The Local News - End of Year Local News DEC 2018 ENG FN | Página 4

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End of year special edition
LOCAL NEWS | UCKG.ORG | 020 7686 6000
The POWER of
FORGIVENESS
believing that in the same way, God
would do something different and
extraordinary in my life. It seemed my
efforts were in vain because things
were only getting worse. But I decided
to trust in God and I never gave up
because I learned that faith works
when there is perseverance.
Though the topic of forgiveness kept
coming up in the meetings, I didn’t
think it was for me. In my opinion, it
was my sister who was in the wrong
so why would I need to ask for
forgiveness? My pride wouldn’t allow
me to back down but slowly, I began
to realise that that’s exactly what was
missing for the dialogue between me
and my sister to start again.
When Cristina Gonçalves turned 10-years old, she found out that the woman she called mum
was, in fact, her grandmother. The truth shattered her reality and changed the course of her life.
Today, she has been able to move on and here she tells her amazing story.
‘W
hen I learned that my mother
had passed away, I couldn’t
understand. My siblings were already
aware as they were older and had
moved in with my auntie when my
mum passed away; however, I stayed
with my grandmother as I was still
very little and I didn’t know the truth at
the time. When I found out, I felt alone.
I became sad, angry and rebellious.
My mind was all over the place.
I dropped out of school when I fell
pregnant. I couldn’t stand being
at home anymore. I could see the
disappointment in my family’s face
and couldn’t bear it. However, I
continued living the same lifestyle
and some years later I had my
second child. At the time, I was living
in Angola. Hoping that a change of
scenery would help me start over, I
moved with my children to Portugal.
All my optimism faded when nothing
changed. My move to the UK was a
second attempt at a fresh start but it
was more of the same. I was stressed
and frustrated with my life and found
myself lashing out at the kids.
Forgiveness healed
and restored what
seemed to be lost
and unrepairable.
I was invited to the Universal Church
by a friend. There, people were
truly happy and willing to help. The
encouraging words that I heard made
me believe that my life could change. I
began to attend the weekly meetings
and learn how to use my faith.
One of the first steps I had to take
was to let go of the hurt in my past.
I understood that no one was to
blame for the way I felt and so I
forgave myself and decided to move
forward. Consequently, things began
to change for me. With time I realised
that I was no longer feeling down
or stressed. I began to sleep well at
night and I overcame the hurt of my
mother’s death. However, I felt like
something was still holding me back.
My sister and I were not talking to each
other due to some misunderstandings
that had happened between us.
However, as I knew that faith worked,
I began to use my faith by attending
the Thursday and Sunday meetings,
praying and doing purposes of faith
– that is, challenging myself to do
something different through faith,
A family that prays
together, stays together
Sunday • 10am
At your local Universal branch
(see addresses on pages 13-15)
I had to go against my feelings and
do the right thing. I drew strength
from my faith to stop wasting time
holding on to the past. I went straight
to my sister’s workplace to speak to
her; I asked her for forgiveness; we
cried, we forgave and we hugged
each other, it was amazing. I left
there completely different; I felt light,
as though a burden was taken off
my shoulders.
WE FORGAVE
AND WE
HUGGED EACH
OTHER, IT WAS
AMAZING
Afterwards, I felt free to really focus
on a complete inner transformation.
I was sure that nothing was holding
me back. Fast-forwarding to today, I
can say that a complete change has
happened inside of me. I have an
internal peace and joy that withstood
the test of time. I’ve faced some hard
moments since, but deep down I have
had the certainty that all will work out
– and it has.
My inner change has even had a
positive effect on my relationship
with my sister. We have never been
better! There is love, care, respect –
we are best friends.
My advice to those who are going
through what I went through is, firstly,
to give the Universal Church a chance
because if I had never done that, you
would not be reading my story today.
Secondly, don’t give up. Even if at first
things seem to be getting worse, don’t
let that discourage you. Persevere and
you will certainly see this complete
transformation in your life.’
Cristina Gonçalves