Why would God help a young hawker set up her Pasir Ris stall?

“Pok-pok-kay!” 

Eleanor Wee heard the sound of a chicken clucking – and saw it in words – when she was praying with her husband some 14 years ago. 

Her husband, Leon Sng – a trained chef with decades of experience – was at a crossroads in his career. He was deciding between starting a Peranakan food business or going into freelance teaching, counselling and mentoring. The couple was praying for clarity. 

Eleanor realised that her vision was meant for their daughter, who was in secondary school at that time.

Eleanor told her husband: “I heard a pok-pok-kay sound. I think it’s regarding a business and it will involve chicken curry!”

But after more prayer, Eleanor realised that her vision of the business was not meant for Leon – but for their daughter, Sarah, who was in secondary school at that time.

Leon would go on take the teaching, counselling and mentoring route.

Today, Eleanor and Leon are in their 50s; Sarah is 27.

Double vision 

While excited about her vision, Eleanor did not tell her daughter about it. She felt that Sarah “was too young and still not ready for it”.

Instead, Eleanor prayed for “God to speak directly to Sarah about it when the time came”.

Eleanor understood her vision of gold coins to mean that Sarah’s calling was in business.

From the time Sarah was in her womb, Eleanor prayed and asked God for His plans for her.

Once, she saw a vision of gold coins. Eleanor understood this to mean that Sarah’s calling was in business.

This vision turned out to be accurate.

As Sarah grew older, she naturally developed an interest in business.

Sarah graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Business Administration, with a major in marketing and public relations.

After graduating from polytechnic with a business diploma, Sarah was at a church camp when she asked God: “Should I take a gap year to rest or work part-time before getting a degree? Or should I go straight to doing a degree?”

In her heart, Sarah felt God tell her to go to work. She also saw a vision of a storefront.

“The storefront had a bright yellow signboard with some bits of red and blue on it … I didn’t know whether it was a restaurant or a small eatery,” said Sarah.

During a church camp in 2016, Sarah (second from right) saw a vision of her future store front.

“At the time, I couldn’t imagine myself owning a stall or shop,” Sarah said. “It seemed so far-fetched to me.”

Nonetheless, she shared this vision with her parents, whom she is close to. 

“The storefront had a bright yellow signboard … I didn’t know whether it was a restaurant or a small eatery.” 

Sarah didn’t expect that Eleanor and Leon had been waiting for a moment like this for more than 10 years. It was only then that Sarah found out about her mother’s matching vision for her.

To Eleanor, Sarah’s vision was another confirmation of her calling in life. 

Despite this, Sarah felt uncertain. Starting a business of her own seemed like such a big leap. 

“I did not have any working experience and felt inadequate,” she confessed.

She parked the idea at the back of her mind.

Veering off track?

Sarah went on to work on sustainability-related events and initiatives. These included media, marketing and youth outreach efforts.

Eleanor didn’t see it as Sarah “veering off track”. Instead, she chose to trust in what “God had in store” for her daughter. 

Indeed, it was only later on that they would see how God was providing Sarah with the experience she needed … every step of the way.

Sarah’s first full-time job was at Singapore Business Federation.

To raise funds for her sister’s university fees, Sarah’s parents started a home-based private dining business. They hosted their own tok panjang (Peranakan for “long table”, or feast) for guests.

Sarah (right) and family during Chinese New Year, 2018.

Sarah chipped in to help her parents during her free time. But, when she was 22, she left her job to help them full-time. 

She especially enjoyed “eating, serving and hosting guests”; she felt it was meaningful to share authentic Peranakan cuisine with others.

Leon (seated, left) is Teochew, but had learnt to cook Peranakan dishes to woo Eleanor (seated, right), who is Nyonya. They are pictured with Sarah (standing, right), hosting a tok panjang dinner for church friends.

Sarah helped prepare the food and did the washing up, while her father Leon did all the cooking.

Sarah saw all these tasks as baby steps towards God’s plans for her life. However, she found herself “still questioning whether the vision was really for me”. 

A year later, the family had the chance to open a physical store in Raffles Place. They called it Baba Bento.

Sarah at the family’s Peranakan eatery in Raffles Place.

Sarah did a third of the cooking, even though she didn’t particularly enjoy it. She was also overwhelmed by the steep learning curve, which included handling equipment, dealing with suppliers and managing the workflow.

But after nine months, rental shot up and Baba Bento closed shop.

From the world to Pasir Ris

Sarah then went back to the corporate world.

Taking on an events and communications role at an F&B and hospitality consultancy gave her new food-related skills and experience.

Helping to organise the high-profile World Gourmet summit and awards, for example, expanded her network as she got to know chefs, food and drink distributors and equipment suppliers. She also learned about technology that helps to save time in the kitchen.

One year into her job, Sarah’s godbrother alerted her family about a stall that was up for lease.

Throughout this period, Sarah continued to pray for the right time to set up her own food stall.

One year into her job, Sarah’s godbrother – who runs Reimondo Seafood Congee at Pasir Ris Central hawker centre – alerted her family about a stall that was up for lease.

Sarah put in a tender for the stall – plus another vacant one at Our Tampines Hub.

