Dearest Annette Aunty, Me simply saying that you have been a blessing in my life would be the greatest understatement. Annette Aunty you are a most beautiful aunt sent by God to impact and influence me to become the woman God desires me to become. Knowing you so closely, you are probably thinking ‘why is my niece just spoiling me with compliments’ but you must know that every word I say in this letter comes from my heart. There are countless attributes I would like to thank God for so graciously providing you with –all of which I don’t think I can fit in this paper – but first and foremost I praise God for the unwavering faith you have in Him. Your life has been a living testimony to me of this. Like Job, over the years I have seen firsthand you live a blameless life fearing God in all that you do. Always putting the work of the Lord as your priority, you have taught me what it means to live as a pure woman after God’s own heart. Like David, you have taught me what it means to wholeheartedly praise God even in the midst of the fiercest of trials. Even though you have seen trials many and bitter, reflecting on the way you have relied on the Lord as your pillar of strength to see you through brings me to tears ashamed of how quick I am to rely on my own failing flesh instead of the Lord. Like Esther you are beautiful both in heart and appearance and have taught me through our cherished one-on-one conversations that beauty above all other things comes from my character found in Christ. Like Hannah, your faithfulness in prayer and devotion to the Lord served as an encouragement in my walk with Him. The way you pour out your heart to the Lord constantly quoting His promises as found in the Scripture taught me the importance of spending intimate time with our Savior. Like Lydia, you have never failed to show me what it means to be hospitable. Your heart of service and innermost desire to pour Christ’s love to all who enter your home is something I pray God will instill in me as I become a woman. The thoughtfulness of buying my favorite chocolate milk and kraft cheese so that I could enjoy them right after I landed in Dubai/Sri Lanka always made me smile knowing I have an aunt who cares so deeply for me even enough to remember the smallest details of what food I like. Every time I came you took me saree shopping even if it meant spending 3-4 hours to pick out just one that me and mama mutually agreed on and spoiled me with gifts. How many hours you spent treating my hair to oil massages and egg masks even though I squirmed, I cannot thank you enough for exemplifying humility to me in this way. Like Jesus, one of the greatest life lessons you have taught me is what it means to unconditionally love free of judgement. You’ve been exposed to my weaknesses, my periods of tantrums and stubbornness yet you still shower me with the same love through it all. The number of times you’ve allowed me to openly share with you my struggles/insecurities as a Christian girl in a secular university and have gently encouraged me with godly advice are fond memories to me. A quality I hope to acquire is your ability to always see the best in others. To recognize that each person in this world is a beautiful creation uniquely formed by God, and that though they all have sinned in one way or another we never have a place to judge - that we are to despise the sin and love (as Christ would) the sinner. The mentality that we are to forgive wholeheartedly holding nothing against our neighbour as Christ did us and accept others even with their shortcomings. These are only a select few of the many life lessons you have taught me. This letter are words from my heart that I never took the time to express to you and are a timely word of encouragement when needed the most. I ardently love you Annette Aunty more than I can express in words. It hurt me to see you in pain, but I take comfort knowing that you are home in the arms of our Saviour. A place where there is endless joy and perfect peace where any earthly pains have finally ceased.I will always love you and cherish every memory God has graciously blessed us with. Until we meet again Your niece, Shauna