A Testimony of God’s Restoration and Faithfulness

First of all, thank you so much for this opportunity to share our testimony of God’s faithfulness and restoration in our lives.

We have been serving the Lord for almost 40 years. Throughout this journey, I have learned that faith does not mean having everything together or always knowing what to do. Sometimes, God does His deepest work in our lives not when everything is going smoothly, but when everything seems to be falling apart.

Back in 2024, we made a major decision concerning our mission and our future. We decided to stay here in the Philippines, believing that everything would work out according to our plans. However, things did not happen as we expected. Instead, we entered a season when it felt as though everything was falling apart all at once.

Our situation became so difficult that we found ourselves facing a serious crisis. There was a time when we had to go to the hospital, and we felt completely helpless. We were struggling emotionally, physically, and financially. It was a painful season, and I remember praying to God and asking, “Lord, why is this happening to us? Why does everything feel so difficult? Where are You in the middle of all this?”

I felt shattered, as though there were too many broken pieces in my life to put back together. It was a season of uncertainty, fear, and deep discouragement.

But even in the middle of that painful experience, God did not leave us alone.

We reached out to friends and people who could pray with us, counsel us, and help us understand what we were going through. We are especially grateful to those who took the time to listen, encourage us, and pray for our family. During that difficult season, God used people to remind us that we were not forgotten.

Around July, I reached out to Pastor Jesse to ask for help. We were looking for a way to continue serving, not only in missions but also in local ministry. We were trying to understand what God wanted us to do next, even though our circumstances were still uncertain.

We continued to pray, seek guidance, and wait upon the Lord. There were moments when we did not understand His plans, and there were times when the waiting was painful. But we learned that God's timing is not always the same as ours.

Then, around September, another opportunity began to unfold. Through conversations, meetings, and the kindness of people who were willing to help us, new possibilities began to emerge. Although we were still confused about what the future would look like, we began to see signs of God's provision.

We are especially thankful for the people who welcomed us, supported us, and helped us find a way forward when we did not know where to turn. Their kindness became a reminder that God can use others to answer our prayers in ways we never expected.

We thank God for opening doors for us to continue serving as a family. We are also deeply grateful to Pastor Jesse and everyone who extended help and encouragement to us during a time when we felt vulnerable and uncertain about our future.

God also reminded us that our experiences, education, and abilities still had a purpose. My six years of experience in education became part of the story of how God continued to provide opportunities for growth and service. Even when some plans did not work out as expected, we learned to remain open to new possibilities and trust that God could use what we already had.

Looking back, I can see that God was working even when I could not recognize it. He was working through the people who encouraged us, the churches that supported us, the pastors who prayed for us, and the opportunities that slowly began to open.

Little by little, our hope was renewed. We began to understand that restoration does not always happen overnight. Sometimes, God restores us step by step. He gives us strength for one more day, sends someone to encourage us, opens a door at the right time, and reminds us that He is still in control.

Today, when I look back on that painful season, I realize that God did not waste a single tear, struggle, or difficult moment. He used those experiences to deepen our faith, teach us humility, and help us appreciate the people He placed in our lives.

Most importantly, we learned that our hope must not depend entirely on our circumstances. Our hope is in the Lord, who remains faithful even when life does not turn out the way we planned.

And so, I want to encourage anyone who may be going through a broken season right now. Perhaps you are facing financial difficulties, family problems, health challenges, disappointment, or uncertainty about your future. Maybe you have prayed many times and are still waiting for an answer.

Please remember this: your brokenness is not the end of your story.

God is our Restorer. He can take the broken pieces of our lives and use them for His glory. Even when we cannot see what He is doing, we can continue to trust His character, His promises, and His faithfulness.

The same God who carried us through our valley is able to strengthen you through yours. He may not answer every prayer in the way we expect, and restoration may take time, but we can trust Him to walk with us through every season.

Today, we stand with grateful hearts because God has sustained us, provided for us, and renewed our hope. We are thankful for every person He used to help us and for every opportunity He has given us to continue serving Him.

All the glory, honor, and praise belong to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much, and may God bless us all!