Beverly Meneses

My name is Beverly Meneses, I was born on October 28 1984 in Laog, Philippines. By the age of 3, my mother, brother and I arrived in Astoria, Queens to meet with my father who has been working in a hospital in Harlem. We were living in his aunt's basement for about two years.  At the age of four, that was the first time I was introduced to brother Eliseo's family. He was only 7 years old then.  After I finished kindergarten, we moved to Queens Village.

Years passed, and both our families are still close. It started December 2001 when my brother first told me that Eliseo was a reborn Christian.  That wasn't the first time I heard that term, but I did not know the exact true meaning of being "reborn".  It came to me as a shock because it was a big change from Eliseo's old character.

Christmas eve at Eliseo's house - while the rest of our family was in the living room, Eliseo, his two younger sisters and I were in his sisters room.  That whole evening he was just telling us his testimony and how he had to be brought down so low to realize how great God was to the reason why he seeked for Him.  He also told us the gifts and blessings God gave to him.  I guess that was the first time it hit me that God really was alive.  Sure I knew He existed, but I never paid much mind to it.

In the summer of 2002, I started attending this catholic youth group led by 3 teenage females.  During those meetings, the woman in charge had us sing hymns, some would play instruments, and read the gospel for that Sunday.  The woman in charge would also explain to us the meaning of the scripture.  In the middle of October, I decided to bring my bible with me to work so I can read while the phones weren't ringing.  That must have been the first time I found out about the meaning of adultery.  Sunday school never taught that when a man divorces his wife, he becomes an adulterer. "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." (Matthew 5:31-33)  There was a lot more stuff that I found out too in the book of Matthew.

Now by mid December, I was off and on with the youth group, mainly because of the influence of my boyfriend.  Sometimes I would lie to my mom telling her that I was going to the meeting, when instead I was hanging out with my boyfriend.  His influence was not good for me.  I ended up inheriting some of his bad traits, especially the excessive cursing.  Fortunately, it didn't last.  By the end of February, I was reading certain passages concerning idols. "If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. But if anyone says to you, 'This was offered to idols,' do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for 'the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man's conscience?" (1 Corinthians 10:27-29)  I didn't understand this verse so I started questioning people what it meant. I asked one of the female leaders of the youth group, but she had no clue nor did she ever bother to think about it.  I don't exactly remember how I figured what the Lord meant by idols, but when I found out I didn't want to return to the youth group nor any churches that had idols.  After I found out, I was talking to an acquaintance about God.  I was asking her how she found the truth and how she reacted when she found out that the religion she was brought up in was a hypocrisy.  She told me that she had to do her own soul searching and how she went to many churches to find the right one.  When the conversation finished, it made me think of Eliseo.  So I called him up and asked if his church was non-denominational.  He said yes and I asked if he could take me there that coming Sunday, and he agreed.  I had slept over Eliseo's family house Saturday night so that I would be there on time when brother Alex and sister Vanessa picked us up from his house to go to church. I remember asking Eliseo what I should wear, he told me to wear anything just as long as I don't wear a mini skirt.

It was Sunday, March 2nd, 2003.  Brother Alex and sister Vanessa picked me and brother Eliseo up and headed to church in time for prayer. I've been to a Baptist Christian church before so I was familiar with the division amongst the men and woman and the Holy Spirit.  During prayer, I heard some of the sisters getting loud and speaking in other languages. I thought it was because they caught the Holy Spirit, little did I know that it was because they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  I was never taught this also, that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit to those who believe.  When prayer was over, the sermon began.  While brother Chris was speaking, I started to feel guilty about the piercing that I had.  When church had finally ended, I got introduced to some of the brethren, then brother Alex and sister Vanessa dropped us back to Eliseo's house.  One thing I found different about their church, was that they didn't do the sign of the cross.  I guess I'm so use to it, since I was raised to do it as a child.

