He Said, She Said: "Called to be LIGAYA, 36 years of Fruitfulness!"



From 1975 to 2011: 36 years of Fruitfulness!
Photo courtesy of Aly S. Capote  

 

 HE SAID: by Gary Bogarin

Early this year when we had our day of prayer as a MWG, I found myself reflecting on how God answered my prayers last year when I laid to him my plans and dreams for 2010.

Indeed, God worked mysteriously last year as he delivered my family and I through our most exhilarating experience yet and found ourselves living in our very own house. What I never thought I could provide my family is now a reality! So as I continued our day of prayer, I went through my meditations and asked the Lord for a special favor for this year and the Lord’s words to me were:  “I shall bless you and you will be fruitful, you just need to be faithful”.

I held on to the Lord’s promise to me and I tried hard to live up to my end of the bargain.

Then came April of 2011. Our MWG was tasked to come up with a theme for the 36^th anniversary of Ligaya so our PL asked us to individually pray about it and then, after a week, share our thoughts and reflections to the group. I found myself gravitating towards the Lord’s words for me early this year but, this time with a slight difference. If for me it was “I shall bless you and you will be fruitful, you just need to be faithful” for Ligaya, I sensed the Lord instead telling us “Because of your faithfulness, you shall be fruitful!”

After 36 years of faithfulness to its covenant with God, Ligaya is definitely bearing fruit. But the Lord didn’t just promise Ligaya to bear fruit, His promise is for Ligaya to be abundantly fruitful. So, we must expect even  more!

Personally I experienced Him powerfully during this time of the anniversary because what He promised to me earlier this year in our day of prayer came true. My wife could not even believe it. We never thought that she could get pregnant without the help of fertility pills and acupuncture - just like during her first two pregnancies, because she had polycystic ovaries which made it difficult for her to produce egg cells. But thanks be to God, MM is now on her fourth month of pregnancy!  Truly, fruitfulness from faithfulness!

Indeed, God has blessed me and made me fruitful not because I was faithful but, more so because He is faithful!



MM and Gary with their daughters, Biancci and Maxine



SHE SAID: by MM Bogarin

When I learned that our MWG was put in-charge of the 36^th anniversary, my jaw dropped at the daunting task ahead.  It was close to Holy Week already and only about 2 1/2 months left before the event.  I asked myself, “How do we begin organizing an LNP anniversary?”  Many of us were clueless and overwhelmed at the thought.  So we just waited for our PL’s instructions. 

Our first task as an MWG was to discern the theme of the anniversary.  We met to share our reflections or leadings that we might have had in the past few weeks.  The words fruitfulness and faithfulness came up, and Boots and Kerry mentioned “being called by name.”  We still were not confident with our reflections, so our PLs gave us until the end of the week to listen more to God’s leadings.  We were to have our Lord’s Day that Saturday and decided to collate all our reflections on that day.  Incidentally, it was my sister’s birthday and  I had to tell Boots, my PL, in advance that I would just text to her my reflections since I wouldn’t be able to attend our MWG Lord’s Day.

As I was reflecting on the theme during my prayer time, the words ‘called by name’ struck me most and didn’t leave my thoughts.  It reminded me of how personal God is, how He has “saved me from the pit” several times, and how He knows me inside and out.  His love for me is unique and personal to me, and I claim that I have a relationship with Him that is unique from others’.  Then the words, “I have called you by name and you are mine,” came to me.  There was a sense of peace and awe whenever God speaks, and this was one of those occasions.  Though I could not remember exactly at that time what Bible verse it was, I was confident that those words were God’s leading for me and proceeded to text Boots after my prayer time.

About two weeks later, I found out that I was pregnant with our third child.  I called this my miracle baby because my first two daughters were conceived out of fertility pills, months of acupuncture, and several ultrasounds.  My third pregnancy came as a shocking surprise since I could not conceive easily.  But, this miracle came with a price: it was to be my most difficult first trimester ever.  For the next 2 1/2 months, I had to stay in our house with severe nausea and vomiting.   I would oftentimes just cry as I lay down in bed not knowing how to relieve myself of the difficulty.  I went thru a roller coaster of emotions from self pity to blind faith that one day I would feel better.  I told God,” You’re the only one I can count on for healing.  Without you, I have nothing else to hold on to.” My husband, Gary, was very supportive and diligently looked for the food I would crave for even late at night.  I found solace in texting my family, MWG and other friends in community for prayers.  I was very confident that if many of us would pray with me, God would hear my request.  I would cry whenever I received messages of concern or prayers for me from my family and friends.  I knew that God would hear those prayers too.

