The Brady Bunch (2)

 Continuing from the last blog...

It's a cold winter morning in Chicago, and we're driving almost two hours to a church — we get lost in the way, and by this time my parents are arguing and we kids are in the back trying to pretend nothing is wrong.

Who would have thought things would be different? When we finally arrived, the building looked nothing like a church, but here we found the greatest treasure. I honestly don't remember much about these days, but coming to SiLC was the best thing that could have happened to our family.

At first I was very indifferent, my mom who for many years sought help in the wrong places, finally found the Living God. Healing was just a small token for the many more changes God had and has for her. Honestly, I don't think she'd be alive today if it wasn't for the way she was taught to use her faith and the powerful prayers she received. Each of my family members has their own story and I could write books about each one of them, although some don't want to take this treasure yet, I know they will soon. Others have embraced this treasure and God has honored them. Change has happened in my home over time, things that only God is able to do.

Remember I mentioned in the previous blog that I didn't really know my family that well? Well the reason for that being is that we were not a family before 1997, only after that year and over the years have we slowly gotten to know each other and become more a family. There's still a lot more work to be done, but I know God is working. In due time I will share more about my big family with you.

This small glimpse is the beginning of what brought me to where I am today. For those who don't know me, I'm Yuliana, 22 years old, currently living in Houston.

The Brady Bunch

I come from a family of seven, so you can imagine what it was like growing up. It's five women and two men, not including my parents. I love them all, but to be honest I don't really know them as I should, yet. I mean "yet" because I'm still learning about them. You may wonder, how can that be?...

Fights, disease, debts, hatred, depression, rejection was part of what I saw every day in my house as I grew up. Nobody really talked to each other unless it was to complain or yell at one another. I really can't remember every detail since I was very young, but I do remember wishing to have a different family. Listening to other kids in school talk about their mom and dad or what they had done that weekend with their families made me think I wasn't loved. Everyone was going through their own problems so I thought, 'why should I even bother to try?'

My mom had every possible sickness and pain you can think of and symptoms that the doctors didn't know the reason for. As any mother she wanted her family to be different, her son to be healed, and healing for herself so, she tried to find a way out. This includes witch doctors, "healers," going to church and praying to all sorts of saints. If a friend invited her to a church, we'd be there. I remember going every Sunday to a different church, we'd spend a few Sundays in one and if she didn't see anything we'd try another church. We called ourselves "Catholic," and after years of church hopping and witch doctors and nothing happening I personally gave up. Thankfully my mom did not.

In 1997, I was eight years old at the time and my mom once again received another invitation from another friend to another church. Once again, we all hop in the car and drive about an hour and a half. Although I was eight, I abhorred the idea of going to any church, I thought they were boring and a waste of time. My mom as always was the only one who hoped this church would be able to help us all.


To be continued...

Behind More than Words...

Honestly I don't know where to begin... There are a few reasons why I decided to start my own blog, which I'll share with you in time. There are many things that have happened in my short life (22yrs) that I'd like to share with you. One in particular - finding my first love, God. I'll allow God to lead me as I write in this blog, we'll see where He takes me.