Dearest Yuni Teriyaki,
I remember your bubbly, smiley face bounding towards me at Gracepoint almost three years ago when I felt lonely and misplaced at church. I remember reading 1 Peter with you over coffee & firing all the hard questions at you during the FCG Genesis Bible Studies.
I remember hearing your stories of how Jesus transformed your life in high school, and through your love and perseverance with me - I understood the gospel of grace for the first time.
I remember when the Spirit worked in my life and we celebrated together as I fell in love with our Lord Jesus. I remember crying my eyes out while stuffing my face with chicken wings, because I had decided to take a leap of faith and to let go of the thing that mattered to me most. I remember that you were there - laughing on the inside because your heart was jumping for joy……..and because I was stuffing my face with chicken wings…..
I remember making your bright orange Birthday card and feeding you ultimate-FAIL- rock-hard-sugar-overdose-pink cupcakes for your birthday. I remember you enlisting me for Port Macq mission and putting my name down for Advance and leadership even though others were skeptical.
I remember hosting an oily-hot-pot night for your birthday last year and using party hats from my primary school parties to celebrate the occasion. I remember your rap for my 21st party and the first time I told you that I had fallen in love with your man friend in Brisbane! I remember seeing you walk down the aisle as my bridesmaid and having a laugh at all the wedding day disasters the week after.
I remember our pork roll lunchies when I started full time work and becoming celebrities at Martin Place as we featured in a MX paper together. I remember sharing Maccers fries and secrets on a milk crate and how excited you were when we gave you the title of Simba Tai’s Godmother.
You already know how much you mean to me but I hope these memories will help you to count your blessings on your birthday. May you continue shining your light to others and blessing them with the committed friendship and fellowship that you have shown to me. I thank God for you all the time.
Love. You. So. Much.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
