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: