Homecoming of the Patriarch Soh Meng Seng

A voice from above is heard: “When father is ready, we are ready to receive him here. All runs according to a higher will, according to divine plan. His Father said to our father: Come, and heavens gate was opened to admit his saints.

[ Editor’s note: 95 y/o Papa Soh (my father-in-law) departed during the #456 prayer altar this morning leaving behind 6 sons, 2 daughters and 17 grandchildren … “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning …” Psa 30:5]

We arrived at Summerdale informing security we would be visiting “Father” around 9 o’clock. We didn’t mention to the guards why we were so late in our ETA or that we intended to stay overnight.

When we entered the premises, all was dark, the room lights were dimmed, auntie was already upstairs watching TV and Papa Soh was neatly tucked into bed, not upstairs but downstairs in a bed borrowed from the hospital. I noticed there was a number at the foot of the bed (#206) and how long Papa Soh’s legs were, and how the bed was a little too short.

But because he was sleeping so soundly, decided not to disturb him since he was quiet, the lights were dimmed and there was a stillness, one that was like the stillness just before a storm.

Indeed, the flashing lights in the Jurong sky, a gathering of rain-soaked clouds were ready to unload upon the verandah. That dashed my hopes that we might be able to use the breezes from the rooftop garden to re-circulate inside the house every so often.

Up until that point, everything appeared as it ought to be. The two Indonesian angels were already in their pyjamas so happy that reinforcements has appeared and I sense they were happy to hand over the responsibility of father and the all-night shift until the morning.

I thought to myself, this is no problem, just a quiet night accompanying my dad-in-law, checking once in a while he was comfortable and if so, allowing him to rest and recover from his most recent hospitalisation.

Suddenly he was awakened, perhaps by our presence, perhaps by the irregular flashes across the northern sky and he began calling out, his breathlessness becoming louder than usual. Sometimes he flipped himself to the left using the guard rails, sometimes to the right.

The restlessness grew like the outside winds and soon he was fully awake. He wanted to sit up, he wanted to lie down, he wanted to tell us something but it was punctuated by flashes of lighting and a rumbling of an approaching storm.

Don’t know if it was our presence that triggered a sequence of events that led to his eventual passing later that morning. He definitely knew who I was since he pointed to his stomach region where the cancer had spread and complained in Malay, “Sakit”. (He only ever spoke to me in Malay, a common language for us)

I looked at the clock, it was only 10pm and seemed like the minutes were long in coming. Lianne went on to respond to every single complaint, massaging his back, re-positioning him time and again because of his slippery silk pyjamas.

Frustrating as it was, with every creak from the plastic air bed as he moved this way and that, I just wondered why hospital beds need to be so damned uncomfortable. I looked at the clock again. Only 5 mins had passed.

I began to look for the wifi password, my mind drifted to an early morning zoom meeting the next morning at 4am. I had been in the habit of sleeping early to wake up in time for the prayer altar at #456.

By 12 midnight Papa Soh was completely and truly awake with no sign of let up. The storm outside had quietened down so we opened to verandah but the air was still too moist and wet. This adjustment to the windows and doors, to regulate the temperature just right was futile since the outside temperature was just as uncertain.

The next hours dragged by as if in slow motion even going into reverse gear at times or so I thought. Why was sleep so elusive? Unbeknownst to us, this would be his last night on earth…

The family of the Patriarch wishes to thank you for all your well wishes.

“My deepest condolences and thoughts is with both of you Pastors n your family. May the Lord walk with you, comfort you and His shalom peace be with you all during this difficult time. Take care and God bless! – Cmdr Heng”

“Hope the family is taking it well. The Lord is good. He assured all that it is a wedding feast. Yes the family will miss him, but they will see him again in a much better place. Keep well and take care. God is so so good! – Chua Ying Hwee”

“Our deepest condolences Ps Lianne, Gerry and family. Take care, Harry & Audrey”

“May you and your loved ones receive God’s comforting love, in an even greater measure, with the passing of Papa Soh. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, dear family-in-Christ! Mike & Tess, Julie & Joel”

“Our deepest condolences to Lianne, Pastor Gerry & family – Simon & Elizabeth”

“May the Good Lord continue to comfort you and loved ones. Shalom – Francis and Christine”

“Our deepest condolences Lianne & Gerry, your family and all loved ones. May His shalom comfort you always, in our prayers – MinAun & Emily”

“Be assured that as you take care of the Father’s business, the Faithful God will take care of us! God never short change His servants ! Stanley Ow”

“So sorry to hear the news. the lord protect and keep you – Norma Sit”

“Our deepest condolences to you, Ps Lianne and your family. May the Lord’s shalom and comfort be with all of you during this time – Linda Lee”

“Deepest condolences to Pst Lianne and Pst Gerry – Alvin”

“Our deepest condolences Lianne & Gerry! Knew how much you have cared & loved him ! – David & Amy”

“My deepest condolences to Lianne and you and your family. May the Lord’s comfort and peace be upon Lianne and you in this time – Caleb Yap”

“May His shalom be with you and envelope you as you remember the late Papa Soh this last day of Sukkot – Rachel & Ben”

“My deepest condolences to you, Pastor Lianne. May peace and comfort rest upon you and your family. – Capt Mok”

“Heartfelt Condolences sis Lianne, Ps G & family; may the Peace & Comfort of God embrace you – Corine, Helen, Karen Yip-Tan-Tay families”

“My deepest condolences to Auntie Lianne and family. May the Lord sustain you in this dark valley of mourning. May He remind us of the living hope that is in Him – Yi Hui”

“Our deepest condolences dear Lianne, Ps Gerry and family – Pat Ow”

