RBJTimban’s Crib

1991 - I have considered this year rather significant in my life and so did my family’s. Firstly, my wife gave birth to our third child, a boy whom we named Trevor Jullian on the 20th July. Unlike his elder brother (Theodore) and sister (Fionula), Trevor seemed to ‘refuse to be delivered’ in Betong! His mum had went into labour for almost two days. On the third day, the midwife told us that she referred my wife to Sri Aman hospital for a safer deliver. We went to Sri Aman in a Medical Dept’s transport - a Land Cruiser. We reached Sri Aman hospital at around 10.30 a.m. At exactly 1.28 p.m. in the afternoon, Trevor was born!

Secondly, I had made up my mind to sit for SPM full certificate. That was to obtain a credit pass in my BM papers. I enrolled for the exam sometimes in early April in which I took five subjects - BM, English, Geography, Integrated Science and Arts. I had put most of my efforts on BM. I read and wrote more in the subject. Besides my own efforts, I had started to devote myself more towards my faith. I prayed a lot.

Yes! God is loving. He answered my prayers. I got a credit 5 for my BM papers that year. My English papers - distinction 1! I was proud of being cared for by God. Being a former MCE student, I did not take that as the main factor why I obtained a 1 in my English. It was God’s love. Praise Lord.

1992 - I was appointed to the post of Trained Teacher in the C2 category. The post I have longed for since my first posting in 1987.

1995 - Another significance. Firstly, my appointment was confirmed by the ministry (i.e. our MOE) and I was placed into the pensionable scheme. I felt more secure in my service being a trained teacher.

Secondly, on 11th of July, another boy came into our family - Timothy Julius Umpu. He is the forth child in the family.

1999 - Another significance. Firstly, I applied to undergo a bachelor degree program in TESL. It was a full time course. I went for an interview at MOE’s Bahagian Pendidikan Guru, Kuching around April. To my surprise one of the interviewers was my former college director - Mr. Encharang Agas. During the interview he asked me whether I had thoroughly prepared to further my study, which was supposed to be going for four years. He even asked whether my wife was employed or not. I replied that she was not, and when he knew that, he told me that I would have to face a hard time pursuing the degree. That made me desperate and stressed. His words were true. Should I was accepted into a university, my employers would pay me half of what I was supposed to receive. Meaning (at that time), my family and I are going to enjoy a maximum income of RM400 a month, for four years. After the interview, I brainstormed myself on how my wife would secure a job. There was a lot of constraints coming into my mind. None could work. After weeks of waiting for the interview result, and much of brainstorming, I gave up! I told myself that I have lost an opportunity to get a degree. But then, I told myself then, that was the only application I would forward and I could not take it, thus, I would let my children take it in future. If I could not, let me provide them.

The second significant was that, a fifth boy was born, whom we named him Theophilus Nathaniel. He was born on 26th December, a day after Christmas. My wife and I agreed on one decision not to have any more children after Theophilus. We had agreed that five is enough. Thus, about a month after Theophilus was born, my wife underwent the VTL.