One Life. The narrow way – Sylvia's Dream by Sylvia Dunn

Chapter Three: Getting To Know Jesus

I had given my life to Jesus, but this was a special time in my life where I was able to get to know God in a more personal way.

I went for early morning walks in the beautiful rainforest and talked and sang to God. Often, I would walk up steep hills and hear God saying, “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and it will be worth it when you get to the top.” They surely were magnificent views and spectacular landscapes.

I remember one day I was walking in an area I had not been to before, and I walked for about five hours just talking to God and enjoying the countryside. Suddenly, I realised I was lost! I had the impression that there would be a fallen tree around the next bend, and sure enough it was there. I knew I was safe and sensed that I could never be lost again because God loves me and knows everything about me. He lives inside me. He knows my every thought.

After walking for about five hours, I emerged tired but amazed at the grace of God. Even the next day I felt no effects of my very long walk but felt excited to be encountering God in this special way.

One day I received a telegram to say that my mum in England had died. I cried for a few hours. Then God reminded me of a song we had been singing the night before. It was based on a scripture in 1 John: This is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will. He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. I had sent a letter to my mum a few weeks before, telling her about how Jesus had saved me and changed my life. I believe my mum will be waiting for me in heaven. My sister wrote to me and commented how strange that I would send a letter like that just at that time. God is faithful!

Marysville is the place where I began to teach scripture in the school. I was so nervous the first time I entered the classroom for my first lesson with five-year- old children. The teacher was a Catholic lady and was very supportive. I think she realised how difficult it was for me to step out and take on this mission. Over the following weeks, I became more confident and started to enjoy going each week and teaching the children the simplicity of just trusting Jesus. I continued teaching scripture for the next seven years in Victoria and then again later when I moved interstate. This was a very important part of my preparation for public speaking and keeping the gospel message simple.

I missed my two younger children while they were away from me but had no way of visiting them for a few months. I managed to get a car when I had been there for around six months, and then I was able to drive for three hours to visit them. Each time I left my two-year-old boy, he would scream as he watched me drive away, and I would be broken-hearted. I had to stop the car and cried and cried, thinking how much I wanted to take my children back with me to Marysville. A few weeks later I found a way to bring my two other children back to live with me, and we rented a house in town for another year. We prayed, and God provided everything we needed for our home. This was a very precious time for us. We had a family altar where we would pray every night as a family. We wrote out a list of what we needed and gradually ticked each thing off the list as God miraculously provided.