We Cannot Outgive God (2)

My students from RVHS mostly came from humble homes. RVHS is one of the top schools and the students are just so wonderful and disciplined. I would often buy chocolates and stationery from the supermarket to give away as prizes for outstanding pieces of creative writing or rewards for students who showed effort and improvement. I won a $50/- voucher from the Van Houten Chocolate makers, and another $100/- voucher from the Supermarket for its Aniversary Lucky Draw.

In late 1989, I decided to visit England and Scotland when I was teaching in ACS. My well-travelled and knowledgeable students advised me to buy a wind breaker for the trip. When I found out the price of the windbreaker, I decided to do without it. Perhaps to keep warm, I would just wear extra layers of clothes. My flatmate's mother from Penang visited us and I took her shopping at Chinatown. I bought two packets of Digestive Biscuits and was given two lucky coupons to scratch! To my surprise, I won a windbreaker! God knew my needs, because the wind in England and Scotland was stronger than I had anticipated.

In December 1992, I wanted to go to Nepal for a short term mission trip with some friends. I knew the people were very poor and wanted to bless them with gifts of toothbrushes, toothpastes, towels, socks, writing pads, stationery, candies and cookies. There were so many draws for the goods purchased and I won 7 prizes. One of them was a hamper of multi-vitamins and another a hamper of toiletries ..... just what the missionaries would need!

When I returned from Nepal , I was surprised to find 5 letters in my mailbox informing me of my lucky prizes! I had won an air ticket to Bangkok and when my friend's sister heard of my win, she gave me another lucky prize given to her by her customer - a four day package at the Bangkok Palace Hotel! I felt as if the Lord was saying: "Now that you have roughed it out in the mountain village, you can live like a princess for four days!" I invited a friend to join me for the tour as I wanted to share my blessings. I felt grateful and overwhelmed as the Hotel chauffeur came to pick us up from the airport in a limousine. The Thais are very gentle people with great service. My friend and I really felt like princesses during our 4 days stay at the Bangkok Palace Hotel!

Soon after I gave $500 to a local missionary who was going to Bible School. And the Lord blessed me with $500/-cash (3rd prize) from the toothbrush company!

My god-daughter, Carrie persuaded me to buy a beautiful Carven watch when she found out it was on sale at $480/- instead of the usual $560/-. "You are so stingy, Choo. You have always been wearing cheap watches... come, pamper yourself for once! There's also a lucky draw. You may win a prize, you know, " coaxed Carrie. Two months later, I was surprised that I had won the first prize given by the Carven watch company It was an air ticket to Rome! Since I had already been to Rome, I did not fancy going there again, and decided to sell the ticket and used the money to pay for my brother's hotel stay in singapore. Eldest brother was back in Singapore for a month for his art exhibition. Knowing that the drinks in the fridge were costly, I decided to stock up bottle fruit drinks and youghurt drinks for my brother. A month later, I was tickled pink to find that I had won a 12 speed mountain bike from the fruit drink company. It was just what I would need when I moved to my new flat in clementi. I had just given away my fairly good bicycle to our apartment janitor as I noticed his bicycle was falling apart and it would be quite dangerous for the old man to cycle on the road.

Thank God for His timely provison.

Gan Chau