This month, we'd love you to meet Susan

Susan, we have seen you in church on Sunday, can you tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Susan Pang and I was born in Hong Kong.  I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters.  I don't remember much about my early years in Hong Kong because I came to Scotland as a child.   My father came first to work as a chef.    He bought a restaurant and soon the rest of the family came to join him.  We lived in Dunoon.   I do remember that we cried a lot because it was so wet and cold!   My sister and I had a very good teacher who helped us learn English and we were able to go to Dunoon Grammar School.  I speak English in my daily work but at home I still speak Cantonese.  After some years my parents returned to Hong Kong but I and some of my siblings stayed on in Scotland and this has become my home. I go back from time to time to Hong Kong to visit my mother.  

I met my husband in Germany when I was on holiday.   He too was from Hong Kong and like my father, was a chef.  We lived in Germany for 2 years then we came to Scotland and opened a Cash and Carry business which I still own and run today.  At the beginning we worked night and day, 7 days a week.  When the business was struggling we began to make and sell freezer meals.  This saved the business and we were able to expand to 3 shops and employ 12 staff.  I have a son and daughter who work with me in the business.   I also have a wee dog called “JJ” (In Chinese it means little boy)

We all love Chinese food.  What are your favourite dishes to cook?

Chow Mein and fried rice!   

Did you grow up in a Christian environment?  

No, my mother followed the Buddhist religion.   God brought a wonderful Christian family into our lives in Dunoon and I spent many happy hours in their home. The old grandmother loved Jesus and would tell us children bible stories and about God's love for us.   I came to understand that he was not just a good man but my Saviour too.  I am so grateful to this family and to this older godly woman for showing me that God loves me and that I can know peace and joy in him. 

Can you tell us about your husband?   

Sadly my husband passed away some years ago.  He became ill with lung cancer.  I dropped everything to care for him.  He was not against me being a Christian and allowed me to go to church.   When I did all I could to look after him, it touched his heart.  He asked to speak with a pastor and he too become a Christian.   He was baptised before he died.  I am so thankful that I know he is with God

How does God encourage and strengthen you in your faith each day?

I am very thankful to God.   Because of his mercy, he sent his only son to die on the cross for my sin. Now I am part of God’s family.   I know I will share eternity with God. The almighty God is my Heavenly Father. This is my unshakeable belief.

I love the Lord's Prayer and going over it regularly helps me.   God made us to honour and worship him and that is my heart's desire each day.  It isn't easy and I don't always get it right but that is my goal.   I also love the hymn "O love that will not let me go."  The truths in that hymn have sustained me through many difficult times. 

I noticed as we talked, you sang some of the Lord’s prayer in Hebrew. Do you have some knowledge of Hebrew?  

God's love for his people, Israel, in the Old Testament is amazing.  He never stopped loving them even when they wandered from him.  I took the Kesher Course at Carrubbers and have been to Israel twice.  I have also taken Hebrew lessons. 

How can we pray for you?  

Please pray for my children.  They respect my faith but don't accept it for themselves.   Pray too for my staff, that they too would come to know and love Jesus and please pray for my health.  

Thank you Susan.