Love We Cannot Fathom
MY CHRISTIAN UPBRINGING
I grew up in a Christian family. We never believed in any denomination. Our belief was that we are all children of God, no matter what your race, color, or situation in life. We are humans created by God in a unique way and we owe no man, except Jesus who gave his life for us. My late father was a pastor in one of the tribes of the mountain people. These people wear only G-strings to cover their bodies. He taught me how to love and how to accept any kind of person. My Dad baptized me, together with this lovable people.
THE TROUBLES OF LIFE
We went to the city to attend an American seminary for missionary training. I graduated from an advanced ministerial course there. The lord made me beautiful with fair skin, so there were many foreigners courting me. At the school, Bangladeshis, Africans, and Americans were all there to finish their studies to start their missionary work. In the mission field I was assigned to a couple who owned a business, and that is where my life began to sink. I got married, with a baby in my belly. The head of our team wanted to help me, so we stayed in the city. While we were there, my husband was not always home, and I wondered where he was. I often didn’t know his whereabouts. I needed to do something to survive since I had 3 daughters in school at that time, ranging in age from college to grade school.
OPENING A CANTEEN
Our rent house was near a school, so I opened a little canteen where I cooked rice, fish, meat, and vegetables. I borrowed money from a lending institution, and I volunteered to teach the word of God before people start paying. I was happy to have so many costumers eating in my little canteen. My workday started at 3:00am and ended at 1:00pm, so that I could do house chores like washing the uniforms of my children.
ONE DAY - TISAY
One morning a beautiful lady looked into my canteen from across the road for almost 2 hours. When it came time for to close, this beautiful lady approached me and asked if there is something left that she could eat. I said, “Yes,” and I gave her some food. The lady just played with her spoon and fork, so I approached her and said that if she didn’t like the food, I would change it for her. She said, “No, Momy.” (Momy means mother.) I told her, “God Loves you. Why do you think he brought you here? That was my prayer when I opened this canteen. God draw your people to this canteen who long for your comfort when they are hungry and thirsty. Make me to be your servant. Bestow your love upon me. Use this canteen, Lord. Favor me please.” The lady cried and cried. I closed my canteen and we talked one-on-one. Her father was American and her mother Pilipino. I called her “Tisay” because she was tall and white. She said she was thinking of killing herself after eating, because her live-in boyfriend left her for another girl. I told her, “No! Life comes from God and the baby in your belly is a gift and blessing that God has given.” Today that beautiful lady has a family with 4 children. This is one of my unforgettable experiences in following God’s scripture and being a mother of 3 ladies who have now become 4 with Tisay added as my daughter in Christ.
We cannot fathom God’s love,
Annie Sodoy Apolinario
Sister Annie is a recently baptized member of the church pastored by Elder Paul Quinto in the Philippines.
- Elder Daniel Samons