Lessons On Sacrifice From Sunny

Have you ever known that something was absolutely true but had trouble expressing all the reasons why?  Sunny has.

Have you ever had to worry about possibly being dis-honored out of your family because of what you believe?  Sunny has.

Do you think you would be able to remain joyful and positive throughout a whole mess of worldly distractions you can't control?  Sunny can.

Sunny came to me already a believer.  She was converted one year ago.  She was one of the most cheery people I met in China.  How was I supposed to know that underneath the surface that she had a pile of heartache built up?  

Sunny was very interested in learning about American Universities.  There wasn't a class time that passed by with us that she didn't want to learn more about being a college student in America.  It had always been her dream to study abroad in the states.  Of course that didn't happen.  In Jimei she struggled to succeed in school because she just didn't understand the content of the major her parents chose for her.  However, she was still grateful that she in college and away from her family because than her mother wouldn't be a problem any more.  Her and her mother apparently have a regular problem of arguing over faith.  Sunny is Christian and her mother is Buddhist.

Sunny's major problem was that she knew God was real and that Jesus died for her sins but she couldn't answer everyone's questions about how it all works in every aspect of life.  She had so many questions for me about how to search for God deeper in Scripture you've read already, and how to pray when you don't know what God wants, and how to tell other people you know He speaks to you when you can't hear His voice.  All of these kinds of questions had haunted her for months and she was now able to ask them.

Watching her face while she read the Bible was one of the most joyous moments for me.  She loved reading it so much and could identify with no help and with ease how the story would apply to her and could change her.  Even with her English being poor she could discuss Jesus at length.

Sunny felt so much more confident about sharing her faith comfortably after our time together.  She felt on fire and was excited to go to church more for the first time she said.  I am more than grateful to God for allowing me to be used in this fashion.  Watching Sunny's faith grow in front of me was a powerful experience and a humble honor to help be a part of molding that.  I also learned so much from her.  Sunny knows what's it's like to truly take up your cross and follow Jesus.  Sunny struck me with this statement:  "God always made me happy.  But now my heart is full of His happiness.  So many things I can understand better.  It feels good."