“Of course I know him!” answered ate Tess.

 I was just on my second week of my job as a boarding teacher and I am sharing a room with ate Tess, a helper. One night I asked her if she knows Jesus and she said “of course I know him! How could I not know Him, I always go to church every Sunday.” Upon hearing this, I felt a little bit disappointed. “How can I explain to this woman that it is not just about knowing Jesus?.” “How will I show her that it's not just about going to church every Sunday?.”

After she said those words, I diverted the topic and asked her a bout her life. I then saw a spark on her face. She started telling stories about her life. After a while, I asked her if she ever felt the tangible presence of the Lord in her life.

“I know that He is always there and will never leave me but I never felt his presence.”

“It's true God is always here and is always looking after us and it is also true that He wants us to feel the closeness His presence.” I answered back and looked at her face and I can see the unbelief on her face. The reaction on her face is enough to tell me that she thinks I am crazy. I fought my fear and pressed on asking if someone ever prayed for her.

“The only time I was prayed for by someone is when I was still a child.”

upon hearing this I asked her if I could pray for her then and she said yes. I then laid my hand on her shoulder and started asking for the Holy Spirit to come. I began asking God to fill her with His presence and that she will have an encounter with a loving Father. An encounter that will change her life. An encounter that will heal all the brokenness in her. An encounter that will change her relationship to God.

 After praying I asked her how she feels.

“I never had this encounter before, I felt that something had come into me but I can't explain what it is.”

That night I slept so happy and full of excitement! What a privilege to see this woman smile genuinely for the first time.!.

After that night, everyday if given the chance I would always asked her about her life and how she is. Then finally I got the chance one night to asked her if she ever accepted Jesus to come into her life.

“Since childhood I always go to church every Sunday but I never asked Him to come into my life.”

I then led her to a simple prayer and that night she gave her life to Jesus. After that encounter, I'm seeing joy coming into the life of this woman. I decided to write something about her:

She is the fourth child of 7 children. At the age 14 years old she went to Olongapo City from Pillar, Sorsogon to find a job. At a young age and with no relatives with her. Full of uncertainties, doubt, and fear she had to be brave and try to overcome homesickness. She had been supporting her family. 

The pressure of responsibilities to her family went higher when her mother died at the age of 21. After 27 years of baby sitting. She visited her sister in Baguio City. And decided to look for a job here thinking she is with her relatives. With her small salary she supported the education of her niece who just graduated this year. And at the same time still supporting her sister who has hypertension and diabetes.

Her never ending love for her family make her decide not to marry anymore. She is 51 years old now.

“I always asked God to give me more strength, and I also knew that if it's time for me to go I can't do anything because it's His will.”

This is always her response every time I asked what is she thinking, and what is she always asking God for.

This is a story of a simple woman. She might not be noticed by the society. A woman who had not done any remarkable thing to make famous. A woman sometimes being scorned for inadequacy. An outcast.

But She is the apple of God's eyes. A treasure. A Royalty. She is loved.

What a privilege to watch how this beautiful woman of God turning into who she really is.