I was born and raised in a Catholic family, but my parents never went to church regularly. Before I came to know Christ as my Saviour, I considered myself as a poor and unprivileged person. When I was eleven years old, my mother died in labor together with my unborn brother. They never made it to the hospital, and they died on the road. It was a heartbreaking New Year’s Day. We are eight siblings that she left behind.

Growing up without the love, care, and guidance of a mother is very hard. My father became a drunkard; there were times that he would leave us without food for two days. My two oldest sisters, ages 13 and 14, were forced to give up school to look for jobs to help support our needs. I ended up in the care of my aunt. She helped to send me to school until I graduated from high school. Even though she wanted to send me to college, she did not have the resources to do so. To help my other younger siblings, I looked for a job to help with the everyday needs and to help my two older sisters to go back to school and finish high school. As I reached 17, my second to the oldest sister died of a heart problem. Again it was another heartbreak to all of us, I was beginning to question God. Why was He allowing those things and make our family suffer? Life was so unfair, and a lot of times it was very exhausting, I begin to question my existence and my purpose in this earth. There were times that it came to my mind that it is better to die than continue on living.

But through it all, I still continued striving to live. I ended up as a house helper for more than fifteen years because of my low educational attainment. But the ways of God are incomprehensible. Through that job, I met a missionary family that became a way that led me to know Christ as my personal Saviour. They showed me how much God loves me, and made me realize I was not alone and pitiful. Through life’s trials that I experienced, God is just there, waiting for me to call upon His name. In June 2006, I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour. I realized that life is not about us, it’s about Christ. He gave me new life and new direction in my life.

As I continued to grow in faith, my way of thinking in life also changed. As I witness this missionary family doing the work for the Lord, especially to the poorest community in Payatas, Quezon City, I saw their compassion to lost souls and their dedication to reach out for Christ. I saw myself in those kids. At an early age, they are already suffering a lot. They need to work to help with their family needs. They need to skip school just to work to help their younger siblings. My heart goes out to them. I can feel what they are going through; I was in that situation before. I was burdened with their situation. They are already suffering a lot and they will suffer forever in hell if no one will go to care for them to share the Gospel. I found my purpose in life, God called me to tell to those people that there is hope that God cares for them too and they are not alone.

Through that missionary family, I was able to continue my college education and further my knowledge of the Word of God. I am blessed to have a degree of bachelor of education in Fundamental Baptist College for Asian in Tarlac City at the age of 35 while faithfully serving the Lord.

With these blessings overflowing in my life, I was given a chance to teach at a Christian school. I was then given the privilege to come to Marietta Bible College in Marietta, Ohio, USA to further train and broaden my knowledge and experience in the ministry that I will be able to use in the future ministry that God wants me to do.

I want to glorify God in my life. Psalm 86:12-13 means so much to me: I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

I am thankful and blessed because God gave me the courage to stand up in front of others and share the Gospel. Before, I was too shy and timid to stand in front of people, even little children. It is only by God’s grace that He has transformed me into what I am today.

While studying in Bible college, I visited homes and taught kids in villages in our town. Sometimes, we taught them just on the side of the road or under the shade of trees. It did not matter to them; they were so happy and eager to listen and learn. It’s always worth it whenever I saw their smiling faces. It’s my great joy to share and serve the Lord in any way I can that can glorify God.

I also volunteered in other churches for their Vacation Bible School during summer vacations. I love to learn and teach different Bible stories and characters that show God’s love and power. I love to learn new songs and then teach them to children. It’s a great privilege to be able to share the Word of God to these children and what a great joy to see and witness when they accept Christ as their personal Savior.

God gave me the opportunity to join the choir in the church to worship and praise Him through singing. Through this ministry, I was also able to disciple other young people and encourage them as they grew in faith.

After I graduated from the Bible school, I had the privilege to teach in a Christian school and freely share Christ to young minds. It was also a privilege to have had the opportunity to share the Word of God to some parents of my students.

While given the privilege to broaden my knowledge and training in the ministry in Marietta Bible College, God gave us also the privilege to serve Him through the ministries of visitation and Gospel tracts distribution, singing and conducting Bible studies in different Nursing home, teaching nursery at church, and Vacation Bible School during summer. I thank the Lord for also giving me the opportunity and enabling me to sing in the college choir, and be a blessing and encouragement to the people as we travel to different states to meet fellow Christians.