My FTPW calling started in the year 2012 when I attended my 2nd YFC Conference in Canada. The Ates and Kuyas shared their stories and as I listened to them, I felt something good that encouraged and inspired me. That was when the Lord planted the seeds. God has been faithful in my life and I desired to be able to stand on a stage and share my story.
At that time, my plan was to go to university. I was discerning which course to take. Growing up, I always wanted to help out other people. I wanted to take care of them especially the elderly and sick, this led me to try nursing like my mom. While I was discerning about this, at the back of my mind, I also knew I desired to be a FTPW.
Going into university trying to get into Nursing was a challenge. It took a few years and as those years passed, I couldn’t help but ask God “What are you calling me for? I thought you wanted me to take care of people. Why can’t I get into this program?” This is when the Lord revealed to me that I was too focused on the entitlement of Nursing. I thought it was the only way for me to achieve the desire to take care of people. That was when I was able to recognize that the Lord had a different plan for me. I needed to let go of the fears and uncertainties of the future and trust that He was preparing me for something greater than I could imagine. That surrender led me to discover my calling to be a Nursing Assistant.
However, the desire to be a FTPW became stronger as time passed by and I knew I had to take action. In 2017, after finishing my Nursing Assistant course, MVA Program opened again and I took this as an opportunity to actively discern for the program. However, I felt like I was stuck because in order for me to enter into the program I had to be invited by FTPW. I remember asking God “Is this a joke Lord, I’m obeying your call but why does it feel like You are not allowing me to go?” Then one night, as I attended a mass with my family, our local FTPW was there too. He encouraged me to pray for the program. I believe that was God’s timing and an affirmation of what He is calling me to do. So, I applied and entered the program.
The journey for the program of MVA wasn’t easy. There were a lot of questions, fears, uncertainties, and doubts. I would ask myself “Am I really called for this?” In 2018, the Lord called me to go for FTPW training, this was His reassurance to me that all that had happened was meant for me to be able to say yes to this calling. It was a moment full of graces and I was affirmed that this was a personal call from Him. As my life verse always reminds me from Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you”. I was called to surrender everything to answer a call He graciously gave to me. It started from a dream, a desire, and in the end, a response to a call. God has been so gracious He has been there in the beginning and until now.
It has been 1 year since I became a FTPW, and I can only describe it as a year full of blessings and graces from Him. The mission has allowed me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and I know that there will always be new challenges and struggles to face. All I need to do is continue to surrender to Him and He will always equip me with His grace. He continues to remind me that there is always a perfect timing for everything, that He will always place us where we are meant to be. He doesn’t look into our past but our future, a future full of hope knowing as we choose Him every day, that we will one day be closer to Him in heaven. For every moment we choose to be with Him is a perfect time as long as we are willing to trust in Him and His plans for us.
