Malou Bolton - my story

    

   

When I was 5 years old until 16, I lived with my grandparents. My grandmother was often ill so my mum agreed that I could stay with them. Our house was just next door so it was not far from my family. In Batanes, the northern most island of the Philippines, it’s almost 100% Roman Catholics and my family was very religious.

     

My grandparents go to church almost everyday and pray the rosary too, all activities in the church was attended and I wanted to be right with God so I felt guilty if I miss those special mass.

    

I joined the choir, the Children of Mary and we would go from house to house in the month of May with the statue of the Virgin Mary, so people could be blessed and could pray the rosary. 

Malou is the young lady on the left

I felt good about myself, thinking I am a good person unlike that person and this person and there was some kind of pride in my heart that I was doing good.

   

But I remember a time I asked my grandma if I would go to heaven if I die and she said no one knows and no one can be sure, but if you did some small things you will go to purgatory and while other people are praying for you, God will have mercy and transfer you to heaven when you already have paid for your sins, and this purgatory is not as bad as hell.

  

So I tried to be good and made sure I did not commit any sin, but everyday I sinned, in my thoughts specially. This made me believe that no one could go to heaven, that there is no hope, or that if there is I really didn’t know what it is. It had been the big question I carried with me as I moved on to the University.

  

I left my hometown of Basco and went to study in Nueva Ecija (CLSU). In my first year, there were Methodists and Baptists around me and my brother’s friends particularly were trying to bring me to the Protestant Church.

Grade 6 Graduation 1976 (I am the one on the left)

  

One lady who was my teacher in Chemistry asked me I read the Bible and if I knew Jesus, if I had eternal life and if I knew that I could be forgiven and many other things I wanted to know about. This was what I was searching for. It’s Jesus and I received him in my life as Lord and Saviour.

  

What a privilege to know that we can have eternal life and find forgiveness of our sins in Him. Repentance for all the wrong things that I have done and giving Him the control of my life. I was 17 and life away from my parents and grandparents that I left in Batanes was never the same again. My love for the Lord was growing and when I graduated BSc Biology in the University I found a job in the National Institute of Science and Technology in Manila. I also met some Christians and they brought me to the Alliance Church.

 

I joined the Choir, became very active in church activities such as Bible studies and home visitations. I loved to pray and give to missions not knowing that one day God will call me to be in the mission field.

Then after 3 years in Manila, I worked in the Refugee Camp with World Relief Corporation, I was surprised it was a Christian organisation and this was where God gave me a desire to share the Good News in other lands. 

I had Bible clubs with 8-9 year old Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians after working hours and I enjoyed it very much.

After 7 years in the Refugee Camp the door to OM was opened for me and so I joined Love Europe and then the MV Doulos for 21/2 years.

Now, Gareth and I travel around the world to work alongside Christians in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

God is so good and I give Him all the glory and honor.

  

Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pagsinta ng Diyos sa sanlibutan na ibinigay niya ang kanyang bugtong na Anak, upang ang sinomang sa kaniya’y sumampalataya ay huwag mapahamak, kungdi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggang.

  

  Back to Malou - the summary