I was born and raised in the Philippines. I am the eldest among my siblings. Being the first born of my family, I was provided with everything I asked for. We are not rich but my parents had stable jobs. But because of their work, I didn’t see them often. Most of my childhood was spent playing with my friends and cousins. I was 10 when I started to feel that something was missing in my life. I never felt satisfied and I wasn’t really happy. Yes, I had all the things a child could wish for while growing up, but still, I felt empty.

Until one Saturday afternoon, I visited my aunt, and my friends and I were playing in the street. A lady from a Baptist church came, introduced herself, and gathered us under a tree. She began to teach us Bible songs; we played games, and taught us about Jesus. At that time I didn’t know who Jesus was. She told us to close our eyes and remember the bad things we have done in our lives, to our parents, playmates and other people. She told us that those were sins and the punishment for all my sins is spending eternity in hell. She described Hell according to what the Bible says. Right then, I got really scared. But then she told us that someone took the punishment for all my sins. That someone was the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross and died for me to pay for my sins. But He arose again for me.

When she quoted John 3:16, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. I finally knew why I felt empty. My godless soul was marred by sin. Although 10 years old may seem young, I understood my sinfulness and that I needed a Savior to save me.

I believe God already planned that day for me to be saved and that it will be special and unforgettable. On February 1, 2003, Jesus found me, and rescued me from eternal punishment. He gave me the joy, peace and love that a 10 year old kid was looking for and anyone will ever need.

I began attending church services and Sunday school after I got saved. There I was taught more about the Bible. I spent most of my time at church and went with church workers to different villages and teach other children about the Bible. From being one of the juniors in church, I grew up as a teenager and became more involved in other ministries especially in children’s ministry. I got baptized on June 12, 2007.

The same lady who led me to Christ, Sis. Marivic Benebe, was used by God once again to encourage me to attend a youth camp where I surrendered my life in full time service at the age of 15. I will never forget the last night of the camp, the preaching of the pastor pierced my heart and I knew that God is calling me to do more and bigger things for Him. What really made that night so special was when I went forward and knelt in the altar, my dear pastor went forward too and stood behind me. He put his hand on my shoulder and prayed with me. That gesture really lifted my spirit and encouraged me. In the summer of 2008, before I entered my senior year in high school, God showed me where He is calling me. Our church was invited to help in a summer vacation Bible school at Payatas, the biggest Garbage Sanitation area in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It is a place where even though people shouldn’t reside in, families still live there and make their living every day because of poverty. There, I saw children struggling to survive on their own. They have to make ends meet in the streets. That really broke my heart. Seeing them I know where God is leading me and what He wants me to do: reach out to kids in the street and share to them the love that I have in Christ.

After I graduated in high school, I enrolled at the Fundamental Baptist College for Asians at Tarlac City, Philippines. I wanted to be trained further and to learn more about God, His Word and how I can share it to others. I was on my third year in the Bible College when I was granted the honor and privilege to come in the United States of America and study at Marietta Bible College under the leadership of Dr. Myron Guiler. I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Christian Education in May 2013. And in May of 2016, I earned my degree on Advance Biblical Studies. I thank God for these great blessings.

After I got saved, I began to regularly attended every service and activities in our church. Sis. Marivic taught me a lot of things about the Bible, specially sharing the Word of God to others. I got involved in various ministries of our church: singing in the choir, Saturday visitation, assisting teachers during Sunday school and summer Vacation Bible School.

As I grew in faith and became more used to handle children, I was given the opportunity to teach juniors in our Sunday school. I taught in 4 children centers every Saturday and taught in our kids’ Vacation Bible School every summer.

I was also given the opportunity to be one of the leaders of our youth group in our church. I had the privilege to teach and hold a feeding ministry for kids many times in different churches, during summer. I was regularly involved in Evangelistic meetings that were organized by one of the outreach leaders of our church. I thanked God for these privileges He gave me to serve Him in so many ways.