Growing Closer: Ben Wong

Bro Ben and his wife Jolyn transferred their membership from JCOC recently and in a first for myself, agreed to do the interview in person. Bro Ben has an amazing life story and the interview below scratches the surface and do reach out to welcome him.

Farand:

Hi Brother Ben, thank you for agreeing to do the interview, I understand you transferred membership from Jurong Church of Christ. Could you perhaps start by sharing why?

Ben:

Because we moved to our new house from Punggol area, we decided to move over to LAP because it is closer to our house.

Farand:

I see, and where were you staying before?

Ben:

So last time we were not staying together. After marriage, we applied for the Punggol house and we waited for five years. Because of Covid it got delayed, although not really delay because the project deadline was for 5 years.

Farand:

But it is just that usually they deliver ahead of schedule?

Ben:

Yes, there are pros and cons but maybe this is the way that God creates these things for us, it is a good thing because we can save more money. And we are lucky that because of this five years, we happened to save the amount for the house.

Farand:

Meaning that you managed to save enough for the moving and renovation?

Ben:

Yes, correct. So that's why after the five years, when we collected the key. We know that these things happen for a reason. And we really appreciated it. God is telling us - the timing I give you is for you to save the money for the house. So we realize this now.

Farand:

And when did you all move in?

Ben:

We moved in last year, second week of December.

Farand:

And then you all came over to LAPCOC after that?

Ben:

After we moved in, we struggled with going to Jurong but we still tried to make it. Very early wake up. Six o'clock we had to wake up. And then we have to take our breakfast. So we sometimes try to take our breakfast around Jurong area so that we can be more relaxed and have more time and peace of mind to get into church and get ready.

Farand:

Ernest was telling you are a taxi driver. So for you now to drive here to LAPCOC is quite fast.

Ben:

It's quite fast. I think around 20 minutes. From our house to the highway is almost seven to eight traffic light on one straight road.

Farand:

And are you now used to the area?

Ben:

Quite used to it. But anyway, when we move to the house every day we are working morning, come out, night time, go back.

Farand:

And what does your wife do?

Ben:

She’s a nurse working at Mount Elizabeth at Orchard under a Specialist. She has been working in Singapore, for more than 27 years.

Farand:

Does that mean she's not Singapore then

Ben:

Last time she was not Singapore but now she has converted as a citizen.

Farand:

And yourself?

Ben:

Yeah, I'm local. But I don't look local. Because quite a lot of times people see my face and people think I am not local. My family is like, is have a little of mixture. Peranakan and China Chinese.

Farand:

How long have you been driving taxi?

Ben:

I've been driving around two years. Two years ago. Before that, I was working under a welfare organization, looking at mental healthcare. I was working as a case manager there to assess various things like financial assistance. E.g if for their cases they can't pay for fees. And if their family wanted to put them away from them to stay in our residents areas. So I have to come out and assess all these kind of things. Or if there are criminal issues involving police, I will have to get involved as well.

Farand:

And how long were you doing that for?

Ben:

Around eight years.

Farand:

Wow, long time. Usually after the pandemic people would stop driving, but for you it is the reverse?

Ben:

I am not sure if it is good or bad luck. After I start driving around six to seven months, then the pandemic start. I decided to come up my own. And it was a very good start. Because everybody would book taxis to go around and it was good. But after seven to nine months, the pandemic started. I tell you I wanted to cry. But I still sustained. I found other ways to work it out. Yeah. Yeah.

Farand:

And that's why you were saying it was a good thing the house was delayed.

Ben:

Yes. For such things you need to be firm that when things are delayed, you have to be firm to save up. So that's why before I started this line, I told my wife, I have to be disciplined and save up my money.

Farand:

But I believe now things are picking up?

Ben:

Yes, but I also realized money is not important. You can drive many hours but health is more important. You can’t earn all the money. You need to rest and relax yourself because driving is not easy. On the road you can see many type of things. Reckless drivers for one. Stressful conditions. Plus a lot of EMDs, delivery bicycles etc. Anything you bang people, it will be driver’s fault so you have to be careful.

Farand:

Yes, but there is greater freedom too?

Ben:

Yes you have freedom, you have more time to manage to earn your money. You have to plan. E.g. When I was down with Covid, rental still have to be paid. Thankfully, the taxi company did give some rebates when you are able to show proof.

Farand:

But maybe taking a different track. How did you come to Church of Christ as I heard you were quite new even to Jurong.

Ben:

Since young, I was staying with my nanny. My nanny’s family was Christian, but I was not very good at such stuff. They brought me up to 12-13 years old. I was at a Christian kindergarden plus I attended church. In the middle of the journey, however, things did not go as well. I came from a broken family. They liked to gamble and owed a lot of money. The environment was totally different from my nanny’s family. It was very peaceful but I was young and did not think so much of it.

Farand:

So it was like a foster arrangement?

Ben:

Yes, my mother decided to bring me back over to their place and things went haywire. I became rebellious and ran out of home. 13 years of age, I ran out of home and became independent until now. I was on the streets. There was a lot of experience.

Farand:

From 13 years old you were out? Were you studying still?

Ben:

Totally no studying. I started to work. Last time it was not so advanced but I was lucky. People still employed me. I worked and earned money. I was young and had no direction, doing whatever I wanted. I struggled till 18 years old when I joined the army and a different journey began.

Farand:

And you reconnected back with God? Was it because of the early parts of your childhood experiences in church?

Ben:

Yes, but it was a long time after. I didn’t completely forget. I recall stories of the bible, mostly OT, from when my nanny would read bedtime stories. How I came back to Christ was a difficult journey. At a point, I decided to kneel down and ask about God.

Farand:

So it was self driven and something happened that drove you to seek God? Was that when you found JCOC?

Ben: That is actually a different journey. I met my wife – we were married for ~5 years and this led to the JCOC.

Farand:

Wow, almost a part 3

Ben:

I can honestly tell you that my life has many parts. From childhood to young kid to army to after army to this last part. So it has been a long journey.

Farand:

It has been fascinating talking to you. Last question, how has God changed your life?

Ben:

In 2007, I had depression for a long time. I had knelt down to pray to God to lead my way for recovery. This eventually led me to where I am today.