I have been reading Brio Girl magazine, one for Christian teenage girls, since April 2003. I loved the magazine and still do. However, one thing in particular caught my attention from the beginning. Each year the magazine editors initiated a Brio Girl Search. Applicants from around the world would write essays, send in résumés, and most importantly, talk about their growing relationship with God. The actual Brio Girl wrote encouraging letters to other Brio readers. It was definitely something that I aspired to do someday. This year, I decided it was time. I had gone through the hardest period in my life with the illness and death of my little sister, Lydia. And she had a story that I wanted to share to as many people as I possibly could. An inspiring story about love, faith, and hope in even the worst of circumstances. In my application I wrote about her life in a couple of my essays (not the one they posted on the Brio web site) and how she had impacted every part of my life. I sent in my application, hoping for the best.

Just a couple weeks ago I received an email saying that I was one of the Top 20 Finalists for Brio Girl 2008! I was shocked, ecstatic, and amazed. Why had God let me be chosen out of the hundreds of girls that applied? And even now as I write this, all I can do is smile and realize just how loving and fantastic my Heavenly Father is. I’m not really sure where God will lead me in the Search from here. But I know His plan is best.

Please pray for God’s will to be done throughout this entire event, and that He will help me to understand how I can best serve Him with by sharing my story about my sister Lydia and how she lived out her life for Him. I hope to be able to share about her to the nations, bringing many to God. Also, voting will be done for the Top 20 Finalists to be made into the Top 8 and I would love to have your support. Perhaps you may not be eligible to vote (not a teenage girl) but it would be awesome if you could still continue to pray for me and for Lydia’s life story to be spread. In addition, it would be fantastic if you could forward this letter to teenage girls you know or families with teenage girls.

http://www.briomag.com/briomagazine/reallife/a0007351.html

You can click on Top 20 Candidates to view all the Finalists and their profiles and essays. I’m the last one on the page. This page also has the voting instructions. Which are:

How to Vote
• e-mail prizes@mm.fotf.org with your choice for 2008 Brio Girl by listing the girl’s full name in the subject head

• one ballot/e-mail per person

• must be a teenage girl to vote

• voting ends Monday, June 18, 2007

Love,

Esther Wu