Teen’s Church Wouldn’t Give Up on Her

When Angelyn’s family fell apart, they were destitute. The weight of responsibility fell on her young shoulders. But despite her troubled circumstances, Angelyn knows she is not alone. She has hope in Jesus Christ, and her hope shines bright in the dark places.

The little girl splashed through muddy puddles on her way to school. Colorful buildings, thrown together with random bits of wood and corrugated iron, lined the streets. Angelyn lowered her eyes as she weaved between the neighborhood children who didn’t go to school. Their parents saw no need for schooling. Some of the parents sold their children into prostitution to grab a bit of extra cash. Their pain numbed by drugs, these children had no hope for a better future. In the back streets of Cebu City, the Philippines, school is considered a privilege for the children who have hope.

Angelyn’s parents could afford to send her to school, but she didn’t know why. Their occupation was a shadowy secret, hidden from their children, their neighbors and the authorities. When people asked Angelyn what work her parents did, it was easier to invent a make-believe story than explain why she didn’t know the answer.

Even so, they were still living in poverty, and Angelyn had been registered with Compassion at the Loving My Neighbor Child Development Center. Her caseworker at the center, Joel, found that this shy little girl was doing exceptionally well at school and wondered if she could become a leader who would have a positive influence on her community.

Before leaving for school one morning, Angelyn searched the house for her parents to ask for pocket money. Opening a door, she found her father with packets of shabu, a low-quality methamphetamine, spread out in front of him. In their community, Angelyn often saw people selling and using drugs. She knew what her father was doing, and she knew how dangerous it was. The realization that he was a drug dealer devastated her. She was angry that he put their family in danger and confused about what she should do about it. But she didn’t dare ask for help. The penalty for drug dealing was life in prison, and Angelyn couldn’t imagine what would happen to her family if she told someone and the police found out about her father.

Even though Angelyn kept quiet about what she saw, it wasn’t long before the police came to their home. Angelyn was baby-sitting a neighbor’s baby when she heard a commotion downstairs: voices yelling, furniture rolling across the floor, feet crashing up the stairs. Amid the noise, Angelyn could make out the word, “Police!” Her heart pounded. She wondered what she should do, but she knew she needed to stay with the baby.

Her mother and father ran into her room. Her mother shoved something into her hand as her husband jumped out the bedroom window. “Hide this,” her mother commanded before following him through the window. Angelyn looked down at her hands and realized she was holding a bag of drugs. She quickly hid the bag under her bed sheet just before the police entered the room, looking for her parents.

Angelyn’s dreams were shattered. She didn’t talk to the Compassion center staff about it because she mistakenly thought that if they knew the truth, they would reject her. As her hope faded, her attendance at the center dropped off. She spent more time with her friends from the community while her father went in and out of prison. By age 12 she was drinking alcohol and frequenting nightclubs.

Seeing that Angelyn wasn’t coming to the child development center, Joel was worried about her. He knew the dangers she faced on the streets of Cebu. When he tried to call her, she rejected his calls. One day he found her and made a last attempt to encourage her to return to the care of Compassion. Reluctantly, she agreed to go to a youth camp.

During one of the camp meetings, Angelyn confessed her sins to God. Like never before, she knew God was with her.

Joel saw the difference in Angelyn immediately. As she became more consistent in her participation at the center, she also developed her many talents. With Compassion’s help, she became a badminton champion, excelled in her schoolwork and enrolled in seminars to develop her singing voice. Before long, Angelyn joined the praise and worship team and was leading worship. The center director, Beth, invited her to become part of their team of student leaders, and Angelyn enrolled in Bible college.

Angelyn’s father could see the difference in his young daughter. His faced beamed with joy when he proudly listed her achievements to his friends. He also noticed the change in her character; she was a strong, gracious young woman. When she encouraged him to abandon his criminal activity, he eventually agreed.

Angelyn was delighted, but her joy was short-lived. Her father’s previous criminal activity soon caught up with him; he was arrested, charged and sent to jail.

With no husband and no income, Angelyn’s mother was in shock. She had no idea what to do next, and her children suffered without the care of either parent. They begged for food from relatives, but they were sent away because their relatives didn’t have enough food for themselves.

It was Angelyn who stepped in to fill the gap, caring for her younger sisters and brother, preparing their meals and taking responsibility for their many needs. The physical and emotional strain soon took its toll on her health. Her cough wouldn’t go away, and she was tired and feverish. Her Compassion caseworker sent her to the doctor. A chest X-ray revealed that Angelyn had tuberculosis. Fortunately, she didn’t have to fight the disease alone. Compassion paid for her medicine and treatment, and she gradually recovered. Even so, she’d missed too much study and she needed to cut back on her activities. She didn’t return to Bible college.

When she was well enough, Beth asked her to teach children at the Compassion center. Angelyn took the role seriously, carefully planning lessons for her young students. “When she teaches, she does it with all her heart,” says Beth. The children at the center look up to Angelyn as a role model. Many of them live in a landfill, and their parents earn a meager income scavenging in the mountains of rubbish. Angelyn encourages her students to finish school and to be a positive influence on their families and their community.

At age 19, Angelyn is now leading worship for the congregation of the Cebu City Alliance Church. She continues to pray for her family and dreams that one day they will all be in church worshipping the Lord together. Her mother has already committed her life to Jesus and joins her at church. Although Angelyn hates what her parents did, she can understand why they did it and has forgiven them.

“Unfortunately, they don’t have [much] because they didn’t finish their studies and they’re not [able to get a] job,” she says.

Angelyn’s story will one day end with the words “happily ever after.” But now she finds her peace in God through worship. She understands exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV).