Who's Report Will You Believe?

Hi folks. A couple of weeks ago a lovely young 32-year old lady gave her testimony in the Tagalog service at Cornerstone Santiago. I didn't understand a lot of it but I saw that our people were so excited & blessed with what she said. So I asked her to write down her testimony so I could read it. When I read it I was so blessed, so I thought I would share the blessing with you. Be encouraged ....

“Life is like a wheel, sometimes you’re on top and sometimes you find yourself be on the bottom.” Sometimes we can’t understand what’s happening…..full of surprises….a bit of discouragement…but whatever life would bring us, one thing is for sure, someone is always with us.

I just want to share with you all the things that has happened in my life recently, my darkest moments when I thought I can’t cope anymore. It was very hard ... but someone pulled me out of that darkness.

One day, I woke up with this worst problem in my life, not only in my life alone but an enigma for all the people around me who cares for me. I can’t really accept the reality that life is like a flower that blooms and soon will be withered. The fact is, that in the midst of my supposed time to be blooming it will also be my time to wither. I’m only young! I have lot of things to do! I haven't even started fulfilling my plans yet…

...It’s 10th day of September and now, here I am in a hospital emergency room undergoing biopsy and I soon found out that I have a third stage of cervix cancer. I have to undergo major operation and a series of chemotherapy. The moment I heard about my condition, I just can’t help myself from crying! Asking God…why me Lord? I spent the whole night crying and crying then something came into my mind, I remember my cousin who is a pastor, I think

I have to share with him about my condition. So, I have decided to talk to him that day. He prayed for me and encourages me to attend the Sunday service in their church. I still recall December 10, 2006 as my first attendance in that church and that was also the same date that I felt something different. They prayed for me and that time and I asked forgiveness to the Lord, receive Him in my heart and surrendered my life to Him.

I’ve also shared my problem to Pastor Jun Fernando who is my brother in law. He told me to write my prayer request of healing in a sheet of paper and give it back to him. He promised me that he would pray for me always during their prayer meeting. I’ve attended in Cornerstone Church, Santiago City with the encouragement of Pastor Jun and later on he invited me in their prayer meeting ... not only me but my whole family. I am very happy because I feel the whole support of my friends and I noticed that my life was changing, little by little the Lord changes me everyday.

Then, time came that I need to go to another doctor for a second opinion. He examined me again and he was confused with the first findings. I’ve talked to the Lord, “Lord I know that you’ve done all these”.

On January 9, I was admitted into an emergency hospital again, they’ve got another opinion of me and told me to wait for 3 weeks. In those days, I didn't do anything except pray, my whole family keep on praying every time.

Then, it’s the moment of truth, I have to find the result and my whole world fell the moment I’ve heard that my cancer became malignant (LYMPHOMA). I can’t get an operation but the doctor told me to prepare P250,000 (2500 pounds) and wait. Oh no! God where can we find that amount of money? At that time, I’m losing my hope. I even make real plans to commit suicide because I don’t really know what to do. But I said to the Lord, I don’t have the right to destroy my own life because You’re the only one who can take it from me. My times are in your hands Lord. I felt guilty, but that made me feel braver and stronger. I talked to God again, prayed and prayed …..”Lord, give me more time to live and I will serve You all of my life! I just need Your healing touch today, I believe in You. You can do miracle for me, Lord.”

Then I decided to be baptized in water, not only me but my whole family. The time that Pastor Mark and Pastor Danny prayed for me in the water, I feel something different within my body. It seems like a heat flowing from my head going down. I was overwhelmed with joy but tears flowing in my eyes…'I know that nothing is impossible with you Lord,…I commit to you everything..'

The same day of baptism was also the same day as my visit to my doctor. So, after our merienda in Sefton Village we hurried going to the doctor, again claiming to myself that God had healed me and I don’t want to go to Manila for my chemo. That was February 10 2007, and while we’re on our way I kept on praying and praying that God will do amazing things that day. I will tell the whole world about it, testify of the goodness of the Lord. So, I’m a little bit excited and worried about the result. And here’s the great miracle happened when the doctor told me that they cannot find anything any more and that I just need to drink a lot of water and I don’t have that illness any more. Praise God! It’s really a wonderful miracle. I know it!

I promise that I will serve Him with all my heart and my whole family have been born again, accepted Him into our hearts as a way of thanking Him, and I’ll do everything for Him. Thanks God for the slap that has awakened me for my long sleep. Thanks also to all the Pastors, for their prayers and encouragement. At present, I have a burden to help in children’s ministry in our place at Cornerstone Nagassican. And I'm praying always that this testimony will encourage everyone who needs it and be a blessing to many people.

Now, I’m on the top of the wheel again, but I don’t have any fear of going to the bottom ‘coz, I know God had a great plan why He let those thing happen.”

Thank you Lord!
God bless.

Merlita Fernando

P.s. - Josiah is feeling much better now, thanks to your prayers. Also, we took little Selina to the specialist yesterday and he said that she will need an operation. So we will do it this week, God willing. Thanks to all who have sent something for this wee girl. She is beautiful and special. When we went to pay the Doctor he told us to put our money away - "I took one look at the smile of this little girl and my heart was touched". Another miracle!