This testimony was to be given by me three years ago but the Lord chose this day & hour for me to witness him and give him the glory only which he truly deserves.  I remember Peggy (my niece) used to prod me every Friday initially to testify at the Jesus The Answer prayer meetings held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jebel Ali, UAE but somehow I was not yet ready to testify my journey through the shadows of death to the light, this “light” which exposes the fruitless deeds of darkness”.  

It was August 2003, we had just moved into our dream home after having spent almost all our savings into furnishing the place.  The “light” which was so prominent in our lives suddenly started giving way to darkness.  I was introduced by Edwin (my husband) to this “man of god” who claimed that he used to see visions of our Lord and was able to tell a person – events relating to his past whilst in counseling.  I knew one of our extended family members visited him and confirmed that the same.  Though hesitant, I went for counseling to him and spent approx 8 hours in counseling wherein he revealed details / events in my childhood etc.  He prayed over me and I came away but little did I know that I would never be the same person I was for a long long time.  

I was involuntarily drawn to his family as well and in some kind of robotic fashion felt the need to be more with them than my own near and dear ones.  This continued for months, at times I was portrayed as though I was in bondage.  There were serious arguments and quarrels at home everyday, all in all the atmosphere at home was not at all cordial ( that’s the nicest way to put it), all four of us were tense and trying to keep a straight face at times.  My in-laws thought I had gone nuts and needed psychiatric treatment and even approached doctors at holy spirit hospital, their interference  and especially siding with their sibling only made matters worse and my relationship with them went to the extent that I stopped talking or interacting with any one of them.  I felt I was just drifting away; my personal prayer life was at its lowest although I went to church almost every day.   

Things came to a climax when Edwin walked out of the house one evening, I thought this was his usual stunt whenever an argument arose, however one week went by and I realized that he was not coming home.  I then had no choice but to put pressure on some of my in-laws to find out where he was and I was told that he was in Divine Retreat Centre - POTTA attending a retreat and then continued to stay back to do the bible course.  In the meantime, I had taken a severe financial beating plus I had Edwin’s suppliers calling in for payment and needed my finances to be sorted out in order to sustain myself and our 2 daughters (Ginelle & Kimberly) plus pay the house mortgage from my salary.  The girls especially Ginelle being close to her father was hurting and somehow I felt as helpless as ever, she withdrew into a shell torn between her parents.   

Deep down in my heart I was crying asking God why was everything going wrong for me, I have never felt so alone all my life as I had felt then and slowly I also began to withdraw into a shell. I refused to share my thoughts with anyone as everyone felt I was a gone case.  I tried to get in touch with Edwin once again and this was another ordeal as his close family would advise him what should be the next step.  When he finally did come, he was skeptical about how things would work and this angered me no end as this man showed no signs of supporting his family leave alone standing by them and we were back to square one.   

In spite of all these incidents, my daily attendance at the Eucharist was regular, lifting my helpless situation to the Lord and I knew he was compassionate yet he wanted me to persevere and wait on him.  

It was Christmas 2004, I got a call on my cell from Dubai and I thought that my friend was calling me to wish me for Christmas but when I heard the caller on the end, I was totally taken aback that it was Edwin. He wanted to wish the girls for Christmas and indeed he did but I could not take that call further. I did not have the least clue that he was in Dubai. He never called after that and life carried on. In my constant cry to the lord, I asked for his mercy through the recitation of the Divine Mercy and I firmly believe that this miraculous prayer salvaged my soul and saved my family.  I was finally able to fight through the constant thoughts that flooded my mind regarding the counselor and his family and was able to put them behind my mind and move on. 

Through an email to Edwin’s nephew, I enquired about our ration card as I needed the same to renew the girl’s passport.  He wrote back to me, the contents of which for the first time were a far cry from accusations and somehow seemed to be very practical.  I could see the hand of the lord working though him and gradually we saw Edwin pick up the phone and call us and our family life was somewhat gaining a semblance of balance after all those months of nightmare.  In May ’05, I finally came to Dubai on a visit & finally Edwin & myself were able to converse on normal terms beyond all that was in the past.  The hand of god worked here again and he was able to sponsor us for residence in UAE.  This was followed by admissions for the girls in a suitable school in Dubai and with my brother in law’s help, they were ready to take on another academic year.  On the job front, one temp job into another finally brought me to my current job from where I have never looked back.  

The hand of the lord has been upon our family and his blessings never cease until this very day.  Today, when I look back, I know God has given me this lease of life to praise and thank him in every situation.  The journey with the lord last three years has been a truly enriching experience, a special mention to the spiritual guidance received from time to time from the prayer group (JTA).  I firmly believe that God brought me to Dubai for a purpose and now see the bond I share with him is irreplaceable.  

I quote Philippians 4:32 onwards “  I Know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength “

Alleluia!!! Amen!
Jennifer Alvaro
Dubai - UAE
April 2008