"I grew up living on the sidewalk..."

"I grew up living on the sidewalk because we didn't have a place to stay. Life was difficult. Going to school was already a struggle, and after school, I would go to Baclaran to sell things. I had to push myself to earn money so I could support myself.

Life was very difficult for my family because it was only my mother and me helping each other to make ends meet. My father didn't care about us, and our other relatives didn't want to help us either. Although my mother and I tried to earn money by selling things, it was never enough. There were even times when I had to skip school just to go out and earn money.

I was struggling especially when it rained, my bed was just a carton and I would get wet. I didn’t have any other place to stay.

I knew how difficult life was, but I still found ways to satisfy my own desires. I would go out drinking with my friends, play computer games until dawn, and spend my money on my idols. These became my coping mechanisms, ways for me to feel happy and fulfilled despite everything I was going through.

My situation became even worse during the pandemic. My father passed away, and facing the reality that we had no money and no house made me feel that my life would only end up this way. I felt stuck, as if there was no hope for a better future.

Everything started to change when my mother began attending the Universal Church. She would share with me what she was learning, and as I saw the changes in her life, I became interested in attending as well.

The testimonies I watched caught my attention because I saw how people's lives had changed. At first, my only desire was to improve my financial situation because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life living in poverty.

As I continued attending the services, I learned about the importance of honoring God, starting with the little things, and as a consequence, God would also honor me.

I started being faithful to God through my tithes. I applied for a job and was accepted. However, even after getting a job, my income was still not enough. There were even times when I had to borrow. I was being faithful in giving, but I realized that my life itself was not yet honoring God.

That was when I understood that faithfulness is not only about what you give, but also about how you live. I realized that I needed to change my focus. Instead of focusing only on my financial situation, I began to focus on my salvation.

I surrendered all my past addictions and the wrong things I had been doing. I completely surrendered my life to God because I wanted to receive the Holy Spirit. And when I received Him, it became the greatest blessing I had ever received.

Today, I have a better job and a good home to stay, and I am now fulfilled and truly happy. My life has become a testimony to others who may be facing the same struggles I once went through."

— Romulo Zaragoza