Redevelopment of PD Methodist Center

My earliest memory of the PD Methodist Center is probably when I was around 16 years old. Can't really remember anymore. It was one of the MYF Camps that was held here. Don't remember much except the field next to the canteen where we played games.

About 15 or 16 years ago, the Young Adults came here for camp. We stayed in one of the bungalows (the land now sold off to Felda).

There were many more trips to the Methodist Center after that. Coming to this place is like visiting an old friend. I feel that I am pretty familiar with this place. Well, all that is here will be gone soon. Infact the bungalows are no more there. By end of next year, there will be a totally new Methodist Center.

We followed the MYFers here for the ground breaking service. I am so glad we came to take some pictures of the place and do a little reflecting of how this place had blessed us in the past. Here are some pictures of the building that are about to be torn down and the service itself.

The little building at the far end is the chapel. It's down in a valley.
This is the common hall where services are held.

A closer look at the common corridor outside the hall. Am sure many people have taken lots of pictures outside this hall. This is the common place where campers will hang around and lepak in between sessions or before retiring to their rooms/dorms.

The other side of the hall; next to the canteen. The field is next to it, I remember playing games here. Funny; that's all I remembered. I think there was probably hiking to the lighthouse (which Mr Ling Keng Neo would definitely organize) but I don't remember it. I think I skipped it that year. Used to hate hiking so much and make excuses to get out of it but how I enjoy it now!!

The toilets and washrooms.

The important people at the service. I only know Bishop Hwa Yung. Didn't note down the rest of the names but there is a Daniel Lim seated there.

That was how the center looked like....

Bishop Hwa Yung shared from Psalm 27. We gathered at the canteen. Lots of memories of this place too. Daniel and the rest of the MYFers who had been here for the MYF Retreat remember it for ice-creams. Infact Dan asked if he can buy an ice-cream!! The food served by the caterers was good too.

Here's another view of the hall taken from the canteen; showing the field. In the new center, the entrance will be somewhere over this end as the old entrance now belongs to Felda.

Artist impression of what the new center will look like.

We adjourned to the chapel for the actual ground breaking.

The Bishop on the excavator....

Hah....got it!!

Praying for the whole construction work and the people involved in the work.

It was really hot...though it was past 5pm.

This road leads to the entrance. To the right is a junction that leads to the bungalows and the beach. Sold to Felda now....

A bunch of supportive teens. It's good to see them bond in activities like this. A small group compared to the group that I grew up with.

The slightly younger group. They should be in the MIF but we don't have MIF here.

Waiting for the second half of the service to start.

At the end of the service, tokens of appreciation were given to the people who took care of the center. That is Mr Poh.

Shanmugan had been in the center for 28 years.

Mr Ng and his wife....they were the caterers.

Finally we reached the end of the service. Then there was light refreshment sponsored by Mr Ng and family. We hung around for fellowship before heading off to Blue Lagoon where the kids played on the beach while KC n I walked up to the lighthouse.