Nelfa's Story: "I Did It!"

I came to Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch (Cebu, Philippines) when I was 16 years of age. I ran away from home because my father was very violent when he got drunk. When he drank, my mother, me, and my siblings ran together to the bush to hide. If I had stayed longer, perhaps my life would be even more miserable.

I believe that God prepared a really beautiful place for me to live that was better than my first home; this is Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch, a place where I found peace, a safe refuge, and most importantly, I found Jesus’ love.

Happy Horizons helped me dream big. They sent me to school to get a good education. After high school, I went to Bible college, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish it. I fell in love and married young. But the desire to finish college and have a degree kept burning inside me.

I decided to go back to school in 2009. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to balance work, school, and being a mother. I’ve been challenged a lot, but I did it! I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.

Happy Horizons has played a great part in my success. Reverend Glenn Garrison and Nancy Garrison [founding administrators of HHCR] supported and encouraged me. Thank you very much!

Nelfa Vergara is the new school principal at Happy Horizons Children’s Ranch

You can visit Happy Horizons Children's Ranch online at www.hhcr.org.

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