Okay, so first thing’s first: I’m a guy. “Wait,
what?” Yep, you read that right – I’m a dude. No, this isn’t a misplaced post.
No, I’m not lying. No, this ain’t a joke either.
My name is Eric. I’m an 18-year-old Filipino living
in Bangkok, Thailand. Yes, I’m a guy (I believe I can’t stress that enough), so
you may be wondering what in the world am I doing posting on a blog that’s
entitled “Revelations of a Daughter”? Well, I was honored and privileged to
have been asked to make a post for this awesome blog, so here I am.
I was asked to write a testimonial post and well, if
you’re looking for a guy that was in a ditch at one point of his life with
drugs and alcohol helping him to get there, let me tell you right now: that’s
not my testimony. But that doesn’t mean God hasn't worked wonderfully and
powerfully in my life.
I was blessed to have been born into a Christian
family and raised with strong Christian values. I grew up a Sunday School kid
and going to bible camps every summer, and looking back I really thank God for
that because that was what solidified my faith. It was what really set my
foundation in Christ. However, my family was just your typical Sunday
Christian. Basically, we went to church on Sunday then left for a family day.
Sure, we prayed and read the Bible, but that was as far as we went. We didn’t
know that there was so much more to be had in life with God.
When I was around six or seven years old, my dad
came home with the news that the factory he was working in would be shut down
and that many people were getting laid off. We were very thankful to God
because we found out that my dad wasn’t one of them. Instead he would be
transferred to another country. There were four choices: Japan, China, US, and
Thailand. My parents aimed to go the US because… well, it’s the US! Ironically,
the last on their list was Thailand, but it was for obvious reasons: Thailand
wasn’t a Christian nation and my parents were afraid we’d go spiritually dry
and it was basically just “across the street” from the Philippines with very
little differences in culture and people and all that.
But God had a different plan. A few months later, my family and I moved to Thailand.
My parents had a hard time adjusting. We lived in a
house back in the Philippines. Now we lived in a studio type apartment. We only
had a handful of friends. The company also didn’t pay for our rent or my school
fees, unlike other employees, meaning we had to shoulder it all on our own.
When we went around looking at schools, we found that international schools
basically had the same fee as students in the Philippines taking a doctorate
degree in a course. On top of that, we weren’t sure where we’d find a church.
For a few months, my mom seriously contemplated
going back home to the Philippines. However, we soon found a church that took
us in as family. Little did we know that it was in that church and in this
country that God would raise me and my family in the ministry.
Little by little, we found that there’s more to
Christian life than just attending church every Sunday. My parents got involved
in ministries. Soon they were leading their own Bible Study. As for me, it was
here that I truly began my relationship with the Lord, and soon I also joined
my own ministries: I joined the usher team then went on to the worship team and
eventually was groomed to be a worship leader.
In the area of finance, my parents learned to tithe
faithfully and trust God with their money. Soon, I also joined them in tithing.
Even until today, my dad’s company doesn’t pay for our rent or my school
tuition. However, my family is financially blessed. My parents were able to pay
for my schooling from elementary to high school. Now, I’m enrolled in the top
university in Thailand by God’s amazing grace and favor (that’s another
testimony I gotta share!). As for that studio-type room, we only actually lived
there for a year then we moved to a condominium. Now, however, God has blessed
us and we’re living in an actual house with three floors (and I basically have
the second floor all to myself). I dunno about you, but three floors is
definitely an improvement from a studio-type room!
As for those who got transferred to different
countries, we found that God really did have the best plan for us and secured
us. Those who were transferred back to the US were sent back to the Philippines
because it didn’t work out. Those transferred in China requested transfers
because they didn’t like it there. Those who were sent to Japan said the work was
too hectic and wanted to transfer to – guess where? – Thailand. It turned out
that Thailand was actually the best and stable choice!
Me and my family have been here in Thailand for
eleven years. Over the course of that time, another member was added to our
group, so now I have a six year old brother (another testimony since I’ve been
praying for a sibling for almost thirteen years). Over the course of that time
also God has grown my family individually and together, and I am so blessed to
have a family that is serving God altogether. My mom is the head of the
intercessory group in our church. My dad is one of the church elders or main
leaders. I am a worship leader and the youth leader in the church. All of us
are in the church leadership team too.
None of us ever though that it would be here in
Thailand where God would grow us, that it would be here where He would raise us
to be leaders and that He would use us and maximize us. My family and I are
still serving here and I look forward for what God has in store for us. I’ve
seen his hand move in my family countless times, and I cannot wait to see Him
do more amazing things in the coming years.
-Eric
Editor's Note: Eric has his own blog (http://therealerice.tumblr.com) and you can also follow him on Twitter @TheRealEricE! Check it out!
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