By that time, I was already out of touch regarding anniversary updates.  I would only get to know of updates that Boots would send us from time to time.  I then learned that the anniversary theme came to be “Called to be Ligaya, 36 years of fruitfulness.”  We were all in awe at how things fell into place and how the members came together to organize the anniversary.  I was near the end of my first trimester and also about to end my novenas to St. Raymond Nonato and St. Gerard Majella.  They were the saints suggested by my mom and my PL, Boots. On the 9^th day of my novenas, I started feeling better and,  after a long absence from community activities, the anniversary celebration became my first time to be with Ligaya again!.

I was truly filled with joy to see again the faces of the brothers and sisters during the 36^th Ligaya anniversary celebration at Ateneo last July 17, 2011.  Many of them asked how I was doing and even a sister whom I don’t often see from another district told me that she was praying for me.  It was like a homecoming for me, and I was grateful for the energy that I experienced.  When Melmarx was sharing his exhortation on Isaiah 43: 1-2, Boots, my PL, reminded me of the verse, “I have called you by name and you are mine.”  I had already forgotten God’s words to me during the discernment because I became consumed with all my pregnancy difficulties.  I was reminded once again that God is indeed my personal God and He is triumphant as always.  I rejoiced at the thought that He has called me personally to love Him and to be loved by Him.  And my Ligaya brothers and sisters enrich this calling to be faithful and fruitful even in my difficult times.   

I am very grateful to be called in this community that, even with its ups and downs, weaknesses and strengths, I find God’s faithfulness not only in me, but also in each of the lives of my brothers and sisters. 

Here’s to 36 years and beyond!

About the Authors:

Gary is a Marketing Manager for a multinational construction supplier while, MM manages her own business as a fashion designer, dabbling in singing and sketching on the side. They have been married for six (6) years and blessed with two lovely daughters - Biancci, 4 years old, and Maxine, 1 1/2 years old, plus a 4-month old miracle baby on the way.  They both started in Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon before they became part of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon in 2005.  Both of them are currently serving in the Pathways Ministry. 

The First 100 Days

By: Mae Ann A. Hilario



The Family CEO, Mae Ann Hilario,
with her loving husband, Cris, and two kids - CJ and Jem.


Date: July 9, 2011

Today marks my 100th day as a full time Family CEO, from the day I finally bid goodbye to the so called corporate world.

It started at the onset of summer... Oh I could vividly remember how I enjoyed embracing my new role! From organizing special family times at home or out of town, taking each of my kids out for exclusive dates (Yes, I go out on a date with them, not just with their dad!), preparing fancy-crazy meals at home, and more. It's all exhausting as I found my schedules busier than ever, but very fulfilling in the truest sense of the word.

My full presence and attention to our household has allowed me to catch each and every learning opportunity of our two preschoolers, CJ and Jem. I remembered during Lent, they watched the original movie version of “The 10 Commandments” for the first time. That gave a lasting imprint and significant leap to our kids' faith. How do I know? Our 4-year old Jem would always remember the parting of the Red Sea and other equally moving scenes, then would say “Wow, what an awesome God we have!” Our 6-year old CJ, on the other hand, had 'theologically inferred' that there are 11 commandments, the eleventh being Jesus' new commandment – love one another as I have loved you.

The learning opportunities of our kids continue on, even through trivial experiences. Last summer, CJ and Jem joined the McDonald's Kiddie Crew Program. They learned not only what work or service is all about, but more importantly, they learned of the joy in working to serve others.

My learning continued to new heights too! Through my day-in-day-out experiences with our kids, I get to understand that --
It is always good to share, without expecting any in return.
It is good to have fleeting memory, like kids. It leaves you with no grudges.
We have a lot of energy, more than we could imagine. Just use it and you'll know!
There is value in patience.
It is very important to have fun :)
To really love is to love unconditionally.

