|
Carmelita O. Lazar
My Testimony
I was born, raised, and finished my studies
in the Philippines. December 1990 I accepted Christ as
my Lord and Savior. Since then, I dedicated my life
for the use of God’s kingdom. In 1993, I responded to God’s call for my
first mission trip abroad. Together with a
group of believers, we smuggled bibles to Communist China. Scared as I
was while crossing the border to China, I was praying "Lord, into your
hand I commit my spirit..." God is faithful, we were able to cross
the border safely
and deliver all the bibles.
I felt like the Lord was
telling me to do more for Him. So in the succeeding years I found myself
traveling to other Asian countries like Hong Kong,
Macau, Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma) for short mission work. In the year
2000 I had the opportunity to do some ministry to the Filipino churches in
San Jose, California. In that same year God opened the door for me to go
to Australia. I volunteered with the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) to do
an outreach work during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. During these times I
was doing the work for the Lord while being in my secular job.
In 1998, I
was led to quit my secular job to serve the Lord through the Christian &
Missionary Alliance (which head offices is in Colorado Springs), serving
as executive secretary to the Field Director, Philippine Mission. Then
later on I worked with the Alliance Biblical Seminary.
In the third quarter of
2002 my mom died. Having been married with my Dad for forty-eight years, it was so
hard for my dad to accept the loss of my mom. Our whole family (which is
in the Philippines) decided that I should stay with my Dad for awhile
while recovering from grief. So I came to America with no idea or
specific plans on what to do (while here). I had always desired to
achieve God’s purposes wherever I am. So I prayed that God would design
my circumstances to lead me to the center of His will.
Then I heard that Hope Again (Los Angeles, CA) needed
volunteers so I decided to apply. During the week of my interview with
the Executive Director, my devotion in Deuteronomy 11:24, 30 "every place
where you set your foot into will be yours..." "...these mountains are
across the Jordan west of the road, towards the
setting sun..." These words became very much alive to me, and
became a rhema. Later on I realized that Hope Again is at West
Sunset Boulevard. Was it a coincidence or a revelation knowledge?
I was first assigned as
the assistant manager of a transition house called Lighthouse, a ministry of Hope Again for
women who are recovering from drug addiction, alcoholism, domestic
violence abuse, and sexual sin. My first few months in the Lighthouse
were so full of struggles that I wanted to
quit. I was adjusting to the culture, a far different one from my own.
One day I found myself praying, "God, if it is by mistake that I am here,
please remove me from this place." I wasn’t aware that I was being
prepared for greater responsibility - to become the Lighthouse manager.
After six months I was asked if I would accept the position of the
manager. I said, "accepting the position is not just a step of faith, but
a big leap of faith for me; the responsibilities will be much heavier but
I know my God is above all". When I was seeking His will regarding the
new position, God confirmed His word to me again in Joshua 1:3-6, "I will
give you every place where you set your foot..." "be strong and courageous
because you will lead these people to inherit the land..."
I
worked at the Lighthouse until January 2004. I am currently working for an
adult day health care agency and will be seeking employment in Seattle,
where I will also be ministering with Richard.
Jesus is our Lighthouse
in the midst of storms
 |
