Tag: Dubai

This is my first time writing a testimony. There are many instances that my fellow churchmates requested me if I can share a testimony in church, but I never testified, not even once. Not because I don’t have a story to share but simply because I have stage fright. However, I praise and thank God that somebody asked me to give a testimony during this pandemic crisis. I am glad that during these days of lockdown/quarantine period, a friend of mine asked me to share how God and prayer works in my life.

This COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world, and I am not exempted, unfortunately. I worked in a nursery school here in Dubai. Because of this pandemic, the government mandated to close the nursery schools. And, last March 2020, our company decided to have its employees on furlough. I started to worry. My family back in the Philippines needed my financial support. What will happen to us if I will not generate an income? How will I be able to support them while I am on unpaid leave? How will I be able to pay my rent? How can I buy food? Aside from my financial problem, my employment visa was also my concern. It was due to expire in April 2020. I wouldn’t be able to renew it since the school would be closed indefinitely. Fortunately, the UAE government allowed the expatriates to stay in the country until December 2020 even if their employment visa has expired. At the very least, my visa will not be a concern anymore. With this, I would be able to find work even if my visa has expired.

There was a time that I received a text message from our company/owner. It was mentioned in the text that they are offering part-time jobs to their staff who are on unpaid leave. I was happy to receive such a message. However, taking that part-time job would mean risking my health since the workplace will be in a Covid-19 testing clinic. My concern was, there’s no guarantee that the company will shoulder our medical expenses in case we will be contracted with the disease.  Yes, I needed money but I couldn’t afford to risk my life. So, I confided to my housemates regarding the job offer and, they raised their concerns if ever I will take the job. First, the company didn’t offer free accommodation, which would mean that I will stay in my current flat and, there’s a chance that if I will get infected, they will be at risk too. Second, the company won’t be giving insurance to part-timers. Having heard their feedback, I have decided not to take the job offer. It was a tough decision for me to make because, again, I thought, how would I survive without an income? Yet, I reckoned that life is more important than money. I cried that night and prayed to God and asked Him what will happen to me and my family now that I had an offer, but I rejected it. I was feeling perplexed. In my prayer, I always say to God that it is not my will but His will be done in my life.

God hears and answers our prayers. When I was praying for food, God provided me food through my housemates who are working from home. They share with me their food every single day. For them, their giving of food was just a small thing, but for me, it was a big help. I thank God and praise Him.

A month after I was offered a part-time job, another opportunity knocked on my door. Unfortunately, this job requires me to work on Saturday. And so, again, I declined the job offer because I don’t work on Saturdays as I am a Seventh-day Adventist. Saturday is our Sabbath day. Every night, I cried as I pray because of the burden on how to pay my house rent. I couldn’t sleep for more than one month. I was so down to the point that I became depressed. Whenever I was asked a task for our online ministry, I couldn’t take the responsibility because I couldn’t concentrate nor focus on anything that I do. I was feeling hopeless at that time. Sometimes, I was thinking to myself that maybe it would be better if I would just go back home to the Philippines, but what saddened me was the thought of going back home penniless, no savings at all.

Problems after problems. Worries after worries.

On top of the financial problems that I was facing, my sister, who is in the Philippines, told me about an impending problem in our family. That was the heaviest burden to bear. It was the worst problem in our family. When I heard the news, the first thing I did was to pray because panicking wouldn’t help. I couldn’t imagine how stressed my sister was. I just told her to keep calm and pray to God. Pray on how to solve our family problem, and give us the wisdom to help us make a wise decision. Until now, that family problem that we are having is still not fixed. We are still praying for it and hoping that God will solve it at the right time. (I’m sorry if I couldn’t share it in detail.) That family problem of ours has taken a toll on me

Those sleepless nights anxieties, depressions, and hopelessness led me to have suicidal thoughts. I was thinking that maybe the solution to my problem is to end my life. But God is good all the time. He sends me people who helped me by sending me inspirational messages and inquiring about my condition. They also keep on sending me morning and evening devotionals, which helped me uplift my spirit. Reading the word of God and praying every day soothed and eased my burdened heart. I realized that I’ve been of little faith, especially when I had suicidal thoughts. I was embarrassed to God and asked for forgiveness. I thank the Lord God that even if we are unfaithful to Him, He is faithful to us. When I was on a brink of giving up, God lifted me up.

Blessings after blessings.

One day, a miracle happened. Someone gave me monetary assistance and with groceries too! Finally, I could pay my house rent! Not only that, but I was also given help from the church that I am in and from the Philippine Embassy (Abu Dhabi). I always cry with joy and gladness every time I receive any form of help from people. It is heartwarming when God answers your prayers if you put your trust in Him.

I am so blessed that I belong in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, a church where the people are helping each other and are praying for one another. I praise God that He sustains my needs even if I don’t have work. Sometimes I am tempted to accept the job offer which has work on Saturdays because, nursery schools might not open so soon. But I reckoned that I’ve been here in Dubai for six years. I experienced and overcame a lot of obstacles, challenges, and problems. God helped me through it all. He never left my side. We have to have faith and trust in Him. My colleagues always ask me questions like—Why I didn’t take the job? How will I survive without work? My response to them was that I couldn’t afford to disobey God who provides my needs by compromising the Sabbath day. God specifically said in the fourth commandment to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

God is in control of everything. I will end this testimony with a passage from 2 John 1:3 which says, “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” 

I hope that you learned something from my experience. Praise and glory be to our faithful God.