This is a story of Lim Kok Hoon, an unsung hero who quietly and as a lone-ranger decorated the pages of the history of the Bahá'í Faith in Malaysia, in his own unique ways. Among his several areas of service, he shall continue to be remembered in the annals of the Bahá'í Faith for rendering indelible services in the aboriginal jungles or Asli areas, and for single-handedly accomplishing the goals of the 9 Year Plan, which was translating Bahá'í literature into the Asli dialects of Senoi, Semai and Temiar dialects.
Kok Hoon as he came to be called, accepted the Faith at the age of 20 in 1964 through the late Mr. S. Nagaratnam while studying at the Sultan Abdul Halim College in Alor Setar. The Faith came to Kok Hoon at a time when he found his life totally hopeless with all the worst odds lined up against him, both at home and in school. Later he would say that it was the mercy of God that had rescued him from both the mental and physical torments and torture that he was enduring during his teenage day.
Kok Hoon was a very bright student who soon rose against all these odds. Even while at Form 4, he was the head of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, and at Form 6 was the editor of the school newspaper called "Suara Maktab." While everyone else was busy panicking and studying for examinations, Kok Hoon would be cool and calm, working on the Suara Maktab. Since his home did not offer a peaceful and proper environment, Kok Hoon would study in his school until late at night. And he did pass well in all his examinations at the college.
As soon as Kok Hoon accepted the Faith he joined his other Bahá'í friends in spending much time studying the Writings, with guidance coming from Nagaratnam. Kok Hoon's first teaching activities were carried out in the company of Nagaratnam and Phung Woon Khing in Alor Setar and Jitra areas, often visiting the rubber plantation settlements. When Kok Hoon became independent, he undertook teaching activities in and around Alor Setar when he was able to ride a bicycle.
As Kok Hoon was picking up momentum in the teaching field, everything had to come to an abrupt ending. The moment Kok Hoon's father came to know that he had accepted the Bahá'í Faith, he was beaten and thrown out of the house. Rather than losing hope in life, Kok Hoon dedicated himself to teaching the Faith. That opened a new phase in his spiritual life. His first services were when he went into the jungles at the age of twenty in 1964, at the behest of Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhajir. From 1964 to 1966 Kok Hoon made frequent visits to the Asli areas, starting with the Kampung Chang in Perak. The Kampung Chang experience opened his eyes. He saw the dire need of human resources to spread the glad tidings among the very receptive Asli believers and decided to dedicate himself to serve the Faith in their midst. Using Perak as the springboard, he later spread his wings into the Asli areas in the states of Kelantan, Selangor, and Pahang. He willingly and knowingly undertook this perilous path of service at a time when there was the grave danger of the banned communists and the soldiers still shooting at each other in the jungles. Although he knew that any inadvertent encounter with either of them meant instant death, he still courageously went ahead leaving his fate in the hands of Bahá'u'lláh traveling by foot, from one Asli village to another which sometimes took two full days to reach the destination.
From urban dwelling into the Asli jungles.
It was not an easy path of service for a youth, born and brought up in a town, and now having to live in a very hostile environment. The terrain was so vicious that by the time he reached the other village his shoes would be torn into shreds and he often needed another pair to walk back. To move from one village to another involved traversing thick jungle foliage, and getting exposed to wild animals, leeches, and snakes. There were times he slept the nights on the trees to avoid soldiers, communists and wild animals. As for food, he had to satisfy with whatever food he could find and even surviving several times on bad food, and at times no food at all. There will be only water with no salt or spice, and the food he ate tasted way off from what he had consumed in the towns. When no animal was trapped, he lived on tapioca that was either baked or smashed into a coarse flour. With Kok Hoon consuming tapioca for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and sometimes supper with no salt or sugar, his feet would swell up. Kok Hoon's intention in sharing his hard life in the jungles was not to complain but to stress that one has to be happy in the teaching field, whatever comes by.
Kok Hoon spent his time in the Asli villages, teaching them the basic tenets of the Faith in simple terms. He stressed the importance of chanting prayers and introduced basic laws. He himself used to chant the Tablet of Ahmad from memory in their company in the Malay language. Kok Hoon used to relate many stories of the Heroic days and stories related to the life and sufferings of Bahá'u'lláh, and through this he wanted them to develop the love for the Blessed Beauty.
In 1966, Kok Hoon moved into the town of Petaling Jaya to take up a degree course in University Malaya. He did get a place in University Malaya, and while studying involved in an aggressive proclamation of the Faith. But he could not continue his studies owing to financial problems. Yet, during that very short spell at University Malaya, a dramatic event took place. There was a group of students who humiliated, embarrassed and insulted Kok Hoon all because he proclaimed the Faith such an audacity. He was tolerating for several days until things crossed the threshold. One day they yelled "Bahá'í" as he entered the lecture hall. Kok Hoon felt so hurt that he recited the Fire Tablet to relieve him of the agony his heart was going through. His prayer was instantly answered. The very next day news reached him that the group of those notorious students met with a car incident, and all of them died on the spot. Kok Hoon was plunged into further sorrow as that was not what he had prayed for. He was sad for several days, until one day a close friend consoled Kok Hoon that ours is the duty to pray, but God decides the nature of answer for our prayers. Kok Hoon felt slightly relieved. But he came to a firm conclusion. That would be the first and last time he would recite the Fire Tablet. Kok Hoon shared this episode only with selected friends.
Kok Hoon's coming to Petaling Jaya was useful in another way. When Kok Hoon came into Petaling Jaya in 1966, it was a period of inactivity there, and the Local Spiritual Assembly was at its weakest. It was reported that from 1964 not even a single soul accepted the Faith. It was at this time that the dynamic Kok Hoon came to Petaling Jaya. When Mr. V. Theenathayalu from Alor Setar was secretary of this Assembly in 1967, he was re-organizing the administrative affairs of the community with a good filing system. Kok Hoon got hold of the list of the old Bahá'ís and went on a motorcycle with Theenathayalu to visit them for the purpose of consolidating them and reviving the community. He and Theenathayalu who were already close friends from the Alor Setar days. Things started to turn out for the better in stages.
When Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhajir came to Malaysia in April 1967 and heard about the great services rendered by Kok Hoon in the Asli villages in the state of Perak. Dr. Muhajir immediately requested him to concentrate on a special task for the Faith, which was the completion of the tribal translation goals under the Nine-Year Plan for Malaysia. It was on the request of Dr. Muhajir and his love for the Blessed Beauty that emboldened Kok Hoon to single-handedly accomplish the one goal of the Nine-Year Plan, which was translating Bahá'í literature into the Asli dialects of Senoi, Semai and Temiar dialects. Kok Hoon held back this task owing to several other commitments. The Nine-Year Plan was ending in 1973, and the national institution reminded him that they were relying solely on him to win this goal. Kok Hoon sat down and completed the task on time and with distinction, winning the hearts of the Supreme Body, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Malaysia, and of course Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhajir. It was learned later that Kok Hoon had knowledge of eight dialects of the Asli people.
Kok Hoon once again set off to Bidor area in the state of Perak, this time for two months, effective 7 April 1967. Upon completion of the two months in Bidor, Kok Hoon moved on to concentrate in the Hulu Langat and the Kuala Langat areas in the state of Selangor. Kok Hoon moved with those simple people and soon won their love. Kok Hoon not only understood the culture and way of life of the Asli believers but became very much part of them. He was successful in bringing in several thousand Asli people into the Bahá'í fold in forty-eight villages from the Hulu Langat and Kuala Langat areas in the state of Selangor.
Whenever Kok Hoon came out of the jungles in the Hulu Langat area, tired and broken, it was the late Appu Raman who cared for Kok Hoon and treated his wounds. Whenever Kok Hoon reached Appu Raman's residence in Cheras, at times during the early hours around 3 am, he did not bother to knock the door. Appu Raman would see him in the morning, sleeping on the doormat with the family guard dog, which never barked as it too had befriended him through his several visits. Such was his humility. Once out of the jungles, Kok Hoon consumed much salt water to replenish his body system, rather than visiting a doctor, as there was no money in his pockets.
While carrying out Asli teaching in Selangor, Kok Hoon frequented the National Bahá'í Center in Kuala Lumpur, where he spent much time sharing his success stories with S. Vasudevan, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, who was residing in the Centre.
Kuala Lumpur, early 1967. Kok Hoon is seated with S. Vasudevan. Standing at extreme left is Kit Yin Khiang, Malaysia's first pioneer to Taiwan, with Lee Wai Kok next to him. At extreme right is Sabapathy, who passed away in Mozambique.
Kok Hoon also served in other capacities. In 1967 he served on the National Bahá'í Youth Council. When a Teaching Conference was held at the Aun Hwa Chinese School in Tanjung Piandang, in May 1968, Kok Hoon spoke in simple and yet impressive Malay. This was a conference organized by the State Teaching Committee of North Perak and attended by Bahá'ís from Bagan Serai, Alor Setar, Taiping, and Penang. The estate communities around too participated in this conference.
But Kok Hoon was always on the move. On 1 September 1967, he came back to Alor Setar to take up his first job in the Income Tax office. From Alor Setar Kok Hoon was transferred to Penang in December 1967 where he stayed until 1974. It was while Kok Hoon was in Penang that Hand of the Cause Mr. Abul Qasim Faizi visited Malaysia in 1968 to attend the South East Asia Regional Youth Conference held in Kuala Lumpur. In this trip, Mr. Faizi had desired to visit the Asli believers in the jungles, and Kok Hoon's services became a natural choice. Kok Hoon drove down to Kampung Chang in the state of Perak in his newly purchased Peugeot car. When Mr. Faizi arrived at Kampung Chang hundreds of tribal friends from several villages had come to welcome Mr. Faizi, having walked several hours through hills, rivers, and thick jungles. At that conference, many mothers stood carrying their infants in their hands. There were children flocking around Mr. Faizi. Seeing many children, Mr. Faizi spoke about the importance of education and training for the children. As an expert in the Senoi and Temun-Belanda dialects of the aborigines, Kok Hoon translated the talks of Mr. Faizi into those local dialects. Kok Hoon later informed Mr. Faizi in his private conversation that the tribal believers could feel his love for them.
Hand of the Cause of God Mr. A. Q. Faizi with Asli believers at Kampung Chang, Perak.
But this gathering faced an urgent problem which Kok Hoon did anticipate. A large number of Asli believers who had come to visit the Hand of the Cause had to be fed. There was none who was able to come forward to prepare food for them. Kok Hoon had only RM 500 in his pocket, which was set aside to be paid as an installment for his car for that month of December. But the situation came to a point where he had to either take care of the Asli believers or have his car repossessed. He did not want to lose the hundreds of believers and being ridiculed by the hundreds more of non-Bahá'ís who had gathered to see Mr. Faizi. He acted fast. On getting the pulse from the ground, Kok Hoon drove into the nearby town of Bidor and bought one sack of rice, several tins of sardines, onions, chilies, dried fish, coffee, sugar and biscuits with the only cash he had. With the plenty of food and drinks that Kok Hoon brought, a carnival-like atmosphere was set in at Kampung Chang. With this enthusiasm, a new idea came upon him. Kok Hoon resorted to open-air teaching. With the light of kerosene lamp, he taught the whole night until morning and no less than 500 people, including the newly married wives or husbands of the believers, came into the Faith. The next morning, he drove back to Penang to surrender his car to the car re-possessors and took to cycling to the office for many months to come.
The time came for Kok Hoon to settle down. Kok Hoon was a firm believer in inter-racial marriage. He was having an Asli girl in mind but had been postponing making the first move. But when he was in Penang that Kok Hoon was introduced to Miss Chow Kim Foong, at the Penang Bahá'í Centre at 42, Peel Avenue. Chow Kim Foong accepted the Faith in 1964, through Khoo Siew Teh. In the words of Kok Hoon, after meeting Miss Chow Kim Foong, "My head started to spin, and my heart started to throb." He spent a few days saying the Tablet of Ahmad, beseeching Bahá'u'lláh to guide him to the right girl destined for him. Bahá'u'lláh paved the way and he was guided. After a year of courtship, Kok Hoon and Chow Kim Foong were married on 25 January 1970, at Penang Free School Hall with Counselor Dr. C. J. Sundram conducting the wedding.
