I was working on my fitness yesterday at the gym. Listening to worship music because everyone knows that’s the best choice of music to pump you up….. (being sarcastic). Recently, I was reminded of the faithfulness of our heavenly father, realizing that He has been writing my story from the beginning, and I am in awe of the journey so far.
As I was in my zone, doing my 99th pull up… (kidding), while listening to Reckless love (favorite song from training camp) God reminded me of His goodness by showing me how far He has taken me, and What it means to be Adopted through Jesus.
You see that kid up there? That’s me, In the Philippines. I don’t know how old but less than 5. I left when I was 11 years old. I was raised by both sides of my family. Filipino through and through. My full name was Johan Eidderf Deresas Zita. (side note: Johan Eidderf is my legal first name, Deresas is my middle name. Eidderf is Freddie backwards, which was my biological father’s name lol)
But In 2003, I think… my mom met Michael Nevlida. An American who at the time worked for Intel who was in a business trip in the Philippines. The story is too long and complicated and if you really want to know the details and what has lead to them meeting, you can ask them yourselves lol. It’s pretty interesting… typical foreigner and local love story… (it’s not typical, it’s awesome!!)
They eventually Got married while still in the Philippines in I think 2003?
mom and dad.. if you end up reading this, please comment the exact date y’all got married lol.
God has orchestrated this man to be in our lives and He has completely changed everything. He has taken us in this long and crazy journey as a family moving country to country. Showing us how big the world really was. After a lot of custody battles and hardships, and I’m not exaggerating… I was young but I still remember, but my mom and Michael Nevlida fought for me and my sister… ( I love you guys!!) My Sister and I eventually became American citizens, and I received His last name, and the joys of being in a First world country. I’m often driven back by the drastic change and how God has weaved my life.
“Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” — John 1:12
From death… to life
From sinner… to saved
from lost… to Child of God the most high who looks at me and sees His son Jesus’s righteousness in me. Though I don’t deserve it, and I couldn’t earn it, His reckless love allowed me to be in His presence and enter His kingdom.
I didn’t have to do anything as my nationality was changed from Filipino to American.
didn’t have to do anything as my last name was changed from Zita to Nevlida
I was given a new family, a new identity, a new land, a new life.
It is through Jesus, that we are all adopted in to His family. Citizens of the kingdom, given a new name. We are a new creation. Children of God.