During my 'first 100 days' my husband and I celebrated some milestones – our 9th wedding anniversary, our 38th birthdays, etc. As we see more gray hairs on our head, we continue to dream the dreams that God has planted in our hearts. We take joy when we hear our son telling us that he'd like to be a priest someday -- even when he changes his mind on other days and say “Oh, I want to be an altar brother”, or pretend to be a prayer leader. We continue to be amazed with how our little princess could be so persistent and determined to get what she wants, to please and charm those around her. We delight when our kids would ask and wonder “What does Jesus want me to be?”
And so, my story continues.... confident that at this time of my life, God has called me to 'being' a full-time parent and wife, to fulfill the vocation He has gifted me with nine years ago. The decision to drop a promising career didn't leave us empty-handed, both literally and figuratively. God is so good that two months after my resignation from work, my husband got promoted, with a compensation that covers more than the salary I used to bring in. Indeed, God blesses and takes care of His flock!

Just recently, I received a text message from my husband that says “Mahal, thanks for making the radical decision to become a full time mom. Even if you freak out :)...” Oh yes, I freak out at times! At least, I know that I'm human, that I'm still a work-in-progress. It's comforting enough to know that my husband and my kids love me unconditionally! More comforting to realize that God loves me! Through my imperfections, God's love is magnified all the more.

Tomorrow, my 101th day, and the days after, will continue to be a testament of God's love and faithfulness. There would be rains, strong rains at times.... Yet, with God, there's no reason to worry. There would only be more reasons for us, as a family, to see God's glory... and for us to glorify Him even more!

About the Author: Mae Ann joined the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community right after she got married to Cris in April 2002.  She became a covenanted member in 2005.  She was looking forward to a promising career with a multinational business information company when the Lord called her to become a full-time housewife and mom. On her 10th year with the company, she finally said "yes" to the Lord.  She is now the CEO of the Hilario household and a hands-on mom to two (2) very active Community kids - CJ and Jem.

Celebrating Sisterhood in Honor of a Father’s Love!

By: Rina R. Manuel

 

It was women power on display that night. 

    Last June 17, 2011, CDE sisters trooped to Shangri-la Finest Chinese Cuisine Restaurant in West Avenue to celebrate Women’s Night with the theme: “Celebrating a Father’s Love.”  What a fun, bonding night it turned out to be for all the 27 sisters, who braved the rain and the traffic across the metropolis just to be with one another!

Food was great, especially with the generous upgrade of hot prawn salad from Ate Inday Arellano, who opened the night with a prayer blessing before the meal.

While dinner was being served, sister Cor Marcojos shared with the sisters how she got inspiration for the theme, especially since Father’s Day was approaching that Sunday. More than celebrating fatherhood, however, it was meant to honor and thank our great Father in heaven for all the love, goodness and faithfulness He had shown to us so far this year.  It was a special time for the sisters to remember all those wonderful blessings they had received!  It was also good to just have fun and say to one another, without any guilt, that “It’s good to be out!”

After the meal, sister Christine Bradshaw took on the centerstage to host the program.  She called on each of the PLs, who took turns introducing the sisters under their care.  It was a good opportunity to see the sisters together with their respective women’s group.

After which, the sisters were divided into two (2) groups to play the group charades game prepared by the Aganon women’s group and hosted by sister Hazel Misa.  It was really entertaining to see the sisters in their best acting performances just so that sisters Vi dela Cruz and Macy Oquendo could guess the title of the movie! It was a real close fight with the final round being won by sister Macy's group, which received Starbucks gift certificates as prizes.

 

The night beautifully ended with sharings by two (2) sisters in honor of their beloved spouses.  Ate Robie Laguda and sister Mau Viterbo shared the joys of courtship and the kind of man, husband and father that Kuya Badong and brother Jun are to their families.  They also shared how truly blessed they are to be given such strong, principled and loving spouses by the Lord.

The sisters could have gone on and on that night but, the brothers (who also had their men’s night in the other function room) were waiting and the restaurant was about to close.  The evening ended with a prayer led by sister Fely Leonardo.

Definitely, the sisters are looking forward to the next CDE Women’s Night!

District Lord's Day: It's Good to Give Thanks!

By: Rina R. Manuel

District Lord's Day led by Kuya Badong & Ate Robie Laguda

Last February 26, 2011, the District gathered once again as one big family to celebrate Lord’s Day as a community.  This time, it was held at the Chancery Building of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao, Quezon City. 

It was good to see many of our brothers and sisters, together with their children in tow.  The function room was simply overflowing with CDE families!

