By June Mathews
Ever since he was a little kid, Skyler Cope has been going to The Palace restaurant with his mom and stepdad. So for years, the outgoing Leeds eighth grader has been friends with some of the employees there, including Pei Yen Sung, the woman who disappeared from her home in Trussville’s Longmeadow subdivision two weeks ago.
When Skyler heard the news, he immediately started praying for Sung’s safe return, and he’s been praying ever since. In fact, said Skyler’s mom, Dawn Staggs, the youngster has been praying for Sung every day. And when he began to feel spoken words weren’t enough, he expressed himself in writing.
“I wanted to write a prayer because I felt in my heart that God was calling me to do something special,” he said.
In the hopes of inspiring others to continue praying for Sung, Skyler asked that we share his prayer with Tribune readers:
Dear God,
I just found out that someone I love is missing and my thoughts are racing into fear and panic. I surrender all of my fearful thoughts to You. I call upon Your perfect wisdom to guide everything to ensure the complete safety and protection of my loved one. Please take my fearful thoughts from me and heal them for me. I’m willing to trust that Your love ensures our safety and well-being, and there is nothing to fear. In the presence of Your light, there is no darkness. No one can be harmed, threatened or in danger when they are surrounded by the light and protection of Your love. Please take my fears and replace them with Your certainty of a peaceful outcome. I place my loved one in Your capable hands and trust, with all my heart, that they are safe and secure. Thank You, in advance, for their safe and immediate return. Thy will be done. Amen.
The Palace is offering a $5,000 reward, hoping to encourage anyone with details on Sung’s whereabouts to come forward. If you have any information on this case, please contact the Trussville Police Department at 655-2101.