Counselor Dr. C. J. Sundram conducting the wedding.
Following the wedding, he took his wife for a honeymoon, and that was to the Asli village of Kampung Chang. His heart was always for the Asli people. Chow Kim Foong fully understood the love her husband had for the Faith and the Asli believers. She became his strongest supporter and companion. This couple was blessed with a boy and a girl. They named their son Jalel Lim Boon Aik, and daughter was named Joanna Lim Mei Lin. Acutely aware of the problems he himself went through during his childhood days, he ensured his children got the best education. His daughter Joanna especially got a scholarship from Canterbury University in New Zealand and pursued her PhD in Education, since is lecturing there since graduating in 2017.
There was one more first-time effort that Kok Hoon initiated in Penang in 1972 was the first Bahá'í Conference in the Hokkien dialect, which was first mooted by Kok Hoon himself. Wong Meng Fook from Singapore says, "When Kok Hoon took up this matter with Assembly the institution happily and immediately gave its approval." Then the majority of the participants were the youths of Penang who had just accepted the Faith. This conference was held at the home of Mrs. Lily Jansz at 21, Lim Cheng Teik which was also the Bahá'í Centre for Georgetown community. Kok Hoon took on the task of translating a selection of the Bahá'í prayers from English into Hokkien dialect, using combination of alphabetical words to capture as close as possible the sounds and pronunciations for their equivalent Hokkien names such as "God," " The Almighty," "The All-Knowing," and "The All-Wise." The participants found the exercise full of fun and yet enjoyed that historic get-together. Among the friends who participated were Mrs. Lily Jansz, Mrs. Lily Seow, Mrs. Susie Wong, Mr. Yin Hong Shuen, Mr. Soh Aik Leng, Mr. Anthony Boon, Mr. Wong Meng Fook, Mr. Tan Lee Soo Hock, Mr. Wong Cheow Wing, Mr. Tan Hui Chuan, Mr. Lim Chye Choy, Mr. Jimmy Seow, Mr. Lim Kok Hoon, Miss Loh Wan Wan, Miss Loh Lee Lee (at the time of writing this story was Counselor Dr. Lee Lee Ludher), Miss Chung Chiew Lai (Mrs. Julie Pau), Miss Yap Ai Nee, Miss Padma Sundram, and Miss Ong Lean Im. Among the children who participated were Chong Poh Chean, Chong Siew Lean, Wong Sow Fen, Wong Meng Kee, and Malini Sundram.
First Hokkien Conference, 1972. Leaning on the wall towards the right is the organizer Lim Kok Hoon. Wong Meng Fook is at extreme right, and the host Lily Jansz is at extreme left.
While in Penang, Kok Hoon had also been assisting in the development of Nibong Tebal and Parit Buntar and Bandar Baru situated on the mainland, and to the south of Penang.
Within a span of 4 years, Kok Hoon managed to add another 22 Local Spiritual Assemblies in northern Perak with undivided support coming from the believers in Taiping area. He was Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Larut Matang and Kamunting during the time he was in Taiping area and proved to be an able administrator and planner of several teaching activities. The Taiping friends remember Kok Hoon reciting ardent prayers, especially the Tablet of Ahmad before undertaking any kind of Bahá'í activities. He also attempted to memorize prayers in the Tamil language.
Assembly of Taiping, 1975. Seated L-R: Mrs. Chow Kim Foong, N. Ramasamy, Lim Kok Hoon, R. Kanniappan and Mrs. Gunaletchumy Perimal. Standing L-R: Shanmugam, Kumar, Arputhaseelan and G. Perimal.
Taiping, 1976. Yankee Leong, Lim Kok Hoon, Jalel Lim Boon Aik, and Chow Kim Foong.
Kok Hoon's focus within Taiping town was on bringing back the old-time Chinese believers in Taiping, which he did successfully. He paid some pocket money to a Tamil and a Chinese travel teacher to carry out full-time teaching work in the Taiping area. The Tamil travel teacher was T. Maniam, Homeopathy Practitioner in Butterworth, and the Chinese friend was Ah Seng from Kuala Sepatang. Kok Hoon also bought a bicycle for Maniam to move around in Taiping. Kok Hoon organized teaching teams. He roped in local believers like Arputhaseelan, N. Ramasamy and G. Perimal as well. He started with a Volkswagen and later a Fiat car in which took them for teaching trips. With the assistance of Ah Seng, the community in the town of Bagan Serai was revived. Soon many Chinese accepted the Faith. Several Chinese School headmasters, teachers and heads of the Chinese Chambers of Commerce enrolled into the Faith. A strong Chinese base was established in Taiping. One member of the Board of Governors of the Hua Lian Secondary School also accepted the Faith. Kok Hoon used his influence to rent a bungalow in Maxwell Hill belonging to Perak Royalty and took along the believers for retreats to read the Writings and plan activities. Mr. Wong Meng Fook and Mr. Soh Aik Leng from Penang and Mr. Yee Wai Cheong from Butterworth too joined them.
Retreat at Maxwell Hill, 1976. Squatting L-R: N. Ramasamy, Chong Siew Lan, Soh Aik Leng, Selvam, and Yee Wai Cheong. Standing L-R: Wong Meng Fook, Mrs. Manickam, Mrs. Gunaletchumy Perimal, Jokim Robert, Kumar, Arputhaseelan and Lim Kok Hoon.
Immersed in the Writings. Second from left is Yee Wai Cheong, third from left is N. Ramasamy, fourth from left is Arputhaseelan and at extreme right is Kok Hoon.
The believers were all along gathering in the homes of believers. Kok Hoon saw that the community had grown big enough to rent a centre. At the end of the 1970s, Kok Hoon initiated the renting of a Bahá'í Centre in Taiping. He donated his own cabinet and initiated a library as well. Soon Taiping became one of the most active Bahá'í communities in the state of Perak. Kok Hoon also initiated communications with the authorities to acquire Bahá'í burial grounds, which was followed up by later believers.
Kok Hoon's stay in Taiping was also marked with a period of intense teaching in the rubber plantation settlements or estates. He took along Tamil speaking friends to nearby estates. At Soon Lee Estate in the Bagan Serai area, Kok Hoon became a close friend of Mr. Gopal. Gopal's father Mr. Ramayah, was a supervisor in the estate and a strong supporter of the Faith, though not a believer. Kok Hoon set up a dynamic team and opened up several estates in northern Perak. Among them were Chersonese Estate, Malaya Estate, Highbornia Estate, Jebong Estate, Lauderall Estate, Widsor Estate, Kati Estate, Krian Road Estate, Batu Kurau Estate, Sin Wah Estate, Pulau Estate, Buluh Estate, Eagle Hurst Estate, and Pondok Tanjung Estate. This team also went to open up the Port Weld Fishing Village and Kampung Baru Ulu Sepetang. In all these trips it was Kok Hoon who would foot the bill for all kinds of expenses. Kok Hoon's success in winning the hearts of the simple people in the estates all because he was down to earth and mixed around without any prejudice. He would sit down on the floor with them and partake of their coffee. He would carry along the Feast Newsletters issued in the English language and translate them on the spot into Malay. And he would appear at the Feasts held in the estates dressed up in the traditional Indian dress of dhoti (called Veshti in the Tamil language). The estate people simply admired, loved and flocked around him. Kok Hoon's stay in Taiping was a period of dynamism, and full of personal sacrifice on his part.
From Taiping Kok Hoon gave assistance to the Bahá'í community in Ipoh town as well. This town is located south of Taiping. Kok Hoon played an important role in the purchase of the Bahá'í Center of Ipoh town at 12, Jalan Rajawali. The Bahá'ís of Ipoh were desperately looking for RM 1,000 to be paid as the down payment for a terrace house costing RM 27,900, to be used as a Bahá'í Centre. Just 24 hours before the deadline, Mrs. Theresa Chee from Ipoh rang up Kok Hoon in Taiping informing him of the dilemma. Kok Hoon who loved Theresa Chee immediately rushed down to see Theresa Chee with RM1, 000, not in one bundle of notes, but in loose changes and a lot of shillings. With that cash that came in on time, the believers of Ipoh booked the link house, which cost extra by RM1,000 all because it was situated facing a beautiful field. That house was purchased in 1976, and to this day Theresa Chee remembers the timely help by Kok Hoon, and always had a fond liking for him. Theresa's husband Mr. Chee Ah Hin was a shy and reserved believer. Kok Hoon befriended him and they met up often and became best of friends.
In 1982 Kok Hoon came to work in Kuala Lumpur for a period of two years. In this short period, he took along Tamil speaking friends from Kuala Lumpur, including the late Anthonysamy to visit several rubber plantation settlements in the Kuala Selangor areas to teach and deepen the believers.
It must be noted that wherever Kok Hoon was residing his heart was always glued to the spiritual welfare of the Asli people. In 1982 the Asli friends in the jungles of Perak were placed under restricted movements. Kok Hoon feared the possibility of those believers losing their spirit and finally leaving the Faith. Their spirit was already reported to be at the lowest ebb. He came up with a brilliant individual initiative. He crafted a strategy to take them out of curfew areas and train them at the Ipoh Bahá'í centre on Esselmont's "Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era." The target group was youths below the age of 16. In this fortnightly program spanning over 15 months, a total of 50 children and adults were trained at Ipoh. Later this was carried out in the Selangor area with the training taking place at the old Bahá'í center in Petaling Jaya. Here a total of 44 children and adults were trained fortnightly. Kok Hoon himself cooked the food and provided the bus fares to and fro. In that 15-month period, Kok Hoon did not send a single cent to his family, and he was proud of his wife who understood his heart only too well. He spent quite a huge amount to ensure the success of the training program- all for the love of the Asli people, the Faith, and the Blessed Beauty.
Kok Hoon retired from service in 1982, with a name for himself at the Income Tax Department. While at the Income Tax Department Kok Hoon was recognized for the speed and diligence with which he discharged his duties. He would complete in a few hours what would take an average officer some eight hours to complete a very difficult tax case. He mastered the art of detecting loopholes and gaps deliberately left out in the tax returns. There had been incidents where people had attempted to offer him money to have their taxes reduced, and Kok Hoon had threatened them of reporting to the nearest police station, with the usual stern look and penetrating eyes that was of him. Never was he embroiled in a corruption scandal, and neither was he caving into demands or pressure of any kind. Although Kok Hoon had all the qualifications to rise higher in his career, he lost out in his rightful promotions, which was not surprising in government service, given the kind of prejudiced work environment.
Although Kok Hoon went on optional retirement from Government service, he continued working in a private firm, and finally set up his own Tax Consultancy firm. From the earnings flowing in he was still able to serve the Cause as effectively as before, visiting the Asli friends in the jungles in Perak and those from the estates and fishing villages in Selangor. Kok Hoon loved to travel places. He was happy to have traveled to Bali and Lake Toba in Indonesia, Saigon in Vietnam, Sydney in Australia, and his ancestral home in Fuchou, China.
Dressed up as Balinese dancer. Always dared to be different.
The one place where he had left his heart was the holiest spot on earth for the believers. He had always wanted to go for pilgrimage. His prayers were answered, and he undertook nine-day Pilgrimage in 2008. Throughout the pilgrimage period, Kok Hoon was seen to be in his own world, lost in a meditative mood. Owing to failing health and feebleness he found it difficult to walk and keep pace with others in the pilgrim group. He was always the last to arrive, but the bus driver was kind to wait for him to board the bus. During visits to Bahji, Kok Hoon spent most of the time praying in the inner Shrine of the Blessed Beauty. When the bus departed for the hotel with other pilgrims, Kok Hoon stayed back at Bahji and kept praying in the inner Shrine, until the doors were closed. He would be the last to walk out and arrive at the hotel by taxi. Even on the day allocated for rest during the mid-point of the pilgrimage period, Kok Hoon went to the Shrine of the Blessed Beauty early in the morning and returned late.
After undertaking the pilgrimage, Kok Hoon still moved around visiting friends. He took along Dr. Kang Cheng Khay to visit Theresa Chee in Ipoh. Kok Hoon was happy to learn of the many services that Tan Boon Tin was carrying out in the Asli areas since he came to Ipoh in 1980. Kajang community was one more place he visited, meeting up with old friends like Mr. Ramayah Rengan, and Mr. Jami Subramaniam who was not keeping well.
As his sunset days neared, Kok Hoon could not drive around actively. Yet he followed other friends to where his heart was always – the Asli areas. He would join Mr. Karthikeyam of Subang community for an overnight stay among the Asli people in the village in Keding, near Slim River. Although feeble and tired, he was seen very energetic the moment he addressed the friends.
On the 68th birthday of Kok Hoon, March 2012. Standing L-R: Gwee Goh Yan, Giam Chin Chye, Karthigeyam, Lum Weng Hoe, and Alexson Keling from Miri. Seated next to Kok Hoon is Alpha an Asli believer from Kampung Menderang, very attached to Kok Hoon.
