God's Brave Women - Michelle's Story

I recently attended a training for a new program we are starting that will help seventy-five children of our trafficking survivors. I get so excited with the thought that these children will have the opportunity to break the cycle of abuse, exploitation and prostitution in their families of origin. Our team dove into this new program with high hopes and planned accordingly all the systems, strategies and structures. Now we are all set! We are good to go!

Part of the training session was devoted to personal and organizational vision. The facilitator asked, ”Where do you see yourself five years from now?” If I were to be honest, my answer is I don’t know. Most people think of me as a visionary leader since I was one of the co-founders of Made in Hope, a non-profit organization that provides educational and work opportunities for women and children survivors of modern day slavery of human-trafficking and prostitution. But truth be told, my vision is limited and mostly obscured by my own perspective. As I’ve led the organization these past eight years, I have learned that relying on God’s vision for our lives and ministries is our greatest guide for every step of the way.

"As I’ve led the organization these past eight years, I have learned that relying on God’s vision for our lives and ministries is our greatest guide for every step of the way."

Growing up, I had great dreams and vision for my life, even in the midst of a challenging childhood living in an urban poor community in Manila, Philippines. I grabbed every opportunity that was given to me, tried to work hard and be the best that I could be. My tendency, though, was to control everything, to make sure I was secure and certain in order for me to achieve my goals and plans. After all, I am a number 3 in the Enneagram. : )

The journey of letting go became real for me in 2007 when I felt God calling me to leave my flourishing and fulfilling career in a Christian theater company in the Philippines so I could study Spiritual Formation at Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, where I met Becky. Initially, my plan was just to finish the program for two and half years and then go back to Manila to continue my passion for theater