Riza Fortuna

It has been quite a while since I am able to sit down and write on my blogs. I was much into a series of activities that allow me to realize my biggest decision and calling for the present - to relocate to China.

Although I am currently in the Philippines mainly for my sister’s wedding this month as well as for the holidays, I am no longer based in my home country. Instead, effective this month, I am already based in Guangzhou, China.

If you ask me two years ago or more, I can never imagine moving into China or simply moving out of the Philippines and live abroad. I have been travelling frequently over the last decade due to work, but those are short trips. Residing abroad was not a compelling dream. However, something happened that changed my heart within the past year.

Whenever I go to other countries, I make it a point to attend Sunday mass whenever I spend weekends there. In the process of doing so, my heart has always been touched seeing Christians from different races and cultures attending mass in those foreign churches. I always end up praying for the growth of those churches I visited. Eventually, I developed the desire to contribute in any way to such growth.

When our company announced the relocation of regional hubs to fastest growing markets like China and India, I felt it was time to seriously consider going out of the country. I have been working for a regional role the past seven years and always managed to be based in the Philippines. However, this time, both career and personal calling seem to point to me going out of the country. So last March and April this year I finally "sat down" and did a formal discernment with the help of my leaders in my Christian community. I sought God’s will regarding going out of the  Philippines and relocating abroad.

God was so clear. At the end of my discernment last Holy Week on April; I knew for certain it is my calling to go to China. (If you are interested on the details of this, I can share separately through my personal email.) When June came, I got the formal offer to move to China from my boss who never knew the discernment I went through nor the fact that I have some interest to get relocated. She was so surprised when I instantly said yes to the offer. What she did not know was I said yes primarily because I knew it is God’s will for me to move to China. I just told my boss it is high time for me to go out of my comfort zone and grow as a person and in my career (which are of course true). Come to think of it, all pieces fell into place; all aspects of my life support this move. It reminds me of the book "The Alchemist" where it says that "all forces in the universe conspire to have you realize your purpose" (not the verbatim statement but this is the message).

As of now, I am still much into "settling down" in China. While home in Philippines this holiday season, I am actually into the thick of packing and shipping my personal stuff to my new home in Guangzhou. I still do not know the major next steps in terms of fulfilling the main purpose of this relocation. What is clear to me now is that God is telling me "to know and embrace the Chinese culture". Thus, part of integrating myself is to learn the language; so I will study Mandarin in 2008. I am also just starting to establish new relationships in my new location.

I am taking advantage of this time in Philippines to get away this year-end and spend the last two days of the year in Tagaytay to go on personal retreat. I want to discern God’s will for me in 2008 especially as I start a new life embracing the biggest change I have embarked so far. As I move into this new phase, I hope to be able to sit down from time to time and share my adventure with you.

If I can make a request, it is that you include me in your prayers and help ask God that I be given so much grace to fulfill my mission in this relocation; and that in everything God be glorified and magnified.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 27th, 2007 at 8:20 am and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.