Inspiring Story From Montalban Mother

This is a true story of a courageous woman from Montalban Rizal, Philippines. Lorna Pacheco, a mother of two (Lord Daniel, 8 years old and Daniela 6) had been through so much adversity. From extreme poverty and life’s struggles due to her husband’s heavy drinking habit, to their family’s bumpy journey when their house was devastated by super typhoon.

When typhoon Ondoy strikes last 2009 which caused heavy flooding in many parts of Metro Manila,Lorna and her family decided to move to San Isidro in Montalban Rizal, ( a remote area quite far from the city) and apply for a housing for the victims of typhoon offered by the government, which was approved two years after from the date of the application.

Their struggles didn’t end after they settled in the new house. Lorna’s husband Danilo, a cement mixer truck driver continued with his alcoholism, which caused them to fight almost every day. Danilo’s behavior became worse to the point where he became violent towards Lorna and their children. According to her, their children received beating from him, especially if he’s drunk and every day was a chaos in their household. But Lorna never loses hope, that someday their situation will change.

One day, it was November 2011, she passed by a house that happened to be the home of a kind couple named Ben and Mayette Salvedia, the founder of Tahanan ng Diyos, a religious community group which help and support people dealing with crisis. Although she didn’t know them that time, but instinctively, she knew there’s good thing happening, curiosity struck her because there were many people inside their house. Fortunately, she saw her sister in law coming from the house so she asked her immediately what’s going on. She told her that there’s a prayer meeting in that house every Sunday at 3:00 pm and that if she’s interested she could join them.

On the next Sunday, she went with her sister in law to attend the prayer meeting. On her first session, she said that she really felt God’s presence and grace, a feeling she never encountered before. According to her, she felt as if she was very close to the Almighty, which prompted her to attend regularly since then. Lorna, shared the wonderful experience with her husband and tried to convince him to go with her every Sunday, but he always declined her invitation and even ranted a not-so-pleasant words towards their religious activities. In spite of that, Lorna continued to attend the prayer meeting and even became more enthusiastic with it. Then one day, after a heavy drinking session, on his way home, a drunk Danilo encountered an accident, he was hit by a motorcycle. Luckily, he didn’t have serious injury other than minor bruises. He went home safe and already sober from alcohol.

That accident made Danilo realized that he was protected and saved by God from serious injury and possible death because his wife Lorna prayed every day and never give up even with his bad behavior and their lack of financial resources. Lorna said it was a miracle from God because she never complained despite their situation and hold on tightly to her faith that God will change their situation and someday her husband will realize and change for good. She never ceases to pray for her family, especially her husband. She said that up to this day, they still encounter some obstacles, but she gets her strength and fighting spirit through prayer with the help of their prayer meeting group (her brothers and sisters in Sambahayan Ng Diyos). Prayer has indeed changed lives.

REFERENCE: https://inspiringstories2016.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/inspiring-story-from-montalban-mother/