Meanwhile, Kok Hoon had been working for months and compiled photostat copies of his favorite Writings of Bahá'u'lláh but owing to financial difficulties he could not bind them to be distributed to some of his close friends. In 2011, Mr. Jacky Chan and Mr. Goh Kean Kooi from Penang visited him at his residence. At this meeting, Kok Hoon looked very sad on account of his inability to bind a few copies of the compilation. Jacky Chan and Goh Kean Kooi took Kok Hoon in their car to a printer in Petaling Jaya town and worked out the details, and in three weeks' time the binding was completed with hardcover, and about thirty copies were passed on to Kok Hoon. The title of the book and the names of the intended recipients were embossed in gold color. Kok Hoon was reborn with a new radiance. He sent this Short Message System to Goh Kean Kooi, "So very happy! Bahá'u'lláh arranged everything. Oh! I can't sleep! Something which troubled me for months through health to near-death is now solved. Thank you. Thanks to the Lord!" These two friends had been visiting Kok Hoon often in the last phase of his life and kept communicating with Kok Hoon by telephone calls and exchange of SMS. Kok Hoon even had been planning to take them for teaching trips to Penang, state of Kelantan and South Thailand, but his ill health took the upper hand to halt him.
One of the recipients of the compilation was Cheng Jooi Sey of Alor Setar.
When Kok Hoon became more and more immobile, he invited friends to visit him at his home. His conversation with believers often centered on the urgency of completing the unfinished goals. One of the very last to visit him was Dr. Gopinath, whom Kok Hoon loved much. When Dr. Gopinath visited him, Kok Hoon was rushing through some brief write-up about himself which he had wanted to be published by someone. That was his last wish, expressed to his dear friend Dr. Gopinath.
The third quarter of the year 2014 was, unfortunately, a painful period of frequent hospitalization for the one time vibrant, enthusiastic, relentless and active worker in the Cause. Kok Hoon developed acute health complications, compounded with serious diabetes with which he had been battling for some years. When gangrene was affecting his leg, he went on a period of intensive exercises, including swimming 20 laps in an Olympic size swimming pool for days and chanting the Tablet of Ahmad from memory several times a day. For no known reasons, he abruptly gave up on intensive exercise and started consuming all kinds of food that were not good for him, defying advice by both doctors and close friends. His health deteriorated faster. On 8 January 2014, Kok Hoon was diagnosed with severe stomach perforated gastric ulcer. After an operation, he was admitted into the ward for 36 days at the Intensive Care Unit of University Hospital and moved to a normal ward for another two weeks. He was discharged with bedsore, with holes under the skin measuring a depth of two forefingers. He continued to get dressing done at home, while still getting in and out of the hospital. Kok Hoon was admitted again for Deep Vein Thrombosis, kidney failure, and irregular heartbeat.
When he was discharged, he expressed intense wish to attend the Bahá'í Winter School in Port Dickson starting 14 December 2014. Jacky Chan and Goh Kean Kooi took him to the Winter School. At that gathering, he indicated to some of his close friends, including G.A. Naidu about his premonition that his days on this earthly plane were ending. On the last day of the Winter School, Kok Hoon was not able to move his legs. Jacky Chan and Goh Kean Kooi carried him into their car and brought him back to his home in Subang Jaya. That was about the last Bahá'í gathering he attended.
On 23 December 2014, he was again admitted to University Hospital. Kok Hoon's leg was bad with gangrene and needed to be amputated to save his life. But Kok Hoon did not consent to amputation. On 4 January 2014, Kok Hoon's close friend Lum Weng Hoe from Subang Jaya and his wife Shirley visited Kok Hoon who was already on the oxygen mask. On seeing Lum and Shirley he fought with the nurses to remove the oxygen mask to enable him to chant the Tablet of Ahmad, his favorite prayer, together with Lum and Shirley. Lum and Shirley chanted the prayer with tearful eyes, while tears were rolling down the cheeks of Kok Hoon. After the prayers, Lum and Shirley instinctively moved forward, held Kook Hoon's hands tightly, kissed them reverently, took a step back and bowed with respect to that unique personage. Kok Hoon waved his hand to bid his final farewell. Then the couple left with a heavy heart. Just before breathing his last, Kok Hoon was still busy sending SMS to some of his friends, oblivious to the reality that his time was almost out and over. He sent SMS to his friend Goh Kean Kooi, "I will get out of the hospital in three days' time, trying to avoid dialysis. I want to get out and do Bahá'í work." But the Divine Will was otherwise. On Monday, 5 January 2015, at 6:30 pm, while undergoing dialysis, Kok Hoon's already weak heart stopped, and his pure soul winged its flight to the Abha Kingdom.
A wake was held at the residence of Kok Hoon in Subang Jaya town. Several friends, Asli friends included, stayed on to say prayers round the clock. The Asli friends said prayers in the Semai language into which Kok Hoon had translated for them under the Nine-Year Plan. They also chanted some favorite prayers of Kok Hoon. A few friends spoke at the funeral. Alpha, the Asli believer from Kampong Menderang said some words in the Semai language. Lum Weng Hoe gave a moving tribute to Kok Hoon. When reading out eulogy on Kok Hoon that the author sent from abroad, Mr. Selvakumar Thambipillai chocked a few times. Emotions ran very high in the gathering.
Some friends who kept the wake.
That was indeed a very befitting funeral arrangement, following which Kok Hoon was given a kingly send off, to be buried at the Nirvana Cemetery in Shah Alam, Selangor. Thus, meaningful and weighty life of more than half a century of illustrious service came to an end!
At this juncture, a word has to be said of his wonderful wife. Mrs. Chow Kim Foong was Kok Hoon's strongest supporter, giving him all the support and encouragement to serve the Faith. She was a mother-like figure, kind-hearted and always there to provide any assistance she could for her fellow believers. She withstood so many tests with such an indomitable spirit- all armed with the power of prayers and complete faith in her Creator. She loved Kok Hoon not only because he was a good husband, but also because of the amount of love he had for the Faith.
In summing up Kok Hoon's life, we have to underscore that he was well-endowed with multi-talents. From childhood days, Kok Hoon was highly intelligent, sharp-tongued and quick-minded, coupled with extreme wittiness. Those who had understood him well would call him as an uncut diamond. An uncut diamond is still a diamond! He had the talent to liven up the atmosphere at gatherings. When introducing himself at gatherings held after his retirement, he would say "I am an independent tax consultant. My job is to advise people on how to avoid paying taxes." It was that kind of wittiness that kept the friends in stitches. He was very quick to detect anything incongruent and would voice out without any fear. It would be difficult, and yet interesting to keep pace with the speed with which his mind would think, and words flow. Somehow, throughout his life, Kook Hoon had demonstrated that he was never suited to the cut and thrust of hypocrisy. His outspoken nature could have upset the equilibrium at some gatherings. All things considered, there were no malicious intentions in him.
One must get to the root of his childhood days to correctly appreciate his sometimes difficult to understand behavior. Child abuse, utter poverty and constant traumatic incidences in his teen life had molded his personality. Kok Hoon never ever had a happy childhood. At the very tender age 10, he was forced to carry a big rattan bag full of Chinese cakes and hit the streets to sell them. Each day Kok Hoon had to get up at dawn, sell the cakes on the streets, return home, have breakfast, dress up and then go to school. Upon return from school, he again continued to sell them on the streets, at times, till dusk. He had to do this to support his impoverished family of 11 children of whom he was the eldest. On several occasions, Kok Hoon also had to go into selling fish and vegetables in the villages and return buying eggs and chickens from there to be sold in the Alor Setar markets. That amount of sacrifice did not help to the fullest. In his next year, when Kok Hoon was 11, the family had to be satisfied with eating only plain porridge. Kok Hoon himself had to sacrifice, on several occasions, his own bowl of porridge to his younger siblings and ended up spending the whole night drinking tap water. As a child, he was abused by parents not out of hatred for him, but owing to frustrations stemming out of extreme poverty. There was an incident he often related. When his parents could not afford a happy atmosphere, he had a loving aunt who cared for him. One day she took him to see the movie "Alexander the Great" at the Alor Setar "Rex" theatre. Upon return, he was beaten up badly.
In 1962 when Kok Hoon was studying in Form 5 and was about to sit for his Senior Cambridge Examinations his father made it very clear that he could not afford to send him to school anymore. That came as a blow to him. That was the time when he often went to the house of a neighbor, mostly on an invitation, for a decent lunch. That neighbor admired the intelligence of Kok Hoon and pitied his plight and predicament. Unasked the kind neighbor offered Kok Hoon RM100 a month to continue schooling until his Senior Cambridge examination was over. And Kok Hoon did well in the examinations. In the mid-1960s, two sons of that neighbor became Bahá'ís and to this day are serving with distinction. Kok Hoon continued to have a rough time at school, not out of bad behavior, but owing to financial problems to support himself. While studying Lower Form 6, Kok Hoon was humiliated and embarrassed when he was made to stand on the school desk, all for not having enough money to pay his school fees. His immediate neighbors at Jalan Menanti, off Jalan Putra (today close to the Setar City Hotel) were Teh Teik Cheow and Teh Teik Hoe who had witnessed with great agony, several of those bitter episodes.
Kok Hoon at left, a master in the Carrom game.
Kok Hoon himself did not forget that kind gesture of the neighbor who had helped him in his school days, which translated into himself helping others. When Kok Hoon was well placed in life, he used to provide similar assistance to students and youths. He himself loved to eat well and had enjoyed taking the unemployed youth and the poor believers for sumptuous meals at good restaurants.
All those bitter and traumatic pasts affected him badly at his last years, at times upsetting his mental framework. Kok Hoon was worn out from what he called "psychological torture in the hands of some authorities." He used to mention that owing to his active involvement in the Asli areas, he was monitored, his phone lines were tapped, and he was followed wherever he went. But all these were nothing but products of his vain imagination. Despite such utter childhood poverty, God bestowed on Kok Hoon rare talents and extraordinary abilities seldom found in an average student. He developed a superb mastery of the English language even while at college. Kok Hoon's excellent command of the English language was self-made, perhaps necessitated by his grinding poverty and hardship. He was reading old American newspapers, which his family folded and glued into paper bags to be sold to sundry shops for some meagre income. Kok Hoon read some 50 kilograms of those newspapers every week from the time he was in primary three right up to secondary school. Kok Hoon shone as an unparalleled champion in the Pro-Scrabble game. He loved this game so much that even after retiring from service, he often organized scrabble games for the Bahá'í youths. In all the competitions he was the unparalleled winner. He amazed his competitors by using words which were seldom used in normal conversation and writing. Often his competitors, after losing the game, would quietly consult a dictionary to check out if such words used by Kok Hoon ever existed. Playing scrabble game with him only enhanced the command of the English vocabulary. Kok Hoon used to carry the scrabble board around and organized games or competitions for the Bahá'í youths. In the later part of his life, Kok Hoon joined the Scrabble Society of Malaysia, where his outstanding ability was recognized. He displayed exceptional ability in composing poems of an excellent standard in the English language.
One salient aspect of the Bahá'í life of Kok Hoon was that he was always moving as unrestrained as a wind. Rather than working in committees, he preferred and was seen to be more effective as a loner. He often devised his own plans and would always come out victorious. At times he would disappear from the radar. Then news would reach that he had gone to a far-off community to visit friends. Kok Hoon took serving the Faith very seriously. He created high impacts and traces in all the places he resided. There was always something new he would bring to the communities, and he himself would expect believers to think out of the box. He always pulled a rabbit out of a hat, as they say. His philosophy seemed to be "either shape up or ship out!" Kok Hoon himself created remarkable impacts wherever he resided.
Kok Hoon loved and respected the elders in the Faith. By his own testimony, he had a special liking for several elders, amongst others Theresa Chee of Ipoh, Appu Raman of Kuala Lumpur, S. Nagaratnam of Alor Setar and S. Satanam of Seremban, who had played significant roles in his spiritual growth. Theresa Chee was a mother-like figure for him whose advice he would always cherish. Appu Raman extended Kok Hoon all the love, care, and comforting words whenever he was down in spirit. Nagaratnam had instilled into Kok Hoon immense love for the Holy Writings, making teaching the Faith a life-long activity, facing tests with very strong courage, and avoiding attachment to the kingdom of names. Satanam was one believer who kept encouraging Kok Hoon to teach the Asli people.
