The Way Out

    When my husband left us years ago,  I was in a quandary as to how to support my children and finance their college education alone.  Aside from the daily expenses and the usual utilities bills that came regularly,  I had to worry about our own daily food expenses.  I had no time to wallow in tears and self-pity because the bills kept pouring in as the days went by.  The urgency of my predicament dictated I had to stand up and do something productive,  fast.

   As a young teenager,  I had hobbies I enjoyed doing and these were handicrafts.  I like to make cards,  little toys,  and home decors from discarded things and boxes.  When I had to face this big emotional and financial dilemma,  I turned to my hobby as a source of income.  My first products were pen holders that I made out of card boards and ribbons,  artificial flowers and glue.  My friend who was a teacher at a nearby university saw my products and she ordered many for their acquaintance party at the school.  That started our business and soon neighbors came by to order gift items for their offices and churches.  We had our business registered at the local Trade Office and soon we were invited to join trade fairs in big malls.  We always had a sold out fair,  all items sold out and orders booked for more.  My needs were met and at the same time,  I found relief and diversion from my problems.  I had prayed for a way out of my storm and God had been faithful,  He showed the way.

   In 2006,  as a result of our business,  I was invited as keynote speaker at a micro-finance forum in Sydney and the Gold Coast,  Australia.  I shared my story and the foreign donors there were so touched by what happened to me and they pledged more support for women like me who would venture to stand up and live productive lives,  gaining victory over Poverty.

  My son is now a Senior Graphic Arts Consultant at two major malls in our city,  my daughter had her degree as Physical Therapist at a medical university here,  while my youngest is now a licensed Financial Investment Consultant at a big international insurance company also in our city.  There is no limit to what we can do as long as we conquer our own selves and rise above the negativity that will always try to steal our dreams.  If others can succeed,  we can too.





Cynthia Buhain Baello
July 18, 2012