TESTIMONY:Irene Shu

Two weeks ago during Easter 2007, I was baptized in the Catholic Cathedral. From that day onward, every day has been a celebration in my life. I feel awakened and renewed! I was the lost sheep, now found.

As I look back:
I was the child who attended Catholic schools all my life. From my childhood years, I was aware of God's existence but did not consider Him seriously. I grew up in a mixed religion family - my mother a Buddhist, my father a Protestant, my siblings later became Catholics.

From the early years as far back as I can remember, my parents' relationship was on shaky grounds; I grew up in desperation for love and attention. For years, I was drifting…Like most people, I went through college, got married, started a brief career and life went on... I wandered through life without much direction…I lived one day at a time, not knowing who I was and why I was here. Life had been monotonous…I was very much in isolation with myself. I had trouble expressing my anger and anxiety. I was timid and insecure. I felt inadequate and was in desperate search for self-worthiness.

Then, during March 2004, a dear friend introduced me to the Alpha course. This 10-week introductory course to Christianity has not only rekindled my Christian faith, but has led me to explore the meaning of life. I began to realize that True Christianity is not just knowing about Jesus Christ, but truly believing in His life, death and resurrection. In addition to believing, we must take charge of our lives and act according to His doctrines.

I was so overwhelmed by the Alpha course that I attended it a second time nine months later. During the interim, I was attending Sunday Mass every week. I was praying daily and over the weeks and months, I felt a sense of inner peace and harmony within myself... Gradually, I found myself turning to God in times of despair. He has curbed my fear and frustration. Every day, I found myself singing in praises to the Lord. I knew then that God was calling me. From then on, I was determined to become a follower of Christ. After months of instructions and preparation, I was baptized and confirmed.

I feel re-born, I am proud and content knowing I am a child of God. I feel welcomed into the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father, and with you… my brothers and sisters, I experience love and acceptance.

My Baptism has led me to see life from a different perspective; God has helped me understand that success is not measured by materialistic rewards. We are not remembered by what kind of cars we drive, how big a house we own, but we are remembered by how we lived and loved. Our purpose in life is to utilize God's gifts and talents in each of us in order to make contributions to our society. True happiness comes from sharing and helping each other reach our destiny.

God has his plans and timing in everything. Now is the time for me to spread the good news of the Gospel. I will devote my time towards evangelization for the Church; I will continue to honor God and the Trinity for the rest of my life.