It's my life and my choice

It's been a November for me. I don't intend to make others these or that. When people ask me about my choices, of course, i told them it's my choice, what I like and how God wants me to start. Yet, I have a long way to go since I am just 23. Got kicked out twice, got to live hard and pay debts as soon as possible. It's been a roller coaster 2015 for me but there is one thing I am thankful of. My conversion to Orthodoxy.

When people ask me why I converted, I reasoned out:

1. I feel Orthodox Christianity is the Christian faith I can find my inner Christian life.
2. It is more serious when it comes to faith matters.
3. I can feel how the true church is made since the apostles' times and the ensuing 7 Ecumenical councils.

 I didn't mentioned out what's with the Roman Catholic church since I feel it's unreasonable to mention it. But when people ask me about Roman rite church, all I say is it's deviating away from Christianity to liberalized reformed church and I see how it's own rules are not being practiced by their leaders.

No one forced me to do this things. I researched it myself, read books and searched for it. If dad would debate me, I won't even try to debate it since there is one Christianity and it upholds the Seven ecumenical councils that are the basis of God's faith that is passed down to the apostles and continuing to the church leaders of each independent but equal and connected Orthodox churches.

Orthodoxy is not just a word. It's a life. I may not force people but only God can make things possible through readings, history books and even your own family.

How far your faith can lead you?

I am continuing to raise questions to awaken everyone. Whether they are of this faith or not. Of course, it is better to ask than to be totally ignorant. I maybe waiting for that day because of some circumstances i had but one thing is for sure, i will convert and this is what God gave me. The power to choose my faith because i know God will lead me into that promised day.

If some people might wonder why i am still showing how i loved God and my Christian faith, i am even if very few people saw it. It is through the Orthodox church that i prayed again and valued my faith so much. Maybe, God sent me those knowledge and by heart through my history and religious books.

There is a thing also. You can't have neither faith by heart and faith by knowledge. It is like denying the other existence or it is like, denying God's man and divine persona or denying either one of the Holy spirit. That's from my heart and not from what other people would say.

It is easy to be Catholic or Protestant this new era but when i get baptized to Orthodoxy, it could mean new adoptations and new learnings but i am on that situation a lot of times and God will guide me through it all. I don't waste opportunities just because of time period i must wait for that day. I don't even believe in this typical Filipino phrase:"you born a Catholic, die a Catholic." Because if your faith is not really for you and God has plan for your true faith, then it shall be.

I am not scared to take the risks of converting and being rejected by my family members in the future because i know it could hurt at first but, time will heal and because of that healing, no more pain will be felt.

My faith

As many of you know, i am still Roman catholic. But i desire to be an Eastern Orthodox Christian. What brings me to that faith is something unsual. It doesn't even concern my current views, making myself a proponent of Christian unity only through the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs.

When i was around grade school, i am reading some almanacs around the letter B. And then some pages were torn or couldn't be recognized by my young eyes. Yet, i came to the page were the Byzantine Empire section was located. It enchanted me when i saw icons of Christ, religious relics, icons and of course, the downfall of Constantinople. It made me become curious more about Christianity. During a holy week, i asked dad what is Eastern orthodox church and he anwsered: ''just another false church''. Yet, i was hungry for the truth. These time, in High School, i am reading something about the byzantine Empire and Greek history. I stumbled upon that faith that made me curious and search for what is the origin of Christianity. Since that day, i wanted to know it till i saw that church was just 30 minutes away from home via a jeep and another 5 minutes for a motorcycle ride. As i went there, i saw that church i longed for, went inside and asked questions amongst the two priests(one returned to Greece) and i felt my faith got revived. When i returned home, i told my older sisters i want to be an Orthodox. It met strong criticism from my family clan(Garcia's of Paranaque descending from Spanish-Filipino through my paternal grandfather and Japanese through my paternal grandmother) especially from my parents when they were able to talk to me via yahoo messenger. Since that day, dad cannot forgive me because he is a strong Roman Catholic and most Filipino Roman catholics think that any Christian sect outside of RC and Mainstream Protestantism is like a cult or nonsense. Since i am optimistic those days, i had many icons blessed, a priest gave me prayer books and he taught me good things and told me to be careful of other things that is why i am aware even on my own family. Yet, when i went to Japan and left my icons and other church paraphernalia there, i thought my faith would get stagnated and if my parents would have a vacation, the will dispose my holy icons of Lazar, Isus Hristos, Bogorodice(Bogorodica Ljeviška) and some incense which they did. Since that day, i am secretive if my plans to pursue what God wants for me to discover.

Currently, i am attending divine liturgies, vespers, matins, complines or simply going there and praying to God for forgiveness and help for my future challenges. I know it will not be a secret one day but when i get that freedom, i will practice my faith to the fullest. I assure everyone.