Kok Hoon was a person of such rare talents that had he wished to shine in the outside world, he would have excelled in several ways. But Bahá'u'lláh seem to have created Kok Hoon for much greater purposes. When Kok Hoon grew in then Faith, he put aside all his ambitions and accepted serving the Faith as his one and the only prime goal. All things considered, there is compelling and manifest evidence for history to agree that Kok Hoon had carved out a distinctive path of service, undertaken with utter sincerity and strong love for the Blessed Beauty.
thank you for such a detailed and comprehensive recollection of Lim Kok Hoon , another valiant hero of the Faith from Alor Star , my home town. May Kok Hoon's examplary life of dedication and sacrifice inspire the upcoming younger generations to walk the path of serving their Lord. You have captured his life of service in this interesting write up. Once again thank you very much for this great service you are rendering.
Hearing for the first time when Kok Hoon read the prayer in Malay, I could literally 'hear' the holy and sweet melodies. It was so wonderful when he read the prayer in the malay language, so poweful was his translation. Thanks for the memories & melodies.
The simplicity, sincerity and the challenges of life of Lim Kok Hoon brought tears to the eyes.
Lim Kok Hoon's life and service to the Cause of Baha'u'llah is a shining example of humility and self-sacrifice.
May his life guide and inspire us!
Great services are being offered by all those involved in putting such efforts in sharing the great lives of these noble Souls!
Wishing you all the best in His resplendent Cause.
Thank you very much for presenting to the world yet another extraordinary story on the episode of Mr. Lim Kok Hoon. I have read it twice to appreciate his dedication and immense love for the Blessed Beauty. He had without any doubt left an amazing path of service for not only the Asli teachers but to every other Bahá'ís out there to emulate.
He had throughout his life dedicated himself to teaching the Faith in the Asli areas with full devotion, passion, obsession, determination and energy – travelled by foot from one Asli village to another, traversing thick jungle foliage, terrain so vicious and getting exposed to wild animals, leeches and snakes, slept the nights on the trees to avoid soldiers, communists and wild animals, surviving several times on very "bad food" was beyond imagination.
His remarkable achievement of accomplishing single-handedly the goals of the 9 Year Plan by translating Bahá'í literature into the Asli dialects of Senoi, Semai and Temiar dialect – and had knowledge of some eight dialects of the Asli people was amazing. He had also attempted to memorize prayers in the Tamil language!
"When the call came, I took care of the Cause of God; and when my time came, God took care of my cause." That's the biggest testimony that the Blessed Beauty will never fail him both spiritually and materially. It's so unbelievable that he put aside all his personal ambitions and served the Faith as his one and the only prime goal. What a spiritual giant he was!
While in Sudan, I read those lines aloud to my wife Ramani in Cambodia over the phone and yet again my eyes welled up in tears. I pray that the Blessed Beauty to place the late Mr. Kok Hoon amongst His choicest servants and blessed souls in the eternal realm. What a spiritual legend he was!
My only regret was that I never had a chance to meet that dynamic and spiritual human being while I was still in Malaysia. Nevertheless, I have used some of his lines in my writing to fellow Bahá'ís in Cambodia, encouraged them to read his story, and shared it to all my other contacts out there.
Once again, you have done a wonderful work and a great service to the Bahá'í world. May god bless you and your family profusely.
I read your write up on Lim Kok Hoon to my mother Theresa Chee who is also mentioned in your story.
My mother said this was a very good write up on Kok Hoon and that he deserves this tribute. The time that she will always remember was when she herself used to visit him in Taiping. He would enthusiastically tell her about his teaching plans. especially for Chinese teaching and she would encourage him.
A few years before he passed away, he wrote a very loving letter to my mother. I found it some time ago n gave it to my mum to keep.
She always prays for him.
This wonderful soul is someone I met many times, as I come from the same community. Many a time I used to hear his stories of travel teachings, especially teaching in the Asli villages. May Bahaullah bless his wonderful soul.
Believe it or not, I just spent 2 hours reading this recollection of Kok Hoon amidst my busy schedule. Thank you very very very very much for this great write-up.
That was an incredible tribute to such a wonderful servant of Bahá'u'lláh. The final bedside visit made me cry, it was so beautifully described.
Lim Kok Hoon was a legend in his own life-time. The story of Kok Hoon is so inspiring. His achievements are phenomenal. He achieved one of the goals for the 9-Year Plan for Malaysia single-handedly in translating the Writings into Asli (several dialects), and the establishment of dozens of Local Assemblies.
I recommend everyone reads the story of this remarkable Baha'i and get all the inspiration and motivation possible.
At last I have finished reading the write up on your recollections on the Bahai services and the life of Lim Kok Hoon. So inspiring and enlightening. Like a fairy tale.
Wished I had known him better. I hardly knew him, not personally, that is, but I have heard of his name, how he served The Asli Communities, his dedication and sacrifices.
Credit should go to Nagaratnam who taught him the Faith and also nurtured him. Kok Hoon sounded such an intelligent student and later as an adult.
By the way, Kok Hoon knew the Asli Dialects of Senoi, Semai and Temiar? He was able to do the translation from these dialects to English. That's just awesome. I know Kok Hoon was much loved by the Aslis. He was also a very brave person, to go into the jungles during communist times.
The description of his hard and sacrificial life made me want to cry. Only now after reading your chronicle, I came to understand how much Kok Hoon had suffered for the Cause and what sacrifices he had made.
Mani dear, you gave such a detailed description of his Bahai services and also his personal life, you must have spent countless sleepless nights doing all the research. My greatest admiration for you my dear friend. Not many people are like you. Nobody can come close to you in comparison. I know you are the type of person, once you set your heart on doing a project, you must do your best and it must come out prefect.
Like the 2 books you wrote, one on my father—Leong Tat Chee–A SINCERE PROMOTER OF THE CAUSE ; the other one on my husband—Inbum–JEWEL AMONG MEN. The Leong and Chinniah families are forever indebted to you, my dear Mani. You are a true and sincere friend. We love you always.
Thank you so much for contributing this chronicle on Lim Kok Hoon, to enable the friends throughout the Bahai World to have such a clear understanding of the kind of Bahai all of us should try to be, a person like Lim Kok Hoon We should emulate his qualities. I don't think we can find such Bahais nowadays.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this story on Lim Kok Hoon, and stand in awe of his remarkable and singular life of service to the Faith in Malaysia especially his years of living amongst the Aslis and teaching them with much love and devotion. He has certainly left behind a legacy that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come.
I heard of him but did not have the opportunity of meeting and getting to know him as a person and a friend.
Thank you so much Manisegaran for this magnificent account, it has brought him to life. An unsung hero he might be, but not anymore!
My conscience do not permit me to leave without making my comment on your latest masterpiece. It was beautifully written, which befits the legacy of this jewel of a nation the late Mr. Lim Kok Hoon. Honestly, no one could have done better, with so much details and information about this legendary figure. I counted not less than 70 names mentioned in your article who were directly or indirectly associated with him in one way or another during his unique lifetime, albeit thousands more names unknown in the Asli jungles and Chinese New Villages of Malaysia ! There wasn't any area in Peninsula Malaysia he hadn't traversed and left his mark ! History will never forget this remarkable character and we thank you for this superb chronicle of him.
My wife Shirley and I had had a chance of visiting him in hospital on the eve of his passing, as you rightly pointed out in your story. We did what we had to do instinctively, not knowing that it means so much to his dying moments. On recollection, it still brings tears to our eyes. I can't help it but have to tell you about a "revelation" or episode I encountered when I received your article in my smartphone. Call it my plain "imagination" or a dramatized "silly dream" it doesn't matter, the late Kok Hoon was very close to my heart. It was raining very heavily when I received the article, saw it coming in while driving. I decided to stop by at the nearest Mamak Restaurant or Indian Muslim restaurant to have a cup of tea, very impatient to read the contents, and oblivious to the fact that this Sri Melor Mamak Restaurant in SS 19/6 was the one he often go to for his cup of "Teh Tarik"or tea with milk. He would sit in one corner oftentimes alone deep in thoughts sipping his cup of tea for hours on end ! I would sit in with him and engage in meaningful conversation. My clothes were wet as I started reading his story slowly and excitedly fully engrossed, then I felt his strong presence, he was happy and smiling broadly. It sent a chill down my very spine and I dared not lift up my face, and when I did … nobody was there ! Then I realized that that place I sat on might jolly well be the exact spot he used to sit ! Some people might say I just caught a chill because my clothes were wet, some might say I was a dreamer. But still I shall leave it that way for anyone to interpret !
I first met this valiant soul in the 1980s. He was in parking bay, standing by a four wheeler. Not knowing he was a Bahai, I asked him the direction to the conference hall in the hotel where the Bahai function was taking place. He asked me whether I was a Bahai and I answered yes. He introduced himself as Kokono. Later I found out from the conference hall that his name Lim Kok Koon. At the very first meeting I realized he had a great sense of humor. Reading your story brings out the extent to which he had sacrificed so much for the Faith.
I came in contact with the late Lim Kok Hoon in late 1970's and early 1980's at Bagan Serai. He was on a teaching trip when I saw him first. On the very first sight itself I was attracted to Kok Hoon.
But it was after reading through your write up of this wonderful person that I came to learn of the great services he had rendered the Faith.
This story is yet another testimony to the great writing skills of A.Manisegaran who is always able to bring to life when recollecting those who are no more with us. The write ups are very inspiring and uplifting.
I would recommend every youth the current generation to read the recollections in this blog. Keep the good job brother Manisegaran.
That was a good supplement to what little I had known of Kok Hoon. I have been wondering, off and on, about him over the years. I did not know he passed away. I always share his story on him eating three plates of plain rice with only soy sauce at a roadside stall when he came out of the jungles after a long stay with the Asli friends. He said others around him must have thought he was mad; he just couldn't wait for his other dishes. He was that deprived. God bless his soul for his service to the Asli community. He had so much deep love for them.
Uncle Lim was a very good friend not only to you but also to my father N. Nagendran who was also on the National Asli Teaching Committee. My father served as the longest serving secretary in the National Asli Teaching Committee.
I had known uncle Lim Kok Hoon from the time I could remember as a child. Uncle Lim and my father worked in the Income Tax Department. Uncle Lum used to come to our house in Sentul very often. I used to to call him "Chocolate Uncle" as each time he came he brought along chocolate bars for my sister Shirin and me. Over a period of time my mother also started admiring him for his services.
I used to listen to his conversations with my father. The conversation always centered around the Faith- Asli teaching and the growth of the Faith. This will be going on hours until late at night. Even as a child I used to like those stories. My father had high regard for Uncle Lim. My father used to advice my sister and me to always emulate the sacrificial life of Uncle Lim. When Uncle Lim passed away my father was very sad.
The story that you have written on Uncle Lim has so much details that I never heard of. After reading your story, my respect for Uncle Lim has escalated. He was indeed an unsung hero who has left a permanent legacy behind. Uncle Lim shall always be remembered in our family as a loving man who gave his life to the Cause.
Lim Kok Hoon's lifelong devotion and continued service to the Cause of God has placed him among the spiritual jewels in the Malaysian Baha'i history. His life is exemplary that shall be remembered for many generations. Lim Kok Hoon's spirit numerous teaching activities, particularly among the indigenous population are valuable lessons to many of us, and a reminder of how we must live the rest of our lives.
When I read his story I feel encouraged and want to do more.
God bless his radiant soul.
