My Testimony

 

My Chinese Name formed from three chinese characters

That is my chinese name, Lin BaoZhu, it means a precious pearl in the forest.  My Christian name is Theresa.  Theresa is my name given during Baptism.  I chose to be named Theresa again during my confirmation although I can change.  I thought it would not be so messy with so many different names.  The name Theresa means harvester and it may means a mystic also.  There are various forms of 

Theresa.  Some Teresa and Teresia, without the h.

My parents went to church, and this led me to ask what was my religion.  I was told by my aunt that I am a Roman Catholic.  Though I went to church, I had no idea who is God.  I went to church, but I don't understand what was the significant of it.  As we grew up, our parents don't really go church anymore.  

In 1996, Richard and I had RCIA at Church of St Mary of the Angels.  I was the sponsor for Yvonne and Richard had his sponser as well.  We were asked the questions of how or why we wanted to join RCIA.  Most of the people said it was their calling.  I have no idea what was that.  I think at that time I was not a good sponsor, did not answer most of the questions.  Soon Richard was baptized and received his confirmation as well.  In the same year, we had our Church Wedding too.  

Life was full of ups and down.  Our marriage was not all smooth sailing.  We had our separation, reunion and now divorce.  However, I am still holding on to my faith, my one and only holy catholic church.  This is because I had encounter Christ, the Lord who came to my rescue when I had commited a mortal sin in my life.  

Jesus came to rescue me.  I went Church and came home to take a bath and miraculously, I was led by the Holy Spirit to be immersed in water, removing all the 'demons' in me.  Thereafter, my sins were cleansed and I was born again in water and spirit, feeling very refreshed and good.  

28 August 2008 A dinosaur appeared in the sky

Our God is a jovial one, making jokes to us.  I was shown a flying pig too.  In the chinese horoscope, I am a pig.  So in the morning, I saw a flying pig in the sky.  Pigs can fly was the message.  Now, I am also a dinosaur!  

I am still learning my faith, and trusting in God despite all the trials and tribulations now.  

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Trials and Tribulations

 

The Throne of God taken on 26 August 2008

I want to thank God for showing to me that He exists and for telling me that there are Purgatory.  One night, I dreamt of National University of Singapore.  I was walking in the linked shelter --the yellow shelter.  I was walking and walking and then later on I saw the scriptures with the word "God's Will" zooming in and then I woke up to see the image of the Singapore Map (the formation of the Clouds) outside my window.  

Map of Singapore on 26 August 2008 A Living Sacrifice 

Sacrifice of Body and Mind: Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 2009, I was lying on the bed of Mount Alvernia Hospital

Babies are gifts of life from God.  Due to my ignorance and blindness and family circumstances, I aborted my baby after Richard's return.  Some couples wanted babies and they couldn't even have any.  Here I am, God gave me a new life and I killed it.  Now God came to me, telling me it was all wrong.  I have to sacrifice.  I was given again a new life and this time I learned my lessons, and no matter how hard it may be, I had to keep the baby.  The doctor asked me to do test to check if baby was normal.  I did not check for any test.  It was my faith to trust God, to give me a perfect child despite my old age at that year.  So indeed, I gave birth to a perfect child.  

Now Richard had left again, and this time he is remarried to another woman.  God showed His existence and Jesus asked me to Follow Him.  Here I am, living in faith and hope that everything will go on well for my children and family.  I will put my trust in God for He works in a miraculous way and He can work wonders.  

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Destiny

 

2002: Family Photograph taken at Genting Highlands

I thought that Destiny lies in our hands but in actual fact, destiny lies in God's hands. 

We were separated for 2 years.  He had a new girlfriend before Clara was born.  I was so devastated and lost at that time when I gave birth to Clara.  However, Clara's birth was the easiest and very natural.  There was no need for vacuum suction and forceps.  I tried to give breastmilk, but too stressful.  So for Clara, she drank more of commercial milk that the maid helped to make.  

During the 2 years of separation, later on I had two relationships.  Christopher was very good to me.  However, Richard learned about it.  Then he desired to come back.  Was that the result of my prayer? It must be.  I never knew he would come back.  

So when he came back, we went Genting Highlands for vacation.  The above photograph was taken there.  I thought that that was our family photograph... 

 

Photograph of Richard and I taken on 30.4.1995 at St Joseph's Church (Bukit Timah)

I was brought up in Singapore, a typical Singaporean who is law abiding. We got registered on 7.1.1995 and we planned to have 2 children, one boy and one girl as what the government always shown in campaigns, 2 is enough.  At that time, we had everything planned, 2 children to be born 2 years of age gap so that I could bring them together to school and bring them back after school.  Last time the education system is such that there were 2 sessions -- morning and afternoon.  

But I was wrong.  Education system changed.  Nothing is forever the same.  Everything changes with time.  Soon there was only one session of school.  There were no more afternoon session.  

Knowing Richard, going dating with him and going to vacation and so on, we encountered fortune tellers.  Some we approached, some (or rather one or two) just came to us.  In my memory what the fortune teller said was in my mind.  But I just could not believe.  I decide everything myself and I control everything myself.  How is it possible that I can have 3 children?  That was what the fortune teller told me -- "You will have 3 children."  He added that Richard will have more children than me.  He said that Richard would be rich while I had just enough money to spend.  I will encounter help in my life.  I just could not believe so much about this fortune teller after he said I will have 3 children.  It seems too many for me...  

Family Planning: I did not know that Catholic is not supposed to use condom, but that was what we used to do.  At times Richard would use the natural method of counting the safe period.  But I got pregnant in the year 2002!  Who control our hormones now I think of that and who control our cycles?  Clara was conceived naturally since we wanted two children, and even having 2 before the age of 30 so that we can be waived from income tax (the policy at that time).  

The 2 children were still young and I was pregnant again!  It was torturous to be pregnant.  Being pregnant, I would have to lie down most of the time.  I could not do much work.  Thinking of that and my 2 other children need me, I did not know what to do.  Then suddenly a thought came to my mind:  "My sister also have abortion before!  And look at her, nothing happened to her!"   With this thought, my mind was make up.  

Soon I put IUD (a kind of family planning) inside my womb, as suggested by the doctor.  However some years later, it gave me problems and the gynae said it was rejecting from my body.  So it was taken out.  And from then on I am 'natural' again.  

And so the years passed by until Jesus came...

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