I grew up in a functional family with a hard working father, caring mother, and twin brother. Just the 4 of us navigating life away from a war-torn country I would not get to have a chance to see until many years later (like, decades later). I mention in my Purpose section that I would share my journey (testimony) about how I came to know God, but really Jesus. I always knew God existed and He was somewhere in my life. I didn’t grow up in or going to church; we didn’t pray over meals at the dinner table; read the Bible or do prayers before bed. But for some reason, I knew He existed. What I did not know, was who Jesus was and where He fit into all of this. Fast forward, life is good overall. I guess the stories I had heard from friends and how their childhood was, I felt like my life wasn’t something I should complain about. Everyone has different experiences, traumas, and paths that they walk-in and I was told for a long time ‘it could be worse.’
I don’t remember the exact date, but it was September 2023 and I was in my apartment. I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I loved (still love) being a flight attendant, traveling to many places, and meeting new people. What was the issue? I felt an emptiness that I couldn’t explain. One side of my mind was saying life is great; we have money, take care of our responsibilities, and can see the world. But the other was saying, what is after that? It actually makes me want to cry writing this because the feeling felt so strong, not like a loneliness, but emptiness. Loneliness is the absence of connection, while emptiness is an internal numbness. Internally, I was longing for something, someone. I don’t even remember what I prayed but I know I sat there on my couch talking, asking, and waiting for a response. Fast forward, Tifsit (she has been dubbed my bff) and I are messaging each other and one of her texts says “U have a sister in me who will pray for u from now on” (Dec 16, 2023). I met Tif mid 2022 after starting my career. I knew she had a love for Jesus like no other and was the Blessed Virgin Mary’s fan club VP and she just wears a Joy like a cloak bestowed on her by God! She’s amazing! I asked her if I could go to Paris on her work trip with her for my birthday the following month and she welcomed me! On that trip, she took me to a church with her, and while it was small, beautiful, and quiet, the mass had a different feeling for me. The priest (it was a Catholic church) ministered in French, but the message I kept hearing in my mind was ‘you don’t belong here, you don’t even understand what he is talking about.’ It was this dreadful feeling that I didn't deserve to be in that church, in God’s house. I don’t know why I felt shame but I told Tifsit how I felt and she stopped me and said "That’s the enemy. Don’t believe that. He wants you here.” After I came home from the trip, my life changed. I really didn’t know who I was and felt hungry to find out who Jesus is and why He would want me. So, I bought a Bible and dove into learning His Word. I started asking Tif questions and she discipled me, shared the Gospel, highlighted scripture, the Bible App, and books to read to know more about our Reigning King. Jesus met me in Paris, spoke to my heart in that church, and changed how I wanted to live the rest of my life from that moment on. I knew that I wanted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I didn’t know what it would look like to seek Him, but I knew life wasn’t going to be the same anymore and I found purpose. In Him, I really did have a new life and it was just beginning (2 Corinthians 5:17).
1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”