The story simply narrates the story of a true, genuine and selfless soul who sacrificed so much for the Faith. He seems to have served and toiled with great joy and happiness, despite the utmost poverty. Lim Kok Hoon, if rightly described is certainly a saintly believer. My question is, why was he kept in the dark all along. Nevertheless the historian Mr. Manisegaran has brought to light his services hitherto unknown to me and may be for several others too.
Thank you so much Mr.Manisegaran for sharing the life of the outstanding Lim Kok Hoon.
I pray some soul would publish a biography of this beloved unsung hero to inspire the current and future generations.
Many thanks for the wonderful article on uncle Lim Kok Hoon. You did it again! Another great article on yet another great soul who was living in our midst in Subang Jaya community.
I had the pleasure of meeting Lim Kok Hoon a few times but even before I met him, I knew about his work in the Asli areas and they all remember him fondly and love him. When I myself undertook teaching trips into the Asli areas, I remember the late Penghulu Yok Chong of Kg.Jentong, Trolak, telling me how Kok Hoon used to spend days with him to ensure the translation of prayers to Senoi dialect is correct.
So there was nothing much I had known of Kok Hoon during the days he was active in the Cause, perhaps there was no effective platform. Thank God, today we have the blessings of blogs. So many early believers had served so much, but without having been in the limelight. Today this blog is creating the impossible. The unsung heroes are today being brought to the fore by the posting of several stories.
That Kok Hoon had suffered so much in the jungles, that his childhood days were truly fill of deprivation, that he excelled in his academic field, that took up challenges to bring victories for the Cause, that he sacrificed his own car for the welfare of the Asli believers, that he was constantly on the move, that he created indelible impacts for the Faith wherever he resided, that he had mastered the English language to such an admirable level, are among the information that I had never heard before. Thanks to this blog that details out so many facets of Kok Hoon's life with photographs on which my eyes have never fallen.
The unsung heroes are now being well sung, and the readers like me are already feeling how much we are missing them.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story on the life of Lim Kok Hoon. I have got to know Lim Kok Hoon much better after reading your write-up.
His work in Asli kampungs, in Taiping, in Ipoh, Subang Jaya and many other places will have left an indelible mark in the annals of Baha'i history. Many thanks to all the dear friends who were there and supported him when he needed them most specially during his last days on this earth. Hope more people will read his story and be inspired to serve with selfless devotion.
Another wonderful inspiring write up of a great soul. Uncle Lim used to come to our home and share with us his life experiences with the native friends. As I recall and read this article I feel it is very well captured . His love and devotion for the Faith and his great ability to be with the native friends to instill the love of Baha'u'llah in their hearts is admirable.
He had so much passion for teaching the Faith. He was full of humour and was always a joy to have him in our activities. It was inspiring to hear him chanting prayers in different languages, which was his another great ability.
My husband T.K.Lee and I know well of his sacrificial efforts in serving Baha'u'llah with so much devotion and love, but it would not have been possible without the support and sacrifices of his family, especially his dear wife Chow Kim Fong.
Your account of Lim Kok Hoon is very inspiring and heart throbbing. I am very surprised to know in your write-up about so many of his services that he had rendered in the teaching field. I am also very surprised to know that you had known and collected so much information about Lim Kok Hoon.
I am sure you should have had many sleepless nights collecting and putting these information and facts together.
"Soon will our handful of days, our vanishing life, be gone….
Your blog truly sheds fragrance on so many heroes – both sung and unsung.
I had served with Lim Kok Hoon on the same Assembly in Taiping for a few years until he got transferred. He was a great man for his services and sacrifice for the Faith. He would sacrifice anything for the love of Bahaullah. It was a great pleasure and joy going on teaching trips with him. And in most of the teaching trips he would take over all expenses because I was student then, and had just stat to work in a factory.
His love for his Faith is boundless and unquestionable. He would not not hesitate to visit the friends in fishing villages, rubber plantations and villages even at times when he had very limited funds with him. He used to take us to the fishing village in Kuala Sepatang (former Port Weld). He built his close relationship with the fisherman that on many occasions we used to go on a fishing boat to the river mouth and harvest cockles (kerang as they call it in Malay).On our return trip we would cook them on the boat using sea water, and what a feast we would have.
Later we formed an Assembly of nine Chinese believers in the fishing village. We then initiated children class with twenty children.
Kok Hoon used to lend his tape recorder to the youths for them to learn and memories Baha'i songs and prayers. He became a close friend of my father who always admired him visiting our home in the traditional Indian vesti (dhoti).
His love for the Faith was so great, that he used to sacrifice his own comfort by joining us on bicycle on teaching trips. He had a car, and yet he preferred to be one of us. When I had just obtained my driving license he allowed me to use his Volkswagen car.
Kok Hoon was such a lovable believer that i shed tears as he got transferred to Kuala Lumpur. I really miss him to this moment. Having moved closely with Kok Hoon I dare say that not all would be able to rival him, and this is a statement I make from my heart.
The story brings back so many fondest memories, and reminds me of some of my experiences which I had in 1966 . Whenever Lim Kok Hoon came to Kajang, where I was residing, he visited me and took me along me to the Asli areas in Hulu Langkat and Dengkil areas. I still remember the present University Kebangsaan Malaysia was an Asli settlement with an Asli Bahai centre. Development took away those Asli settlements.
Lim Kok Hoon was my very close friend , who taught me many things about the Faith while traveling with him to the Asli areas.
Mani, you brought back what was completely erased from my memory. Kudos to you brother.
I read the story of Lim Kok Hoon. I find it a real source of inspiration to all workers of the Cause. Also the many details captured about his services goes a long way to describe the personality of this true and genuine Stalwart.
I knew this beautiful soul, saw him around and talked to him but never really got to know him.
What a giant in the Cause of God and an example to be emulated.
Thank you for writing his story as it is unique in many respects. I admire his tenacity to keep going in spite of great odds and his great reliance in prayer and the power of His Revelation.
All his life, Kok Hoon immensely dedicated himself to selfless service to the Faith, and was a warm, helpful soul who always put others above his own self. His simplistic demeanor attracted all souls irrespective of race, colour or creed.
His unwavering service and dedication, especially to the spiritual development of our Asli friends, mainly those residing in Kampung Chang shall always be well remembered in history.
I was one of those involved in the funeral service for this dearest friend. And that was one of the saddest moments for me.
I would like to thank you for the detailed recollection of the services of Mr Lim Kok Hoon. It is very inspiring to me and to all my friends.
I had the bounty to be with Mr Lim Kok Hoon during his stay in Taiping for about 5 years. He was a simple, sincere and very talented believer. He sacrificed so much for the Faith. We were very close and worked together in building a vibrant Baha'i community in Taiping during the 1970's.
May his exemplary life, dedication and sacrifice inspire the younger generations in the field of service.
May Baha'u'llah bless his wonderful soul.
Thank you for the lovely article on this hero of the Faith in Malaysia, Lim Kok Hoon. I was very touched to read about the various episodes in his life and his numerous sacrifices. I knew him as his was a regular face at so many Baha'i meetings and while I heard that he was very active in Asli teaching, it was a real eye opener to read about what he managed to accomplish in his endeavors for Baha'u'llah.
To read about the difficulties of his early life and yet for him to see it as a means of purifying himself, how he latched on to the vision of Dr Muhajir to teach the Aslis and dedicated himself to this enterprise, his ability to work and suffer alone, to show the majesty and power of this Faith through deeds not words and the great personal sacrifices he made was very moving indeed. The poignant story of him sleeping outside of Appu Raman's house rather than waking him up brought memories of Dr Muhajir waiting outside the home of Mr Leong Tat Chee for 2 hours in the afternoon sun rather than waking up Leong who was having his afternoon nap.
We can only imagine the great joy of this enlightened soul in the realms above now that his services to the friends are no longer limited by his physical body! With what happiness and excitement he and the other devoted servants of Baha'u'llah in the Abha Kingdom must be executing their responsibilities to leaven the world!
Lim Kok Hoon pushes the boundary of teaching amongst the Asli people where many fear to tread. Teaching is not easy especially in remote areas and jungles. He did it. I recommend he be honored to name an Asli Bahai Center after him. He deserves it.
Thank you for posting this. One part of this tribute was especially interesting to me, that is, when Kok Hoon was being bullied because of his faith, he prayed for help, and the next day, those who were bullying him were involved in a fatal car accident. To console Kok Hoon, who had certainly not sought such an outcome, a friend told him that we human beings pray, and it is God who decides how to answer. This was a relief to Kok Hoon, to realize that the deaths were God's decision and not his responsibility. This touches me because I had a similar experience. It is comforting to receive this insight.
Dear Kok Hoon was no ordinary guy, as a believer. I was very close to him during the 1968 period when he was in a campaign to bring in the Aslis, wherever they could be found. He was then a University student; he stationed himself in the residence of our beloved late Uncle Appu Raman, in the then neighborhood of Cheras. His activities then were in the regions surrounding Kajang, stretching as far as Dengkil. I was then a teacher in Kajang. As I was very touched and moved by his heroic spirit, I ventured to request him if I could follow him in his Asli teaching expeditions. He responded, "Joe, your eyes must be chaste because the Asli women in the deeper areas of the Dengkil jungles don't fully cover their bodies." I said , "Alright. We can only go to teach them at night after 9 pm". He then continued, "I heard that they are clearing the jungle around where we are going, and there is report of Elephants roaming in that area." I said, "OK, but the "K" in this word took a long time to come out. Anyway we had a pact for our night visits; we usually left Kajang town around 9.pm in his Honda 50, and reached the jungle clearing areas after the Coffee plantations in Dengkil around 10.00 pm. After parking the motor bike, after a short distance into the jungle proper, he would then lead me into the thick darkness of the night, with a torchlight in his hand, saying," Now we are in the Hands of Bahaullah." Finally we would reach the Asli village and spend quite some time more in the nature of a fellowship meeting than a teaching activity. What we really did was demonstrating the true Bahai spirit of unprejudiced love for them as members of the same family of mankind. This spirit touched them most and drew them into the Faith.
Dear Kok Hoon's actions were louder than his words. By the time we reached back in Kajang, it would be midnight and we would go for a nice 'noodle soup' in one of our favorite stalls for 30 cents a bowl. To us they were not teaching trips- they were heavenly trips. I could never thank him enough for his "accompaniment".
I was very much touched by the recollections on Lim Kok Hoon. His undivided devotion and sacrificial efforts in teaching the Faith wherever he went. His outstanding work with the Asli communities is remarkable. One of his notable work is the translation of Baha'i writings into the Asli dialects. We can clearly see he was blessed with a knack for languages. The friends in Sandakan were astonished how he could do simultaneous translation in different languages.
The first time I met him when Lim Boon Huat and were travelling through Peninsula Malaysia during the December school holidays in mid 1970s in Taiping. He was down to earth. He was relating to us about the Asli friends. I really admired his work with the Asli friends.
The Sandakan friends were also very previlaged to have him here in 1990s. He came over to assist the friends here in teaching the Chinese. He had sessions on how we can go about teaching the Chinese community and sharing his experiences in teaching in Peninsula Malaysia. He also prepared a booklet on teaching the Chinese.
After reading his recollections, gives an insight into the challenges he has gone through in his service to the Blessed Beauty, his undivided devotion to His teachings. I really admire his ability to teach people from various backgrounds with such ease and confident wherever he went. May Baha'u'llah's blessing upon him in Abha Kingdom.