Kuya Badong and Ate Robie Laguda graciously led the Lord’s Day Celebration with the theme “It’s Good to Give Thanks!” while,  Brother Bobby Quitain powerfully led the worship.  

At dinner time, the mood turned very festive as everybody shared their potluck fare, with brothers and sisters hopping from table to table to taste the various offerings that night – pancit canton, adobo flakes, laing, lumpiang shanghai, KFC fried chicken, menudo, and home-roasted chicken, among others.

To celebrate the Lord’s Day theme, Brother Eric Bayron, who arrived from London for a few weeks here in Manila, shared about his new life as a Filipino migrant in the United Kingdom (U.K.) – his extreme loneliness away from family and community, and even from the Lord.  He was then ever grateful to the Lord for giving him a wonderful, surprising chance to come home this February, even if he just flew there last January.  As soon as he came home, the Lord enabled him to attend his MWG meeting, the Sectoral Assembly, the Community Conference and even the District Lord’s Day.  Those opportunities to be with community were indeed wonderful blessings from the Lord! 

Given this chance to share about the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness, Eric requested for prayers for the following three (3) “S” from brothers and sisters on behalf of his family so that they may live as bulwarks for God:

1) Safety – that while he’s away from home, his family is kept safe from harm;

2) Steadfastness – that is, to live the life of Community even while in a foreign land;

3) to Seek - that is, to know and follow God's plan for the family while in the U.K.

Eric Bayron sharing about his life in U.K.

The entire district then prayed over him, sister Kerry and their children. 

Bayron Family being prayed over by the entire District
as they embark on a journey to a new land.

Afterwhich, the district also prayed for the end-February birthday celebrants.





A District Lord’s Day would not be complete without playing games.  This time around, the district had lots of fun and excitement with “The Price is Right!” game, which was hosted by Jun and Mau Viterbo. 

Who would forget the product intro voice-over by Monching dela Cruz with his lovely wife, Vi, as product model?  The couple would definitely give Bob Barker and his bevy of models a run for their money. 

Who would also forget the either very high or very low bids on grocery items (such as Century Corned Tuna, Kikkoman soy sauce, Lysol, Goya raisin chocolates, Head & Shoulders shampoo and mini-puzzle cards) from Save More, by the contestants coming from the various men’s and women’s group, the YAs, the JYAs and even the FOJs?  

Truly, after such a memorable night of celebration, prayer, thanksgiving, and games, everybody saw how good it was to give thanks to the Lord! 

Here’s looking forward to the next District Lord’s Day!

My Child, My Dedication

By: Rina R. Manuel

LNP Day of Dedication last January 30, 2011

“So now I give him to the LORD. 

For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD."

- 1 Samuel 1:28

Marto Francisco, whom we fondly call “Maco,” is our youngest child. Bong and I thought all along that we were already happy and contented with our three (3) children -- Ralf (11 y.o.), Nina (9 y.o.) and Kimi (7 y.o.). They were all in elementary school and we could go around without yaya’s anymore.  Finally, after rearing 3 consecutive children who were born just 2 years apart, it felt like we were free to do more things for our family, our work and our community.  So, it really came as a major surprise to find out that I was pregnant with our fourth child! 

Maco was born exactly one week before I celebrated my 38th birthday in 2010.  Unlike the first three, he came right on the dot on the 37^th week and, this time, the only one via C-section.  He was the smallest among my children at birth, weighing just 6 lbs 1 oz, and, according to his pediatrician, he was at the lower 15^th percentile of babies at birth.  Initially, I felt pity for him, seeing him all so small and fragile. I vowed to take very good care of him for two full months, even if it meant going on leave without pay for some weeks since I didn’t have maternity leave credits anymore (it was already my 5^th pregnancy, having experienced a miscarriage earlier in my marriage).

We also refer to Maco as our million peso baby.  Aside from the more expensive c-section hospitalization cost, we had to buy a 7-seater vehicle (the AUV mentioned by Bong in his sharing about tithing) so that we could all fit in one car on weekends.  We even felt the need to expand the house to accommodate additional rooms for our growing family. 

