My Big Sister

As the second oldest of five kids, and the oldest girl, I have no big sisters...except for Mandy Chang. We first met in August of 2008 at my interview with Perot Systems. She was incredibly nice and kind - something I was not used to at my former job. Even though we met then, I didn't really get to know her until she came back from Hawaii. She had gone there for about 3 months on a work assignment. When she came back, we began working together. I had picked up the basics of the new job and still had a lot to learn. Our work relationship started out rocky - Her getting back into the DC routine and me getting used to the work routine in itself. But we eventually worked out the kinks and started working as a team. She would always come in at o-dark-thirty to do reports and I would show up, check e-mail, piddle around a bit and then we would walk over to the other site together. On those walks we would talk, about nothing in particular, only to fin out we had a lot of similarities. We both like to swim (yay!) both have a love for German culture and many other things. Mandy would also bring her Bible and devotional in every day and would often share via e-mail what she had read or things that jumped out at her. As I saw her love for God and Jesus and how she often spoke of it to others, I truly began to understand Christ's love through her. When she came back from Hawaii, she left behind a boyfriend (now husband) and new family at the church. I knew how deeply she wanted to go back and made trips every few months back "home" as she called it. Her prayer was for a job to open up so she could move back. Secretly, I didn't want her to go, but I knew if something came up, she would leave. I don't know how many times she sent out her resume.. I don't know how many people she contacted or pleaded for word of anything opening up. Nothing came up. Not for a long time. I watched her struggle, wrestle with God and His will that seemed to keep her here. We cried together, we prayed together and through these moments, we became close. She was with me as I went through a breakup. She cried with me, she prayed with me. We were truly becoming family. Those months that she was here was most certainly a God-thing. Through her, I saw His love and began to know Jesus in a way I never had before. It also deepened the bond that we now have. It's incredibly hard to explain that connection we have but we often joke that we were twins separated at birth. After she left for Hawaii when God opened up the door, it was very hard without her. I fell away from God. In fact, I have spent the better part of the last several years running from God and His love, chasing other material things to fill the hole that the breakup left me with.  But Mandy (and ultimately Christ, through her) was always there. When I was lonely and needed to talk to her, she was there. When I was struggling with something, she was there with the words of encouragement I so needed to hear. Her love for me never wavered and that is what stood out to me the most. It was so reminiscent of the love Christ has for us. That no matter how far we run, He's always there, waiting for us to fall on our face and stretch out our arms to be picked up.

In recent months, God has done an amazing thing in my life. I decided in July to go to Germany. I bought a plane ticket, booked hostels and went. All by myself. When most of my other friends were asking if I was crazy, Mandy said to have a great time and enjoy it [but as a sub-clause she said that if ANYTHING HAPPENED to call her and she'd be on the next flight to Germany to get me..I have a great Big Sister ;) ]. I knew that God was going to do something amazing and powerful. I didn't know what, but it was going to be awesome. And it was. In the past months since I came back, I realigned my priorites and God has been revealing himself to me in awesome ways I cannot even begin to describe. But even more than that, He's transforming me into His image. There are things happening in my life that I can't explain other than attribute them to the Holy Spirit. And I know, without a doubt that He put Mandy into my life for a reason and used her mightily. 

I have two younger sisters and for so long, I have struggled with being a "Good Big Sister". I struggle with being a good role model and encouraging my sisters when they need it. I just haven't figured out how. Well, in the past weeks, I was pondering Mandy and how she's been a big sister to me and the thought struck me. Her example, and ultimately Jesus's example, are excellent places to start. So in 2012 and onward, (and if you know me, I NEVER make New Year's resolutions), with God's help, my resolutions are to become a better sister, a better friend and ultimately serve Christ in the occupations He's put me in. My prayer is to make a life changing difference in someone's life, just as Mandy was in mine. 

I love you, Mandy. Thank you for being My Big Sister. You are so special to me and even though 5,000 miles separate us, nothing can break this bond. :) :) :)