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BBC Announces its 3D Coverage of London 2012 Olympic Games
3Droundabout Posted on February 16, 2012 by 3Droundabout February 16, 2012
The BBC has announced its plans for 3D broadcasts from the 2012 Olympic Games as:
• The Olympic opening Ceremony live
• The men's 100m final live
• Nightly highlights in 3D
• The Olympic closing Ceremony live
Roger Mosey, BBC director of 2012, said "We've always been clear we were never going to have a 3D channel for the Olympics and the BBC's overall approach to 3D has been very much on the lines of an experiment around special events like Wimbledon and Strictly Come Dancing."
"We've chosen these events partly because they mark the pinnacles of the Games but also to minimise the loss of HD that is a consequence of our 3D service. The pattern will be that our main standard-definition transmission will be on BBC One, the HD simulcast will be on BBC One HD and then the 3D version will be on the BBC HD Channel – as we did with Wimbledon. For the nightly highlights, they'll feature a range of sports on the BBC HD channel after the live action has finished. In other words, this is using 'spare' capacity on BBC HD."
"I should note it's not yet clear how much of the ceremonies will be shot in 3D but otherwise opening and closing have the advantage that there's no competing sport, and therefore no loss of choice for HD viewers. But that wouldn't have been the case if we'd expanded our 3D coverage over the rest of the 17 days."
Kim Shillinglaw, the head of BBC 3D, said: "We have always said we believe some of 2012 should be captured in 3D, and we're delighted to confirm our offer to audiences in the UK, providing them with a new way of getting close to some of the key moments from the London 2012 Olympic Games."
Posted in News, Priority News, S3D Content News, S3D Delivery News	Tagged 2012 Olympics, BBC, broadcast, London 2012, London 2012 Olympic Games	permalink
BBC Announces its 3D Coverage of London 2012 Olympic Games — No Comments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
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Otago Squash Club
Club Room Hire
Why Play?
Celebrating 50 Years at Mellor Park
50 Years at Mellor Park
Celebrations
Photos from the 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Slideshow Photos
Update: 15 May 2018
Otago Squash Club - Fifty Years at Mellor Park Celebration
Queen's Birthday Weekend
1st – 4th June 2018
See attached document for the latest update including registrations details.
final_newsletter.pdf
Update: 1 May 2018
Newsletter Five:
See attached file for Newsletter #5.
50th_celebrations_-_newsletter_5.pdf
Update: 27 March 2018
Newsletter Four:
We have had a good response since the last newsletter and have now confirmed a schedule of events for the weekend, prices are the schedule are set out below.
Registration - Single: $30.00
Registration - Couple: $45.00
Dinner - per person: $65.00
Please note: If your partner would like to attend the Saturday night dinner only and does not wish to be part of the registration activities / celebrations, please register as a Single and select 2 for the Saturday night dinner.
Friday 1 June: 6pm onward - WELCOME & REGISTRATION
Otago Squash Club - Cash Bar and light nibbles provided
Saturday 2 June: 10am - 6pm - REGISTRATION
10am - 2pm - Casual squash or racquet Ball, let us know if you would like to play / View Memorabilia and photos
4pm - 6pm - Member Catch up / Group Photos / Happy Hour
Transport will be provided to the Golf club for those wanting to continue on from the Squash Club. Please advise if transport required.
6.30pm onwards - DINNER
Otago Golf Club - 125 Balmacewen Road . Cash Bar and Buffet Meal
7pm - Welcome Address - Gerard De Courcy
7.05pm - Ex-Presidents - history about the club and their time as president
7.15pm - Dinner
approx 8pm - Guest Speaker Dame Susan Devoy - after dinner / before dessert.
Sunday 2 June: - 11am - 4pm - EXHIBITION GAME
12pm - Oliver Johnston v Scott Gardiner
2pm onwards - BBQ
4pm - Farewell / Haere Ra
Update: 15 December 2017
Newsletter Three:
In May 1968, the Otago Squash Rackets Club moved into their new club rooms at Mellor Park. So in just six months' time, the Club will have been fifty years on site. What a wonderful reason to get together to meet old club mates, enjoy some memories, good times, and some photographs.
We've now got a few events together, set out below. Now just six months away! It's still a little light on detail yet, because venues (apart from the club of course!) will depend on how many attend.
Friday night and Saturday morning: Registration at the club, a chance to catch up with others, have a hit if you wish, (rackets and a variety of balls provided) and to enjoy some of the photos on display.
Saturday afternoon: "Conversazione" - a grand catch up with everyone.
Saturday evening: Dinner, with a couple of guest speakers. Venue will depend on numbers! Sunday from midday: An exhibition match at the club, followed by food, and a grand finale.
So this note is to provide you with a quick 'heads up' and to let you know the tentative plans that have been made. We hope you will reply, and register your interest. We won't publish your email or contact details, but here's a list of those who have expressed interest so far.
Craig Adams, Ken Aitchieson, Don Anderson, Leon Beaman, Chris Bosworth, Noel Carroll, Simon Clouston, Bryan Cooney, Gerard De Courcy, Don Denniston, Peter Dobbs, John Esdaile, Richard Fyfe, Ron Fyfe, Alan Goodman, Arthur Gray, Mark Gribben, John Harrison, Tony Johnston, Laurie Martin, Deane Mason, Mike McCarthy, Lindsay McLennan, Richard Ogier, Doug Osborne, Trevor Payton, Greg Sligo, Julian Smith, Darryl Swan, Andrew Swan, Gavin Thompson, Brian Ward, Luke Wilson, Steve Wilson, Tony Wilson.
Katrina Adams, Bronnie Aslin, Rangi Clark, Denise Cooney, Val Dempster, Clare De Courcy, Ros Goodman, Stacey Gribben, Philippa Harris, Ann Harrison, Jenny Hayes, Bronwyn Knutson (Utteridge), Jenny Longstaffe (Cooper), Rosie Mackay, Ngaire McLennan, Aynsley Munro, Jenny Norton, Kim Ogier (Smith), Viv Osborne, Caroline Orchiston, Janie Payton, Catherine Sayers (DeCourcy), Sandra Sligo, Bev Smith, Pat Taylor, Raelene Thomas, Janice Trevathan, Annette Williams, Crystal Wilson
That's a great start, but we know there are heaps of others out there that have said they'll be coming but haven't said 'yes' to the club yet, and still others we don't have addresses for. So we'd like you to forward this email to other ex-club members you may know, as we're keen to let everyone know the plans. Finding contact addresses for ex-members is proving a bit of a battle.
There will be an advertising feature in the Otago Daily Times in February, and this will have details of firmed up events, costs, and the deadline for registrations. We'll email the folk above with that info, and look forward to including your name in those lists.
Kindest regards, and happy Christmas.
Greg Sligo
Anniversary Committee Chair
Update: 9 August 2017
Newsletter Two:
Well, what a great response to our first newsletter – we already have more than forty people confirmed as attending. We expect this number to at least double or treble over the next few months which leaves your organizing committee with the pleasant problem of making sure there is a good range of events arranged and suitable venues for them – watch this space!!
In the meantime, we'd like your help with a couple of matters please:
We are very aware that there are still a lot of ex-members who might be keen to attend the celebrations but we have no current address or other way of contacting them. If you have any contact details (ideally email addresses) for any ex-members please forward them to us and we will make contact.
We are now at the stage where we would like to start accumulating some photos of club teams or events. We'd like those sent to us in digital format (jpeg or similar format); not too large a file and ideally accompanied by the names of those in the photo. Please send to aynsley@squashotago.co.nz
That's all we have for you at this stage. There will be a further update in a couple of months with lists of those who have indicated they will be attending (names only no addresses). In the meantime, we would be keen to get any contact information you may have.
Celebrations Committee
Newsletter One:
In May 1968, the Otago Squash Rackets Club moved into their new club rooms at Mellor Park, so next year the Club will have been fifty years on site. What a wonderful reason to get together to share some memories, photographs, and even the odd story that might now be allowed south of the Waitaki.
We don't have much in the way of detail as yet because the date has only just been set. Much of what will happen depends on how many attend which in turn will affect the chosen format for the 'get together'.
This note is to provide you with a quick 'heads up' and to let you know there are plans being made. We hope you will reply and register your interest. We won't publish your email or contact details but we would like you're okay for us to list on our website the names of those who have expressed interest. Just as importantly, we'd like you to forward this email to other ex-club members you may know as we're keen to let everyone know the plans.
So, what's happening?
A get together of past and present members of the Otago Squash Club who have enjoyed squash at Mellor Park.
It'll be held during Queen's Birthday weekend (1st-4th June) 2018. The precise timing of events will be finalised once we have a better idea of numbers attending and know what other events are on in Dunedin at that time.
Some events will be at Mellor Park. Other functions may be held at other venues, again dependent on numbers attending.
To celebrate 50 years of squash at Mellor Park and a great excuse to get together with team mates and current and past club members.
That's the easy bit - that's you, other club members, as well as friends you've kept in touch with. We'd like you to send us their contact details or to forward this message to them directly.
Just reply to this email saying 'yes, put my name down please' – remember it's just an expression of interest at this stage. Don't forget to add contact details for anyone else you know who might be interested.
By the way, 'we' is the organizing committee: Greg Sligo (Chairman), Mark Gribben, Chris Bosworth, Gerard Decourcy, Rangi Clark, Tony Johnston, Don Denniston & Aynsley Munro
We'll be in touch again in the second half of July to keep you up to date with what's happening. If you have any queries before then, please feel free to email Aynsley (aynsley@squashotago.co.nz) or give her a call at (03) 476-2040.
Membership Officer
Aynsley Munro
aynsley@squashotago.co.nz
44 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin
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Sometimes we see unusual talents in circus, but it would never be as strange as Zlata the contortionist, who is now working in Moscow to present the New Year show by her extreme flexibility.
Zlata has broken numerous world records for her flexibility . Her shows are widely admired, where the blond bombshell contorting herself into all sorts of extreme positions, bending herself in ways that would make a yoga guru blush.
Zlata is 27 years old - her real name Julia Guenthel – has been contorting since she was four years old.
She now lives in Germany, joined an after-school circus class after teacher's discovering her amazing flexibility - and has never looked back.
She said: "I wish my fans, contortion fans and all contortionists around the world a lovely Christmas time. Stay faithful to me next year and I will have many more surprises for you."
The saucier snaps show her in skin-tight PVC suits and bunny ears while other more playful frames show her wrapped around giant lipsticks and candy.
But it was not all fun and games for Zlata, who trains every day to keep her muscles in shape.
About obstacles she faces during her shows, she added: "Sometimes it can get a bit uncomfortable if I have to hold a pose for a long time in photo shoots.


