I am Michael Caiga, a lay missionary of LCSC Live Life, from the province (Batangas) where one of the best coffee in our country (Kapeng Barako) can be found. 

My Mama and Papa are instruments of God for our family to be closer to Him, especially when they became members of a renewal community. That was the start of my family’s journey with Jesus.

I am the youngest in the family. My siblings and I also joined the same community where my parents belong. I started when I joined the Kids Ministry. But even though we were already part of that community, I still encountered different kinds of battles in my Faith, Family and Life.

FAITH. I didn’t really believe in God before. I even questioned why my parents would always come home late from their prayer meetings and households. I really didn’t understand why they were doing it. Not until my parents invited me to join a Youth Camp in 2005. Even though I was hesitant, I was somehow forced to join because I needed to follow them. That Youth Camp changed my life. It changed my perspective about my faith. And after 9 years, it led me to my calling to be a full-time lay missionary, where I am right now. I believe it’s all grace from God.

FAMILY. My Family is the greatest gift of God in my life. But even my family is not perfect. I learned from my auntie that when I was in the womb of my mom, they first though of not continuing with the pregnancy. But praise God because they decided to keep me! Now, I am already 28 years old! I realize that every life in the womb of a mom is worth fighting for. Each child has an equal right to live! I also see the sacrifices of all the mothers who carry their children in their womb. It’s such a selfless act of love that is similar to the example of our dear Mother Mary when she said yes to become the mother of Jesus. I can truly see the image of Mama Mary in my own mother.

LIFE. At a young age I encountered a lot of battles between good and evil, life and death. One of those was brought about by my insecurities. Those insecurities ate me up and led me to confusion. I kept on asking God before, ‘Am I enough?’ This line of questioning led me to different kinds of addictions, and also confused my identity as a real man. This resulted in my desire to experiment therefore leading me to experience intimacy with the same gender. I thought that was what who I was. I kept on this path until I received a wake up call from God. I woke up from that nightmare. Binatukan Niya ako at unti-unti Niya akong binago. He brought me back to my real identity as a true man of God – that I am created in His image and likeness. It was a hard battle to conquer but the grace of God was more than enough to change and to bring my life back to Him.

I came to a point in my life when God showed me that I am enough because of His love. From there I realized how good He is in my life and that He will never stop reminding me of my real identity as a man. Now I am following the vocation where God is calling me. I experienced true love from Him and I am sharing that love to the girl that I am pursuing.

I guard myself against pride and instead pray for humility. Pride is all about selfishness, but humility will always lead me to true love. True love is selfless and true love is always connected to the image and likeness of our Creator. This is the same image that we have and that’s who we truly are.