But more than all of that, I would say that, among our four children, he is quite rather special because he was the only one conceived and born after we became covenanted members of Ligaya in 2009.  Even while I was pregnant with him, they would say that the baby inside my womb would be so blessed, especially after my personal sharing to the entire community during last year’s Lenten Friday recollection.  And we believe he truly is.  For one, his godparents are all brothers and sisters from Ligaya.  We specially chose them to be Maco's second parents, who will help us guide him in his journey with the Lord.  And aside from his very sunny disposition and gracious smiles that make him seem like an angel to us, we know that he is also specially blessed because we had the great opportunity to publicly dedicate him to the Lord in the presence of the entire community last January 30. 

Indeed, Maco is very special to us because of all of these things.  But, so is each one of our three children.  Each of them has his or her own special characteristics and circumstances because they were all uniquely made and given to us by God.  Though we notice some similarities among the four children, they are all uniquely different and beautiful.  They also have their own share of weaknesses but, that’s what makes them strive to become holier children of God.

Thus, on the Day of Dedication at Ateneo last January 30, Bong and I dedicated not only our youngest child, Maco, but, also his older brother and sisters.  We rejoiced for the wonderful gift of children… their unique personalities, talents and abilities… and offered them back to the Lord, entrusting that He would always take care of all them. 

Despite a frightening world obsessed with vanity, riches, power, sex and violence, I am confident and at peace with myself that, by God’s grace, they would turn out alright… that they would grow to be holy sons and daughters, seeking always to know Him and do His will.  Looking back at my youth, I saw how the Lord guided and protected me through all those growing-up years, even with all the evil and dangers surrounding me.  And I know that, with my children, He will do the same.  Though I know that there may be times that they may fall and falter along the way, I have faith that the Lord will always make good come out of difficult situations. 



 Kimi, Nina and Ralf on their bikes



I remembered the time when we were desperately looking for a good school for Ralf, given his ADHD condition (which was just recently diagnosed at that time) and his several failed entrance tests.  The Lord quietly led us to a traditional yet very supportive Catholic school, the one where I spent my primary elementary grades.  Now, he is able to study well on his own, is much-commended by all his teachers for his class standing and behavior, and gets to enjoy friendships in school, just like any other child.  He hopes to study and live in New York some day.

I also remembered the time when Nina got into one of her many accidents -- from a broken index finger trapped by a door to a deep cut in the head after hitting the headboard of her bed. The Lord made her brave enough to withstand the pain and go home with the same sense of adventure as before.  Now, she runs as fast as she could in every race that she joins in, she swims fast, as well, and has started to enjoy biking around the village.  She also loves dogs and horses.  She hopes to be an athlete and veterinarian someday. 

And who would forget the time when Kimi got her earlobe infected by a deeply-embedded earring and needed to be operated on?  The Lord was there to make sure that she wakes up after the operation and be fully healed afterwards without infection.  Now, she swims, runs and bikes, just like her Ate Nina.  She also loves to sing and dance and hopes to learn the keyboards this summer.  Though she still has to tell us what she’d like to be someday, her charm, will-power and clever reasoning could well make her a good lawyer.

 And it is only our children we dedicated last January 30.  On the Day of Dedication, Bong and I also re-dedicated ourselves to the Lord.   As Fr. Herb said, how could we dedicate our children to Him if we don’t dedicate ourselves first?  We surely could not give to our children what we do not have.  So, as suggested by Fr. Herb in his homily, we promised to look deeper into Matthew’s Gospel on the Beatitudes when we do our annual day of prayer with the Lord and planning as a couple, which usually coincides with our wedding anniversary celebration.   Maybe we could share with you the results of our annual planning session with the Lord next time. 

In the meantime, I am filled with great hope for the plans that the Lord has for my four children.  In a world filled with fear, darkness and gloom, the Lord promises to us a life of peace, light and abundance for our children, especially those whom we dedicate to Him. 

Here’s looking forward to another great year with my family and the rest of the community this 2011!

About the Author:

Rina Manuel is married to Bong Manuel. By day, she works full-time as a tax accountant for the biggest corporate taxpayer in the country while, she acts as full-time wife, mother, and tutor at home by night.  On the side, she helped found the Smart Employees Roster of Volunteers for the Eucharist (SERVE) in her workplace and served as its Head Coordinator from 2009-2010.  She is currently serving as editor-in-chief of "The E-vangelist," the official publication of Central District E of the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. 

My Defining Moment: A Post-Advent Reflection

By: Lee Ochoa

It simply amazes me that my collage during the Women’s Retreat 1 held last October 2, 2010 would become a personal illustration of Fr. Dave’s Advent recollection last December 12!

