Testimony

An Answered Prayer
Testimony of Manuel R. Larrazabal

My name is Manuel R. Larazabal, the second of 3 siblings of Mr. & Mrs. Arturo Larrazabal. I would say that a loving and a God fearing family, whom I really love so much, brought me up. Unlike any other victims of this so-called menace of the society or drugs, peer pressure was not the reason why I wasted almost half of my life in the darkness of this bondage. Looking back over the years, I would say I started out well. I was an average student and had a very good relationship with my family until I met some “friends” that lured me into this vicious trap of drugs. Those “friends” of mine were the one’s who introduce me to drugs. I was made to believe that it was just for fun and there is nothing wrong with using it occasionally. Smoking my first marijuana joint cause me discomfort and I did not liked it at all. However, my curiosity got the better of me and I tried another kind of drug, shabu. This was the start of my plunge into the abyss of darkness and sinfulness.

Never did I imagine that my drug use could escalate to an uncontrollable proportion that I did not care anymore for my family. My once very good and loving relationship with my parents and siblings became strained. I would become irritable when I am not able to use shabu. This became more complicated when I got married and had kids. At first I told myself that I am now a family man and should be more responsible. However, since I continued with my drug use, my relationship with my wife and kids was a not a priority anymore. When things got out of hand, my wife and I separated. At this point, my life revolved around shabu. I started selling small amounts in order to sustain my use but after a while I realized that I could make money out of selling drugs. It never occurred to me that I was not only destroying my self but was now also destroying the lives of other individuals. As the years past, I became more and more involved in dealing drugs. Word got to me that I am now being placed under surveillance by the authorities but I did not care anymore.

Then one day the long arms of the law got me. Now I believe that this was divine intervention. God intended that I experience complete brokenness so that I can once again call on Him. In the time that I was in jail, I felt so afraid and helpless that I begun to pray. It has been a long while since I have done this and truly God answers prayers. While I was praying, I just felt a surge of comfort and assurance that everything will be all right.

After a few weeks in jail, I was admitted to the program of the House of Hope where I once again found the joy of reading and meditating on God’s Word. In spite of the fact that I have to pay my debts to society for my wrong doings, there is now a feeling of peace in my heart that God will never leave me nor forsake me. Now I have completed the program of the center but I felt the burden to stay on with the ministry. My case in court is still pending and hopefully this will be resolved soon. My relationship with my family has been mended, my wife and I get to talk often and I get to spend time with my kids.

I praise and thank God for He is my God, the true and living God who answers prayers. There are still a lot of things to be done but I know now to whom I could always turn to. Praise and Glory to be God!

(Budoy Larrazabal is now in the ministry’s after-care program. He helps in the Maintenance Department and is a member of our music ministry where he plays the drums.)