomplish His eternal purposes. In His children’s lives, nothing happens by chance. Nothing is too hard for the Lord!

Let us take a look at the five “critical links” in our story.

First: that Father should have returned to Batu Pahat ahead of the rest of the family and re-opened his clinic.

Second: that the Japanese Officer should have “ear ache” which sent him to our clinic.

Third: that the Officer should be the commander of the Transport Corp, and a kindly person.

Fourth: that our paths should cross, at the right place, at the right time, in the right direction on Bras Basah Road on that fateful day.

Fifth: that the Officer should be accompanied by the German Shepherd on both occasions, in our clinic in Batu Pahat and along Bras Basah Road. This link was the most important and critical link. God ordered it so: “Jesus doeth all things well. ”

In time past, our God parted the sea to open a highway on dry land for His people; He caused a dumb ass to speak, sparing a disobedient prophet’s life; He sent ravens to feed Elijah during a time of famine. All this, and much more, God did in time past.

In our time, during the immediate post-war period, God prepared a German Shepherd to be the vital connecting link in a “rescue operation” for His people in an unusual time of need. Today such a need would not arise.

Through it all, we learnt one lesson: nothing is too hard for the Lord. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Praise the Lord!