Fr. Dave Concepcion’s talk entitled “Advent Recollection: Defining Moments” was an affirmation that I had followed God’s will when I took the risk of retiring from a very well paying job and be unemployed with almost no savings last March 2010.

Months of discernment and prayers led to that defining moment when I decided in Dec 2009 to retire (extended up to end Feb 2010).  I had prayed for years for two things: (1) that I may learn to be prudent and start saving and, (2) that I lose weight as I was even heavier than my weight while pregnant.  God answered my prayers in a way that I did not expect, but in a most effective way.

Why my first prayer?  I was literally obsessed with shopping for myself and my family, going to an expensive parlor to keep up with the stature of my position, and eating in fancy restaurants while treating friends.  I felt that if I didn’t shop weekly, I would get sick.  I just couldn’t stop spending and my 4 credit cards were busting at the seams.  I was paying interest on them that could pay the salary of 3 full time workers!  In other words, I was spending beyond my means.  My clothes were in the cabinets of my husband and my 5 kids as they couldn’t fit in mine.  I had at least 50 pairs of branded shoes and bags that matched the colors of my clothes and mood. To this day, I have suits that still have their price tags.  I didn’t know how to stop and how to pay off my bills.  My husband was understandably stressed by the situation and by the fact that we didn’t have savings for our retirement.

I changed employers in Jan 2008 because it was a much more lucrative job and offered greater career challenges.  I prayed for discernment before moving jobs and I knew it was God’s will.  Lo and behold, I lasted only 1 year and 2 months as it was not the right environment for me.  I lost 30 pounds (answered prayer #2!) in 6 months and my blood pressure became erratic, from 150/110 to 90/60 the next day.  My face developed acne (kahit menopausal na ako!) and I had to spend a lot for derma treatments and creams.  The income loss resulted in a monthly financial gap in six figures!  The reasons why are not as important as the realizations and blessings that ensued.  If I wasn’t in community, didn’t have the faith and love of my family, I would have either gone crazy or may have committed suicide.

My decision to retire from my job was the best thing that happened to me and my family.  I paid off all my credit cards (although it ate up most of our savings), but for once in my life, I felt financial freedom!  I hardly spend for myself anymore and have lost my obsession for shopping.  I have finally become prudent in spending (answered prayer #1)!  Our children learned to ride public transport and have also cut down on their spending.  Our two elder working daughters started sharing in the monthly expenses.  We have learned to minimize eating out and just cook at home to celebrate special occasions.  Everyone has joined hands in tightening our belts. 

Meanwhile, I rediscovered my passion for cooking and started my food order business.  Recently, I even won 3^rd place in the Ultimate Taste Test 5.0 (UTT 5.0) of Our Awesome Planet held last Nov. 5 with my Hungarian Goulash dish!  Thanks to brothers and sisters in community (both Ligaya and Familia), friends in my former employments, and publicity from my exposure at UTT 5.0, my business is growing slowly but surely.  Our house help and driver are also benefitting as I am able to give them more income now than when I had a steady job since I give them a percentage of my profit on top of their monthly salary.  Even community is benefitting as I give bigger tithes now (even with lower income)!  I have more time for service in FAMILIA as head of the Matured Women’s Ministry and assisting Jobert as Central Area Head, service in Ligaya as new PL, and in the Home for the Elderly with Jean Eustaquio.  I, likewise, have more time for service to my family by doing the errands and grocery/market chores that I failed to do before when I still had a job.

Fr. Dave’s Advent Recollection put my life in perspective and encapsulated the transformation that had occurred in my life and in my family’s life because of my defining moment.  I am happy that I took a leap of faith.  I still have a long way to go in being the daughter that God wants me to be but, I am glad that I started the journey, that I allowed my defining moment -- my difficult moments, to give me “the opportunity to stop, think and make needed changes” in my life.  I took action and seized the new opportunity to turn my and my family’s life around as a result of my defining moment.  As a result, I know that I have become a better person.

To God be the glory always.

About the Author:

Lee was introduced to the renewal through Couples for Christ (CFC) in 1991 and has been with Familia for 17 years. She entered the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community 7 years ago and became a covenanted member in 2007.  She is married to Jobert for 28 years and their children are Fiona, Dani, Meggie, Cobi and Job.