Walking into God's Purposes through Delayed Dim Sum

​Who would ever know that we will be right here at OCF (Overseas Christian Fellowship) at the UWA campus last gathering before the exam break? God knows. Through delayed parking and late Dim Sum lunch!

It all started when I had to alight my daughter downtown 2 Saturdays ago, to meet her friends and so I decided to go wandering around and explore the city. Being totally unfamiliar with the parking system and signages in Perth, I circled around for 1 hour looking for the cheap parking space and stopped to Google to make sure I don't get a fine parking in the wrong place! I know, what you are thinking. You are probably thinking..."all that cost of wasted petrol driving around, you could have already parked for that price or less!" Trust me, downtown on a Saturday, it is still better to find cheap parking in Perth!

By the time I found parking, it was 230pm and I was famished. I walked towards the famous Murray Street and saw a familiar sighting - Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum restaurant. I recognise that! There are some of these restaurant chains in Singapore! I went in and was shown a seat, and quickly called for service. Without hesitation the waiter said: "1/2 price only applies to dine-in not takeaways." Oh wow! Nice, half price! I could save some money there. So I quickly changed my order from 1 dim sum dish to 4 dim sum dishes and a drink! :) 

There was quite a crowd, and the service was taking a long time. I started observing the waiters to see if they were bringing my food. A male waiter with glasses with a pony-tail hairdo caught my attention. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to talk to him. And so I waved my hand so that I could catch his attention to order another drink. (I had finished my drink and I was thirsty and could have another!)

I asked him some quick questions, and found out his name was RXXX and he was from Singapore and is a dentistry student at UWA(University of Western Australia), working part-time in the restaurant. I started asking him about UWA as I  mentioned to him that my daughter was going to be studying there next year, but it was hard to chat as service was very busy then, and so he had to get on with his work.  

As I looked on to everybody else's dim sum being served, I was beginning to get a little "hangry" (state of being hungry and angry) for my delayed dim sum. When I finally finished my last dim sum dish, it was almost past 330pm, so I went to the cashier to pay for my meal. "Hang around a bit.", that is what felt the inner voice of God said to me. So I did and I just told the counter staff that I am waiting for RXXX. I could see it In the eyes of the waitresses, as if wondering: "Who is this lady hanging out and waiting for him?"  and she went towards him at the back of the restaurant and told him that I was waiting for him. Argh. I must be looking so weird and strange. 

At that moment, I saw RXXX take off his service apron and started walking out. Aha, he is knocking off from his shift! We managed to walk a short distance together towards the train station. He seemed to be in a rush and he was disclosed that he is rushing to another part-time work at another restaurant right behind the street where I lived! Hmm. What are the chances! 

Suddenly, as we were about to part ways, the thought came to me: Ask him about OCF (Overseas Christian Fellowship).  So I asked him if he knew about OCF. (Because I had known some friends who were a part of OCF while studying in Australia unis and some of them had come to know God through OCF. Heard amazing things that OCF has done. This year is their 60th anniversary of reaching and discipling students. OCF is an interdenominational, student-led, on-campus fellowship that is united in faith under one vision: to reach out to all overseas students in Australia, build them up to be Christ’s disciples, and send them back to their home countries as disciple-makers). His eyes lighted up and to cut the long story short, he then gave me his contact and also with the permission of his friend, he gave me the contact of his friend Jo, who is a part of OCF.  Interestingly Jo had invited him a few times there before, although he never went.  

A week later, I contacted Jo. And she invited us to the OCF gathering thanksgiving night, which was the last night before they break for the exams. (Think about it: if I had met RXXX later and called Jo later, I would have totally missed going to this gathering!)

So here we are at the OCF gathering night with Max Graeig, pastor advisor to OCF UWA. And as we shook hands, he immediately found us looking very familiar. (Perhaps we had met somewhere in some Christian conference or meeting). And we were able to introduce what we do (Journeying Together Resources) and turned out there was great like-mindedness amongst us. As we continued chatting, I was also pleasantly surprised to know he is my hairdresser's bible study church leader! (I had only visited this home hairdresser recommended by another acquaintance here a few days ago!) Wow, what an intricate web of connections God has weaved and orchestrated. 

With God, there are NO COINCIDENCES.  
There was every reason for the delayed parking and delayed dim sum after all! 
​Pray with us, this is just the beginning of God's purposes!
​
Karen Gan

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Jason and I with Max Graieg, Pastor Advisor of OCF UWA for the last 27 years! He has seen thousands of Singaporean, Malaysian, Asian students come to Christ through OCF.