It was necessary to develop a calendar for Rawenstvo company like a special gift for their partners to celebrate its 60-th anniversary. Rawenstvo is one of the leaders in the development of the radio electronic devices and radar systems for Russian Naval Forces and Federal Security Service Customs. It also produces medical facilities for cancer treatment. Rawenstvo doesn't need advertising but it needs positive image of an intelligent company with a long history and philosophical thinking.
Radar equipment produced by the company for several decades has helped to see things that are invisible to the naked eye, to make sound decisions, and to stay on the right course. Thus, Company's philosophy and slogan "A steady course – in any storm" gains the new meaning in Watching Calendar. It is a play of two concepts – "to see" and "to watch".
Watching Calendar was presented in a special gift bag made of rough cotton fabric.


text:
Q: How to write single class based view for multiple url? I have urls reporting?id=1 and reporting?students=bachelor. For both these urls I am using same base url 'reporting' in urls.py.
urls.py
from .views import Reporting

urlpatterns = [
    path('', AnalyticsData.as_view()),
    path('reporting', Reporting.as_view()),
    path('index', index.as_view())
]

How could I use the same class view to execute different get methods so that for the first URL, a method to get students by id is executed and for the second URL, a method to get bachelor students is executed. For now, I am writing code in the following way
views.py
class Reporting(APIView):

