Transformed to Move Forward

She was at the cusp of a bright future. With only a semester to go in college, her mother made her quit school to work overseas.

She obeyed; but unfortunately, that plan never fell through, and Roselyn never knew the reason. Deeply hurt and her dreams dashed, she took steps to move on. In 2009, she got married, had her firstborn, and then sailed with her new family to far Surigao.

She returned home to Zamboanga del Sur, only to be hurt again, and this time by her father who sold the family’s coconut farm–again to raise funds for overseas placement for her sister. Roselyn wanted to redeem the farm, but it was too late.

Ironically, her sister’s overseas employment fell through. Her heartaches grew like festering wounds that ate away love and hope in her heart.

When Transform came to her village in 2019, she quickly signed up; having heard of good things about the program. “I never had second thoughts in joining,” she said; and was initially interested in the livelihood lessons.

But what really caught and healed her heart was the Values lessons. She realized she’d been living and nurturing a life of hurt, hate and resentment. She resolved to move past that life with a brave decisive act:” I have forgiven and let go of the past, and move forward with no burden in my heart,” she said. Her decision did not only bring healing, but created a positive spirit in her family. Today, they are now a family of Christ-followers, and active members of the local church.

The new possibilities continued. She learned new ways to support her family which included vegetable gardening, cooking and selling a variety of local snacks and delicacies. “I was very happy when I first cooked the snacks and sold them,” she recalled. Today, she earns at least $26 a week selling the snacks she made, and is able to support her family.

Even her leadership skills have blossomed. When her savings group was on the brink of disbanding, she rallied her members to keep it alive. “The efforts that we put on creating the group seemed to go to nothing if we would stop,” she declared. The revival of the group called on her to take reins and lead.

Adding to her growing list of knowledge and skills is her newfound skill to attend to and monitor the health needs of her community. “I learned how to identify a malnourished child.” As the Community Health champion, she is proud to be in a position to help her community.

And while others still look for that fresh start in the new year, Roselyn has already taken those steps and keeps on moving forward–year after year. “Through Transform, life became better.”

Written by Meng Valientes, with reports from Erica Gurdiel.