Few days passed by, my mother found out that I went to Eliseo's church. She blew a fit.  That must have been the biggest quarrels she and I ever had.  I was explaining to her why I don't approve catholic churches and it is a man-made invention.  She told me that I was born a catholic so then I would die as a catholic.  Since then, I just ended up going to the church nearby me, sitting in the back reading the bible while the service was going on.  June 2003, my mother got very ill.  Doctor's said she should have died a long time ago since this was the third time she got breast cancer.  She stayed in the hospital for a few weeks, when she finally came home, she was unable to do stuff.  We had one of those electrical beds that they have in the hospitals at our house, along with the oxygen tank to help her breathe.  I coped with her illness by not being home so much.  I just didn't want to deal with it, and I also didn't want to see her in pain.  My family took my actions as me not caring bout my mom.  July 26, I had just come home from a hip hop event in the city, it was my night to watch over mom.  It's a very difficult job watching over my mom, because of the numerous medicines the doctors prescribed her with.  The medicines had her hallucinating, sometimes thinking there are other people in the room talking to her.  That night was just crazy, I did not get much sleep.  She kept trying to walk all over the house.  I remember her passing through the dining room saying, six six six.  When she said that I was terrified.  She tried to go upstairs as well, trying to say good bye.  I didn't realize what was happening.  I prayed to God that night to just take her already because I couldn't take to see her suffer any longer.  Next day came, it was a Sunday, I had just woken up at noon.  I remember walking downstairs and my dad was telling me to go to CVS to get stuff for my mother.  By the time I arrived, my dad and my grandmother were in tears.  He told me to talk to my mom and say sorry and say that I love her because this might be the last time I speak to her.  At this moment, she was in a coma.  So I spoke to her and told her how much I loved her and that I was sorry for not being the best daughter.  Night came and the ambulance arrived and took her.  Monday morning at 6'o clock, I get a call from Eliseo crying and saying sorry to me.  I asked him what he was sorry for, and he said "about your mom, your dad called my mom last night and told us she passed away."  From that moment, I realized that God had answered my prayers, and that was the first one He answered since I started believing.

The day of my moms funeral came and I was asked to write a eulogy. I wanted to read something in the word of God and this is the passage I took, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:2-3)  Days passed, and I would catch myself at night crying out to God asking Him to help me, to heal me, and that I was lonely.  The days when I didn't attend class, I would be in the park writing letters to God to have mercy on me confessing my sins to Him, for Him to have mercy on me.  It was now August 9 2003, I called up brother Alex and sister Vanessa and asked if I could attend church with them.  That Sunday I went, and I was told that the Lord spoke to me saying how He is like my mother.  After a few days, the Lord told me in my heart to quit studying fashion and to become a nurse, that was the second request He answered.

A couple of months passed, and it was October; I was asking myself when I should get baptized, if I should invite my dad and brother to my baptism.  On Friday, October 10th, the Lord spoke in prophesy through sister Sia saying how I am like the light in my family and a little leaven leavens the whole lump.  Through this prophecy, I received my answer.  So when the Lord spoke, I asked brother Chris when I should get baptized and he said, "this Sunday." The sister also informed me that I did not need to ask permission from my dad since I was of age.  The night before I was going to get baptized, I was not able to fall asleep.  I felt to anxious, excited.  At that moment, I felt the love of Jesus Christ fill that void in my heart, and that was the third request He answered.  Baptism day came, and I was burying the old Beverly and living in the new creation that God made. "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Of course, I have my share of trials, mine lasted for a month. Fortunately, God gave me the strength to walk away.  Now I had the strength to ask for the Holy Spirit. Few months pass, and Tuesday, March 2nd, the Lord baptizes me with the Holy Spirit.  Who would have known that the same date that I first stepped into the church would be the same date He would baptize me with the Holy Spirit. That was the most hardest and happiest time of my life. It was a real struggle trying to receive it, but it was worth it at the end. Until now, I am continuing to walk on the path that the Lord paved for me. May the Lord be with you all and may He count us worthy to be taken up in the Rapture. God bless you.

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