I’ve been living this life with constant surrender and hope in the faithfulness of the Lord.
I was a graduating elementary student when my teacher invited me to join a youth camp. I wasn’t hesitant since she was my favorite plus I like sleepovers. The camp was deeply fun and memorable, up to this day, I can still remember its every detail. I thought it all ended there. After a year, I was invited to an activity, and then followed by more activities such as households and assemblies. Later on, I became a leader. I was very excited in doing the mission – meeting different people and going to different places. Along with that, my parents joined actively in the community too. It was rewarding to see their relationship bloomed and flourished. Though we live in a slum area, I am happy because I have a complete family that I can call my home. The life I’ve been living being a daughter, student, and a missionary all at the same time is both a blessing and a responsibility.
The mission taught me to dream even more for myself and most importantly, for my family. Being the eldest, I wanted us out of the squatter’s area and live in a proper house built in land. Thus, when I was about to finish high school, I wanted to study and get a course in a prestige university in the Philippines where I know I will have so much opportunity, so I could help provide for my family. That was the plan. I was in third year when my mother vomited an alarming amount of blood. It was found that her congenital heart disease worsened. After the incident, our poor financial status was all the more bombarded with her prescriptions. My mother was suffering for months going back and forth to the hospital. My father drove the tricycle day and night almost 24/7. That time, I was at the peak of my service being one of the core group members in the province. So I served and prayed even more. During that time, I prayed the rosary every night for my mama’s recovery. I even had a bargain in my prayers that “I will continue to serve in the community as long as my mother is healed.”
That didn’t happen. It was deeply heartbreaking, I felt betrayed. I thought that the things I’ve done for the mission is enough for a miracle to happen. On top of that, we were worried not to be able to give my mother a proper burial. Thankfully, the community that we are in helped us with the expenses as well our family friends and relatives. In the face of suffering, life must go on. I was afraid that losing my mother would make our family financially helpless and broken like other incomplete families. With that in mind, I was more determined to finish college in my choice of course and university. Again, that didn’t happen. I was not able to be in the university and course that I want. My father asked me to stay since I still have a younger brother and sister. Moreover, we don’t have the financial stability to support my college outside the province. So despite the bargain I had, I still continued to be in the mission and obeyed to stay and study in Surigao.
Low and behold, God is indeed is in the business of changing lives. I received not just one scholarship but two, from public and private. Thus, it supported my academics and other household expenses too. Two years after my mother died, we received a notice of demolition of the houses in the squatter’s area including ours. We were puzzled figuring out where to live. Weeks before demolition I was told to apply for a slot to a housing village manage by the City and Couples for Christ. So we filled up the form and one week after, it was approved! We used the money we got from the demolition to repair some damages of the house granted to us. Now we’re living in a house built in land even not yet having a diploma. God didn’t stop there, my relationship with my family got deeper. My father didn’t choose to marry again; he was focused on raising us. I got very close to my siblings and they even joined the community too!
As I continue saying yes to the will of God, slowly my prayers came true. Remember the bargain that I had? Through the years, I thought God betrayed me for not granting it. But the healing that I wanted for my mother can only be achieved in heaven. I also found out that my mother was advised before not to bear a child since she has health risk. And that make us all three children a miracle. Surprisingly, I slowly loved the course that I got and discover my passion in conserving the environment through it. I graduated top of my class and eventually landed a decent job. I was able to help pay the debts of my father and currently helping in household expenses.
In answering the constant call and pursuit of the Lord, I finally give in to join the Mission Volunteer’s training bearing in me that the Lord will continue to be faithful in this new journey.
Through all this, I realized that it was not about what I did for the Lord, it is what the Lord has done for me. I will continue to hold onto hope for He is forever faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).