“Deepest condolences to sister Lianne, pastor Jerry n the whole family! May the good Lord be with you all in this time of mourning! – Andrew Yap”

“Our condolences Lianne & Gerry, Sam & I are grieving with you, and our prayers are with you & family – Alex Wira”

“Deepest condolences to Lianne and the whole family – Larry Lim”

“Deepest condolences. May the comfort and peace of the Lord be with you – EngKwang”

“Condolences to Lianne and Gerard, Charis⁩ & Sisters, Jonathan and Soh family. Praying for shalom to be upon all – Hao Guang”

“My deepest condolences to you, Ps Lianne and your family. May the Lord’s shalom and comfort be with you all during this time – Karen Goh”

“Our condolences to you and Lianne – Andrew Tay”

“Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He has finished his race on earth and entered into eternity to be with the Lord. God comfort and console everyone – Sucheta Nayak”

“Sorry for your loss sir.. Condolence..Joberth Magos”

“His appointed time has come, we may feel sorry for loosing him physically but we also can rejoice because to live is Christ and to die is gain. Please accept our deepest sympathy- Tracy Pacis”

“Condolence – Alma Manzanilla”

“My condolences to the bereaved family – Jeannilyn MD”

“Deep condolences. Praying for comfort and strength during this time of loss. May God be with you Ma’am Lianne – Surjit Digal”

“We sympathized the loss and we pray for comfort and strength to all the family of Ma’am Lianne, God’s sustain grace and mercy be upon in your situation – James David”

“Amen! “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning – Araceli G. Cortel”

“Condolences from my side, may God give you courage – Iqbal & Shabani”

“A heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. May God give you all especially Lianne Seow strength and comfort during this time of sorrow – Neziel Venuya”

“Condolence to the Family ptra lianne, ptr Gerard. God is your strength and comfort we love you – Janette Baroro”

“Precious in the sight of God is the death of His saints – Psa 116:15 Paz Concan”

“Condolence to Pastor Lianne, Gerard Seow and family – Saran Singh”

“Condolences to Family and Be comforted – Jenny Musyaki”

“Deepest condolences to you Ps Lianne, Ps Gerard, Charis, Aana, Stephanie and Gennu and your whole family. Peace and shalom be with you through these days of bereavement – PohLin”

“Heartfelt condolences sis Lianne, Ps Gerry & family. May the comfort and peace of God surround you. Take care – Karen Yip”

“May our sweet Lord Jesus cover you all as a family with His Peace and comfort. We are sending you a thanksgiving song title “Thank you Jesus”, wishing it may help your nostalgic hearts expressing their pain in the comforting Presence of the Patriarc of all the Ages. We love you, Alvaro & Claudia”

“Gd morning pastor, praying on with you…that The Spirit of the Lord be upon you to walk you through with your extended family in pressing on to live life to the full as one elder Soh prepares to pass on to glory with Abba God. Shalom – Cmdr Albert”

“Dear Lianne & Gerry, our hearts are with you at this time of loss. Praying for the family and everyone to be bonded closer together than ever, and for the grace of God to be made manifest in your midst – Paul & family”

“Ps Lianne. Sorry to hear of your father’s demise. Condolences to you and your family -Ben&Kath”

“Blessed be the Name of the Lord who calls each one of His children back into his bosom -Geoff Chew”

“Prayers for you, Mom Lianne and Pastor Gerry! The Lord embrace you with comfort and strength -Rowena Law-Agey”

“Condolence to your family “Soh’s clan,” Ma’am Lianne… Psalms 23:6 – Rowena SJ”

“Condolences Gerry and Lianne.We grieve your loss – Peter & Jaime Teong”

“Our sincere condolences at the demise of your Dad. And may our blessed Father, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort be with you Pastor Lianne, Gerard and family in this time of grief” – Roslyn & Cyril

Our condolences to Ps Gerry, Ps Lianne, Charis, Jon and the family. Shalom and may God give you much comfort, love and grace – Xue & Han Ting

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes” – Lalitha Unnamatla

“He makes all things beautiful in His time” – much love, Nathan & Dianne Chng

“Heartfelt condolences Pastor Lianne and Gerry and all family members over the loss of your beloved Papa/Patriarch Soh. “The memory of the righteous is a blessing” (Proverbs 10:7) – Gregory Vijayendran”

“Deepest condolences to Ps Gerry, Ps Lianne, Charis, Jon and the family. May the Lord be of comfort and strength for the whole family during this period. May His fragrance and light draw all in the Soh clan to Him” – Han Ting

“God ‘s shalom envelop you and your family. He is safe in the arms of Jesus” – Hwee Ying (Prof Yeo)

“Praying God will grant you his shalom and peace at this time” – Kexin Yu

“Will keep you in our prayers – Jenn Yeoong

“May the peace of God continue confort you both the the whole family during the season” – Dr Shirley Tan

“Declaring shalom upon your family during this time of bereavement. Take care and stay strong – Barry Chua”

“May God’s comfort be upon the family – John Dimasapit De Asis”

“Praying for you and your family, for comfort and strength, during this time of loss – Shabani Jazz”

“May the Soh clan come out strongly bonded and move forward in love and unity – Joshua Lim”

“Hope you are both well – thinking of you and praying for you during this time” – Scott Crawley”

“Condolences and may God turn your mourning into joy! – Adwyn & Ariel Chuang”

“We are with you in these moments, and are sure you feel the presence of our Lord. Be blessed – Oli and Monika”

“The default of nature teaches there is a change of the sort which, above all, generates a most fundamental change that cannot be reversed – a change of generation. Generally one generation succeeds another almost silently; at every moment men of all ages between thirty and seventy have considerable influence; each year removes many old men, makes all others older, brings in many new. The transition is so gradual that we hardly perceive it.” Walter Bagehot