I come from a secular family background. I am the youngest in the family. My parents never pressured me in studies, even though my sister used to get 95% in exams. I was kind of an average-to-bright student during my high school days.

When I was 13 years old I started praying to God regularly. As a child I believed in a One God with many different names. I had a very peaceful and calm life during my high school days, going to school every morning, enjoying playful time in the evening with friends and studying at night, and before going to bed praying to God to help me in day to day life.

After I graduated from High School, temptation started taking over me, mainly because of the circle of my friends I was involved in. Whenever they called me for a party I used to go immediately, leaving my studies behind.

And as the temptation gripped me I started moving away from God. Even though I prayed, my prayers were hardly answered. I struggled to pass my papers. I had troubled relationship with the people in my life. Most of my friends were there with me only because I was the only one who paid the bill in the restaurant or helped them to do shopping or their college homework.  They’d desert me when I was in trouble. I felt lonely and didn’t know what to do. I never felt peace in my heart.

In 2007, when I came to NZ, my life changed completely.  Being away from parents I had more independence. When I walked on Queen’s Street, I was attracted by an extraordinary building, Baptist Tabernacle and this Scripture verse written on the board,

“Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

It made me think, “What does it mean?”

Due to my earlier troubled relationship with my friends I decided to stay in an apartment instead of moving into a hostel. My life was not as easy as I had imagined. In Jan 2008 I moved to Central Hostel. It was at this time that the hostel manager Sherman introduced me to the booklet, Steps to Peace with God.  I was not open at the time and I felt a bit scared. Then he told me to go for the Alpha course in Baptist Tabernacle. I said, “OK.” And after that whenever I came to the church, I felt very different and peaceful. I felt I was coming closer to God. But I still had some questions.

During the time of this course, Ritsu introduced me to Global. And then my life was beginning to take a new turn. I started praying to God and felt he was replying me. I have been going through difficult phases during that time, and I felt there were some certain things I was not able to do. One night, I told God about this problem. I told Him it was really impossible for me to do it. He appeared to me and He said, “Nothing is impossible through me.”

I later found that these words of Jesus was from the bible,

Jesus . . . said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mathew 19:26

These words gave me confidence that Jesus is always there with us in all our problems no matter how big the problems are, everything through him is possible. I know He will always be there with me, guide me and help me to make wise decisions in my life and right choices. Today he is helping to get better control of my life.

Three weeks ago, my boss Stephen was very angry at me because I was late. He almost dragged me out of the shop and told me never to come back. I was very sad. I tried my best to be my calm. When I went back home I asked Jesus to restore my relationship with him. Next day to my surprise when I went to the shop he said, he was sorry that he was mad at me and he treated me with pizza J J J

I trust Jesus more and more. I want to be obedient and follow him with all my heart. That’s why today I want to be baptised.