She preferred Pasir Ris as it was closer to home. But was concerned that the stall was tucked in a remote corner of the hawker center. 

Then the landlord informed her that yet another stall holder was moving out of Pasir Ris Central. Sarah was delighted. She was able to get the stall with better foot traffic. 

Peranakan ayam curry kapitan is the signature dish at Nyonya Pok Pok Kay. It is available in a set with blue pea rice, sambal egg and Nyonya chap chye.

Nervous and excited, Sarah saw this unexpected development as the green light to go ahead.

“God is good and He saves the best for us,” said Sarah. “It was time for me to pursue the vision He gave me six years earlier.” 

She named the stall Nyonya Pok Pok Kay – after what her mum heard and saw in her vision. 

Waiting for a sign(board)

Sarah also saw God’s hand in turning her vision of the bright yellow signboard into a reality. 

She happened to tell a Grabhitch driver about her upcoming stall. And it happened that the driver was in the business of sign making. 

“I asked him for a quote, but I also did my homework and chatted with three other vendors.

“He gave me not only the best quote, he also offered me more things,” said Sarah.

Sarah’s vision of her storefront became a reality six years later in November 2021. Her father coached and helped her with the cooking, while her mother, sister and boyfriend also helped out in the initial stages.

She added in wonder: “Wow God, You really provided for me.”

Hawker trials

Looking back, Sarah’s seeming deviation from God’s plan was not a detour at all. 

Instead, it was His way of equipping her with the know-how to operate her own food business: From media and marketing to food tech and serving guests. 

Even challenging situations at work taught her “how to stand up for myself and draw boundaries and to be firm” with those who may be tempted to take advantage of her young age. 

“It was all a time of preparation and building up to something that is a lot bigger,” she said.

Also on the menu is ayam sioh, which comes in a set with blue pea rice, pickled radish omelette and french beans with hae bee (dried shrimp).

Still, being a hawker is no walk in the park.

Standing the whole day is tiring, and “it’s hot and you are always sweaty”.

“I get discouraging negative reactions from others when they hear I’m not pursuing a degree but working as a hawker.”

“I also put a lot of pressure on myself,” Sarah said, admitting that she recently cried. 

“I had my own insecurities and was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to match up to my father’s standards.

“What if I don’t achieve the same food taste as Dad? What if people come and say, ‘Oh, not as nice. Is it because she’s the one doing the cooking today?'”

Sarah cooking pickled radish omelette.

“I get also get discouraging negative reactions from others when they hear I’m not pursuing a degree but working as a hawker,” she said.

On the up side, she believes that part of her purpose is to bring love and joy to her fellow hawkers and customers. 

Extra hands

Sarah would also see how God provided a kitchen assistant at the right time.

When Sarah urgently needed an extra pair of hands, her mother had a vision of a tanned-skinned, petite woman while praying.

The woman looked Asian, but not Singaporean.

Sarah was not looking particularly for someone with this appearance – she was desperate. 

“I was so stressed that I couldn’t sleep well. I knew God would provide. But the clock was also ticking,” said Sarah.

“When God provides for you, He gives you the best – the best worker, the best deal for the signage, the best location.”

Then one Saturday morning, she received a message from someone enquiring about the position she had advertised.

Sarah invited the applicant to drop by the stall that same day.

At the appointed time, a nicely-dressed woman walked towards her. She appeared to be the woman in her mum’s vision. This woman was even more petite than Sarah, who is already small in size.

It turned out that the 59-year-old Cambodian woman, who had 18 years of experience in the F&B industry, had seen Sarah’s job listing a month ago.

However, she hesitated to apply as it would take her an hour to travel to Paris Ris from where she lives.

“But after sitting on it for a month, she felt she needed to ask if the position was still available,” said Sarah.

Asking for less?

When Sarah made an initial salary offer, the woman astonished her by saying the amount was too high.

“Who in the world would ask for less pay? Given her experience and knowledge, I was more than happy to give her an amount that matches her skill set.

“But she suggested starting at a lower amount and if I was happy with her performance, we could discuss her pay again later,” said Sarah, who almost cried with gratitude.

Looking back on her food business journey, Sarah said: “I realised then that when God provides for you. He gives you the best – the best worker, the best deal for the signage, the best location.”

Sarah’s family celebrating Mothers’ Day.

“I can’t deny His goodness,” she said.

The Creator of the universe is interested

Apart from initial set-up costs, Sarah’s business has been turning a profit since the very first day.

Sarah knows she can trust God, no matter what happens. 

“I know this is God’s business and He will sustain it,” she said. Sarah also hopes to expand her business internationally one day.

“God cares about all aspects of our lives – whether it’s related to our work or personal growth or well-being.”

This also begs the question: Why would the Creator of the universe care about the details of a small hawker stall in Paris Ris – to the extent of giving both mother and daughter guiding visions? 

For Sarah, the answer is clear.

“It’s not just about the business per se that He is interested in. It’s about us.

“God cares about all aspects of our lives – whether it’s related to our work or personal growth or well-being. He’s interested in us and what we do because He loves us.”

This is an excerpt of an article that first appeared in Salt&Light.

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