On Sunday, we dressed up and headed to McDonald's... remember the best coffee in town... well here's the story of why we go to McDonald's (as odd as that may seem) for coffee and no where else...Anne & Debra had tried a local eatery for coffee/tea the first day in Ipoh. We sat and ordered a coffee and a tea. It appeared the cook wasn't impressed that we only wanted that and nothing to eat. We watched her scoop a ladle from the coffee pot (literally large cooking pot) and we suppose there was a similar pot for tea. We had asked for "to go" but that wasn't an option. The young waiter brought the 2 cup & saucers' to us. Neither looked very appealing. Debra took a sip of her tea... and almost gagged. Anne wasn't too thrilled with her coffee either. All coffee and tea seem to come with milk & sugar whether you want it or not. Neither of us want the sugar. Debra explained that there was no way she could possibly drink the tea... so Anne suggested we run out the door. It was worth the $6RM (Malaysian Ringgit = $2CDN) to get out of there... without the tea or coffee!
At the hospital on Friday, Jonathan (the security guard) had told us that St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church's service began at 9:30AM. None of us thought to check that on line so we planned to arrive for 9ish. It always seems to take a little longer than planned to reach your destination in Malaysia... at least for us... even with GPS! We arrived at the Church about 9:20AM. As we were exiting our vehicle, Chia, one of the Church Deacons, approached and welcomed us. She told us that the Chinese service started at 9AM and the English service at 11AM. We were discussing whether we would leave and come back, or just take some pictures and leave... when Chia insisted we come with her to the Reception Room and have a coffee/tea/hot chocolate drink.
Sunday school was taking place in the Reception Room so she took us out back, found extra chairs, and brought us drinks and cookies. She said that she needed to get to the service but she would have Elder Lin join us.
This is the back of the Church building where the Reception Room is located. There is a new church building in the works. The blue fence has been constructed around the site for the new 700+ seating church. The original church will remain. It is a beautiful stone structure established a long time ago (since we don't know when exactly...) that we have seen in pictures all our lives. Bill & Margaret were married in this church in 1958. Anne, Debra & Billy were baptized in 1960, 1962 and 1963 respectively..... and Margaret, Anne and Debra return today after 50 years!
As Margaret exclaimed during our visit..."I feel more like Elizabeth Taylor than Margaret Taylor"!!!
Deacon (Lin) Hock Chang arrived shortly after Chia left. Again we repeated the infamous story that we are telling pretty much everyone we meet in Malaysia...the story of Bill & Margaret's wedding.... kids born in Batu Gajah... etc., etc. It's quite interesting that everyone appears excited when we relate it, yet we have learned that many don't have a clue what we're telling them...and smile anyway! Hock Chang did understand. He was quite excited to meet someone married in his church 55 years ago, and others baptized as children... before he was even born, as he pointed out! We talked for quite some time.... showed him the small wedding album...that Elizabeth, oops Margaret just happened to have with her...and then to we toured the grounds taking pictures.
The first picture was with a church member, Alyster, who was with her son in the hallway and approached us. Alyster had seen us in McDonald's in Ipoh the day before... yes, we're hanging around McDonalds way too much! We were surprised that she recognized us...not really. We were the only 'orang puteh' (white people) in McDonald's that day... as well as many other places we go. We took pictures with Alyster and her son on both our camera and her camera. Alyster has also invited us to her home in Kuala Lumpur when we return! We have been feeling very special in this beautiful country!! No doubt reality will return very soon.
Hock Chang invited us to join the congregation in the church after the Ministers sermon. He wanted to introduce us... and tell the story! See, we're not the only ones telling the story... Hock Chang led us to the front row in the church.
It was a very special experience. We joined the Chinese congregation in prayer and song. Hock Chang introduced us... in Chinese so we really don't know what was said... but we each stood and smiled at the crowd when he said our name. Afterwards, as has happened in each of these special places we have been, many people approached us to say hello and wish us well; as we did them... and take pictures with us!
Hock Chang could not have been a more gracious host. After the service we spent more time with him and others. Hock Chang showed us an old picture on the wall which no one knew who the people were. Hock Chang was thrilled when Margaret identified Reverend Elder in the picture, the minister that married and baptized the Taylor's. Hock Chang asked if we would send him a copy of the marriage and baptismal certificates as he wanted to see what they were like...in ancient time! Imagine, Margaret had a copy of the marriage certificate in the car so Elizabeth, oops Margaret, asked her assistant Cherpa Debra to go fetch it. Margaret was definitely reacquainting herself with the lifestyle she once had in Malaysia... many years ago.
...then we took a few more pictures with our new friends before hitting the road to Penang Island...
Another GREAT day in Malaysia...
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