Last October 2009, a strong typhoon hit our region. At that time my father and I were gathering vegetables from our garden to sell. We continued our work even when the rain and wind were very strong. When we were on our way home, the road looked like a river, but we did not panic. I stopped the truck and prayed this way: “God is protecting us.” The rain became weak for a moment, and we continued to travel. But there was a road slide, so we could not proceed. We decided to go back, but there was another slide. My father got out of the truck and went to knock on the door of a house near the road, for we needed some food (we were very hungry) and a place to sleep. I am very thankful that the house owner welcomed us. I am very grateful we were safe during that typhoon.

— Washington Maguido

When I graduated from elementary school, I thought I could not continue to high school because I had no money for it. But I remembered what I had learned in Christian Science, that divine Love supplies all human needs and this meant my need, too. I just kept on declaring this simple truth that I had learned; I did not give up. Then, a Christian Scientist who knew of my situation told me that he would help me with my high school educational needs. I am very grateful to God, who really supplies our need when we are obedient to His laws.

Another time, I suffered from symptoms of an ulcer. Fear came to me. I then opened the Christian Science textbook, and I love what Mary Baker Eddy said in this book: “Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality” (Science and Health, p. 261). I learned that I am not material and it is only divine Mind governing all. So there is no reality in an ulcer, because God is not sick; therefore, I am not sick. I kept on pondering that, and when I woke up in the morning, I felt that I was healed. And the symptoms never came back. This healing took place in the early part of January of 2008. It was my first healing in Christian Science, and it encouraged me to learn more about Christian Science.

— Alfonso Binay-an Jr. 

The television was bombarding us with news of El Niño and its effects on people and plants, etc. I turned off the TV and I knew that God didn’t make El Niño to let us suffer, because He loves us. I remembered what I’d read in Science and Health, and it goes, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need” (p. 494). So that day, and in the future, this meant it was right for us to have enough water to drink and use. I’m really thankful to Christian Science because it helps me a lot. I know that when we affirm the truth, only truth will appear. 

I also remember our discussion in the TGIF. (“Thank God It’s Friday” is an activity of our Christian Science Reading Room every Friday evening, in which the head librarian shares ideas about a certain topic and healings of the attendants.) At this activity, we talked about God’s providence as never-ending. And as we were waiting for a jeepney (a popular means of transportation in the Philippines), the rain began to fall, and we were very thankful to God because He provides for our needs.

— Merly Maguido

Before the end of this school year, the class I belong to decided to have a simple bonding by going to a beach resort. When I went home that same afternoon, I was about to ask my parents’ permission but was shocked to learn that my mother had been taken to the hospital. In the evening, I was so lonely that I even cried and questioned God about the situation. I questioned why everything was happening against the things I’m learning in Sunday School, like that sickness is nothing while I could see the situation of my mother. I wasn’t able to sleep that night. 

Early the next morning, my father sent me to the hospital to visit my mother. I was so disheartened, and also I admit I was disappointed because I couldn’t attend the class bonding. Then a friend texted me that they were praying for my mother and that even if I couldn’t attend the bonding, God’s love still binds us all. I was enlightened, and I woke up feeling better the next morning. I regretted feeling so bad, and I prayed to God for forgiveness and I also prayed about my mother, to know that she is always healthy and nothing could ever destroy her health. After a day, my mother was brought home, and I was very thankful and happy.

— Lenny Danglay

At least two to three times a week, in the evening after class, I go to an Internet cafe/shop to do some research. I often run as fast as I can to reach our house because the surroundings are totally dark. I don’t have any fear of the dark, but once I was afraid of coming across gangsters and drunks scattered along the streets. But when I remembered Mary Baker Eddy’s poem titled “Satisfied,” set to words in the Christian Science Hymnal and Supplement, my bad thoughts about the street people were healed. The hymn says, “False fears are foes—truth tatters those, / When understood” (No. 160–162). I learned that Truth heals. It also made me realize that my false fears were my enemies. There is nothing harmful that God created. His creation is perfect, and we belong to His creation. So I also have to see the people on the street as perfect children of God and that they are capable of being good and kind, for they also possess the Godlike qualities. I prayed that I shall not fear, for Love is with me along the way. I’m secured and safe because I know that God is always beside me. Every time fear attacks me when I run home, I recite these two Bible verses: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7), and “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1). 

— Jovelyn Guidaoen