I grew up very religious and always participated in all sorts of Christian activities. The Philippines is a considered as the only Christian nation in Asia but it’s more because it’s not majority Buddhist, Hindu, Islam or Communist. I always long for the spiritual and recognize that there is an existence of the divine but I never had a personal relationship with Jesus until years later.
Growing up, my parents’ relationship was never easy. My dad was an alcoholic and involved in all sorts of vices and as a result of that we never experienced peace at home. My mom was physically and verbally abused by my dad and it wasn’t easy to go through all of that growing up. As the eldest amongst six children I pretty much just carried all the hurt and pain by myself in my childhood and teenage years. When my parents finally separated when I was 13 I thought it was much better.
But my life was quite a mess and I felt so broken. I remember the time when I wanted to commit suicide so many times and feeling so depressed most days. I felt a sense of emptiness in me. I knew something is missing.
It was in 2002 when I understood that I needed JESUS. That only through a personal relationship with my savior and recognizing my sins and accepting what HE has done for me on the cross that life can be worth living for. When I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior He filled that void inside of me. I consider September 2002 as the time that I really had a personal encounter with the Lord and the Holy Spirit was ministering to me in a way that I have never experienced before, I’ve never felt so loved and accepted until this time.
Since then I had so many adventures with JESUS. He has taken me to more than 60 countries and given me family and friends all over the world. It hasn’t always been as easy but Life has so much more meaning and purpose and I can continue to live in Hope knowing that JESUS is with me and in as much as I live that life that He’s called me here on earth I’m destined for eternity with Him. JESUS is everything to me and I want to share that with others coz I know His heart is for every single individual to come to Know Him and live forever with HIM.