    def get(self, request):

        id = self.request.GET.get("id")
        student_type = self.request.GET.get("students")

        if id:
            *logic*
        if student_type=="bachelor":
            *logic*

But I don't know if this is the right way. Also, if there are multiple parameters than there will be many if conditions. Is there any other way available?

A: I would have a variable in my class based view that tells what to do when it is called. Something like this. This var variable gets the value of whatever that is passed when calling it from the urls.py so you can use that to your advantage.
class Reporting(APIView):

    var = "" # HERE

    def get(self, request):

        id = self.request.GET.get("id")
        student_type = self.request.GET.get("students")

        if id:
            *logic*
        if student_type=="bachelor":
            *logic*

Then in my urls.py I would call the class with that parameter and handle the logic accordingly.
from .views import Reporting

urlpatterns = [
    path('reporting', Reporting.as_view(var="yourvalue")), #HERE
]

Then handle logic according to the var variable.
So now if you want your class to behave differently for another case, then you can change var variable accordingly and the behaviour would also change. You just need to change the value in your url.
urlpatterns = [
    path('reporting', Reporting.as_view(var="yourvalue")), #HERE
    path('new_reporting', Reporting.as_view(var="your_new_value"))
]

So for your case you can pass this var along to your views and then you can use if else to process the get function. Don't forget the self btw.
if self.var == "id":
    # Logic for id
elif self.var == "students":
    # Logic for students

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On 6/7/2017 I sent 2 photos and a comic book to AKA Jessica Jones. I received all 3 back signed today 8/11/2017.
Most Wanted: Smallville Cast, Supernatural Cast, and Vampire Diaries Cast- Any help accomplishing this would be greatly appreciated.
where did you sent your request ? address?
mads75 wrote: where did you sent your request ? address?


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COVID-19 Guest Blog: Maintaining Support Without Physical Classrooms
Author: Sarah Brinson
School Social Worker, New Hanover County Schools
As the days have turned into weeks, and the weeks have turned into months, School Social Workers throughout the county have been working hard to overcome a number of unique challenges we never thought we'd have to face. For all of us, our work in schools has always revolved around building relationships. Whether the relationship is with a student, their family, their teachers, or with the community agencies that work to serve them, the focus of these relationships is always the same- to support the social, emotional, and academic growth of our students.
The challenge now is how do we maintain this support without our physical classrooms, our hallways, our offices? How do we stay connected to our students and their families in this critical time for student well-being? While it hasn't been easy, and certainly there is no one "right" way to do this, there are a number of ways we're continuing to build on the work we've already done….and it's working!
Reaching out to families and keeping the lines of communication open has never been more important. Many of our students are faced with levels of worry, fear, and loneliness like they've never felt before. Some of our families are faced with financial, housing, and health crises they never imagined would come their way. Whether by phone call, text, email, or good old fashioned snail mail, making and keeping contact with our students and families is crucial…and it's working!
We're also reaching out and looking for our community helpers (thank you Mr. Rogers!) and ensuring our students and families know where to find them. In the very first days of schools being shut down, our teachers worked tirelessly to find out what our students needed and how we could fill that need. Time after time our families shared the need for food. And just like so many times before, Nourish NC has stepped up and stepped in to help schools help families… and it's working! Although our school buildings are closed, our connections remain strong. Our schools and community agencies are coming together and working side by side to support our students in and beyond the walls of our school buildings…. and it's working!
Sarah Brinson,
**Editor's Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author's employer, organization, committee or other group or individual, nor to NourishNC.**
Timothy Brill2020-06-07T23:31:06+00:00
Who Is NourishNC – 2020 Look Back
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