Khng Family at Camp Awana

Dear Diary, 

Monday, 8 June ’98 11.15a.m.

At long last we are on our way to Genting Highlands for a 4-day Church Camp! Thought we would never make it. The air-con system of our ‘old reliable’ Toyota pulled a monkey wrench on us and ‘conk’ out on Sunday morning! Even mechanics have a day off on the Lord’s day. We have no choice but to bring it to the garage for repair this morning at 9.00.

Trust the mechanic to offer his helpful advice. ‘Going to Genting Highlands, ah? Better check and service as well. If break down, siong, man.’ Two hours of repair later and $150 poorer, we are on our way to Genting Highlands.

Except for an hour traffic jam at the Causeway, our ride is quite pleasant on the gentle undulations of of the North-South Malaysian highway. Rubber plantations, padi fields, pineapple farms, push-carts with spiky durians and tempting sweet-sour mangosteens amble by in lazy succession. Thank the Lord for journey mercies. Apart from a few sibling squabbles, the children are quite content with the bags of chips and cookies to placate ‘itchy mouths’ and soothe hungry tummies till the next stop. Nathaniel is busy browsing the sports page of the Straits Times: Anna sleeps through most part of the journey on Joshua’s lap, another small mercy.

Kuala Lumpur. What a mass of teeming humanity! Every automobile, as well as its two-wheeler counterpart, zig-zag in and out, attempting to squeeze itself into every available incho f space to get itself ahead of the other vehicle who is just as determined not to give way! So, we inch along, bumper to bumper. One minute of lost concentration results in John taking a wrong turn and a big detour around roads with almost similar names. Is it Tengku Abdul Rahman or Tengku Ismail Road?

Thank God for the foresight of brother-in-law, Eng Yee, who keeps in constant touch with us via his mobile-phone. With his timely advice, we finally leave the maze, takes the road heading towards Kelantan and wonder of wonder…reach the foot of Genting Highlands, 35 minutes later…Isn’t that AWANA Hotel? Yeah, the children cheer. ‘Heidi’s mountain is so mei mei (pretty), ‘murmurs Anna with awe. God’s mountain, daddy corrects.

After checking in at the Hotel counter, we meet the church folks: Brother Norman and family, Rev Tan, Christiana and the boys, Kok Peng and Christy. A short meeting follows. The kids are excited and insist on staying up late. 12 midnight. Mummy says. Off to bed now. Please Mum. To bed or els…..Okay, Mum. I may be lying down on the bed but my heart is standing up and going outside for some more fun. We’re not sleepy. Soon….zzzzzzzzz

(Christ Our Lord, Church Anniversary Magazine 4)