I was born on the 27th of February 1983 in Quezon City,
Philippines. I lived in a compound, owned by my grandparents, wherein there were
four separate houses in one land. I grew up knowing my grandparents and seeing
my cousins everyday. My family was intact so there was a lot of love to go
around.
I was a very shy girl growing up. I never joined any games
during birthday parties and I always hid when people came to visit. I was always
afraid to show myself to others, fearing they might not like what they see.
Unfortunately, I carried this insecurity with me through my adolescent years.
When my family decided to move to Canada in 1997, my
self-confidence, or lack thereof, plunged even lower. Life back home was
comfortable – I did well in school, I had awesome friends, I had everything I
needed. Everything that defined who I am was left in the Philippines so moving
here made me feel like a nobody. I cried myself to sleep every night asking God
why this happened, why He brought me here. I had such emptiness in my life and I
tried to fill it with new friends, material things, and even smoking. Nothing
was able to fill that void in my heart until I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord
and Saviour during a sleepover in July 8, 2000.
I’ve always believed in the existence of God; however I
didn’t know Him personally until that night. I know now that God loves me with
an unfailing love. Regardless of my circumstances, His love for me remains the
same. My possessions or achievements do not define who I am anymore for my
identity is found in Him. Knowing the truth about what Jesus did for me on the
cross changed my life forever. My deepest desire is for others to know Him too
so that they can experience the abundant life that Christ offers.