Touching the lives of so many through his passion
Published on: Saturday, February 18, 2017
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HE only wanted to return to his native Netherlands for a last visit and medical attention.
There was nothing for him to do and hardly anyone for him to meet there as many of his peers had long gone.
His wish was not surprising as it was Sabah that he spent nearly six decades of his life – helping the poor and disadvantaged.
But as it turned out, it was a decision Brother Benedict Martin Snoeren would regret as only two weeks before his untimely passing at age 89 on Feb 13, 2017, Brother Ben confided via phone that he missed Sabah every day.
“Brother Ben told me he never wanted to stay there. He always wanted to come back to Sabah to die and be buried here in Bundu Tuhan, not there,” revealed Sister Anne Marie, who is in charge of the Don Bosco Orphanage.
It was a sad day also for Francis Benjamin Andang, a 39 year old from Kg Bundu Tuhan, Ranau, upon learning the passing of Bro. Ben as he was known to many.
Francis described Bro Ben as a man of many talents who was always generous and ready to share his skills and knowledge with the people he came to know or associated with.
Having lived among the people in Bundu Tuhan since the late 1950s, he could converse fluently in Dusun.
Francis said he knew Bro Ben when he was just a little boy and used to observe him doing all kinds of skilled work like repairing a car, building a house, making tables and chairs, gardening, welding and so on.
“Probably I was too curious to know why this man (European) seemed to know a lot of things and never stopped ‘working’ and talking to people.
“Since I lived nearby, I always spent my time following his activities. I guess he didn’t mind me watching, and at times, let me try holding some of the tools probably to answer my curiosity,” said Francis.
Today, Francis is one of the staff working under Don Bosco overseeing the well-being of the children housed there.
He was initially taken by Bro Ben to work in his workshop as an assistant after he completed his vocational school in Kudat.
“After I completed my secondary school in SMK Bundu Tuhan, I went to continue my studies at vocational school in Kudat. After that, Bro Ben took me as his assistant mechanic.
Since then, I had been actively involved in whatever he did, especially skilled work.
“I am still doing some work in his workshop”, said Francis, sad that Bro Ben would not come around anymore.
“In fact, his motorcycle is still under repair, waiting for him”.
He said Bro Ben built his workshop also for the benefit people in the village. He was multi-talented and very generous in sharing his knowledge. I will miss him,” said Francis.
“Whenever I miss him, I will always recall the moment I spent time with him taking goat’s milk.
He taught me how to do it step by step. ‘I was then a teenager and was always curious of what else he would do next,” he said.
Two weeks ago, he and colleague, Marysia Lensin, called Netherlands to find out Bro Ben’s progress.
“Marysia managed to talk to Bro Ben and said he was coughing due to the cold (winter) and had been missing his ‘real’ home (Bundu Tuhan) for too long and that he wanted to come back. Sadly, he has gone home to the Lord,” said Francis.
Marysia was one of the countless children whose lives were given meaning by Bro Ben.
She was housed at Don Bosco in 1999. Today, she works with Sister Anne Marie.
Sister Anne said Bro Ben started his activity in Bundu Tuhan (in the early 60s) by doing some construction work, repairing, as a car mechanic, a welder, a carpenter and a farmer.
“It was the late Bro. John, also a Dutch, who started the planting of temperate western vegetables in Bundu Tuhan and trained the villagers on how to organise their farming activities”.
She said Bro Ben was focusing more on construction work at that time. Over the years, Bro Ben picked up the farming work and had since been doing all the work after the passing of Bro John, especially spreading the farming knowhow to the locals.
One thing for sure, Bro Ben introduced the winter vegetables like potato, broccoli, celery cauliflower and others in this area,” said Sis Anne.
She remembers, Bro Ben and Bro John going to Kundasang to introduce the vegetables and training the villagers how to plant them. They also discouraged the farmers from using chemicals in their farming activities.
“Both went the extra mile to warn villagers that using chemical was harmful to people”.
His contributions to the people especially in this area are immeasurable.
“He spread the seeds of love to our people. Let’s remember him in our prayer,” she said.
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