It all started in the summer before my freshman year at California State University, Fullerton. I was 18 years old and involved in a summer program designed to help me get familiar with CSUF before the start of my college days. As I sat on the lunch benches studying for a class, a beautiful Filipino young woman named Liesl Marin (her last name has changed now because she is married) approached me and invited me to have a Bible study. I agreed, and saw God move through his Scriptures.
 
I began to get terrified about the depth of the Word and how my life did not match up the way I had thought it did. Instead of dealing with it, however, I decided to go into hiding and stopped studying the Bible all together. A woman named Melody Zandpour followed the Spirit\'s prompting and went searching for me. She randomly showed up at the motel where I was staying while I searched for an apartment. She asked me to pray with her, and I did.
 
That was a life-changing experience, because for the first time I saw how a person really cared about my spiritual walk with God. I continued studying the Bible and attending church events for another month. I had a couple of reservations on the subject of the Holy Spirit, such as who had the Holy Spirit, at what point people receive Him, what His gifts were and why many of us don\'t have those gifts. Eventually everything became clear to me and I was baptized on Tuesday, August 30, 2001, in an apartment complex in Fullerton.
 
Since then, it has been a beautiful journey that I continue to travel and enjoy. My life changed from the time I came out of the water because of the eternal hope I felt in my heart. For the first time in my life, I felt complete. Through feeling complete with God, I have been able to go through tough life situations that I know I would not have been able to overcome if not for him. He has given me a beautiful spiritual family to guide, instruct and support me and to fight with me to reach the world for Christ. I know I have a treasure in God and this is why I share it with people -- because true life with him is incredible. I appreciate that in the most difficult times in my life I can possess peace, joy and true happiness.

*If you would like to learn more about God\'s plan for your life or begin attending a local church, please email \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

*If you are a member of the Los Angeles International Church of Christ and would like to share your testimony online, please email  \n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  for details.