Oppression of the People, Laura Montoya

My name is Laura and I grew up in Salinas, California. After high school, I came to UC Irvine and while at UCI I became very interested in justice for social movements. Meanwhile my family was going through hard times. My parents got divorced, they lost their business, and thus we lost our income. This fueled my anger at what I call “the system,” where I felt discriminated against and powerless to produce change. So I battled in movement after movement but ultimately nothing ever seemed to budge.

During all this time, the Lord waited for me. I chose everyone and everything above Him. I tried being Catholic, I met with Jehovah's Witnesses, tried to be a Seventh-Day Adventist and all the while, I kept asking my mom, “How will I know I've found the right place?” But the Lord was faithful. I met two students during my junior year at UCI with whom I would have lunch once a week or so. Those two students eventually brought me to a conference hosted by the Living Stream Ministry and what I saw there amazed me. I walked in and found 3,000 people of every color, race, and nation. I sensed a real peace in that gathering and found a deeper resolution than any social movement could ever produce. This peace still amazes me. I don't know if anywhere on earth has the peace that I experience meeting with the local church.

I have since had the ultimate joy of telling my mom, “Mom, I found it, you don't need to worry anymore.” I found full release and freedom from the oppression and difficulties of this world through Christ.

Experience of the FTTA

My parents do not meet in the local church, nor are any members of my family (though I wish that they were). I met the local church during one of my last years at UC Irvine, while finishing up my B.A. in psychology. I had been planning to be an elementary school teacher. But the Lord came in so quietly; I never guessed that He would give me a choice that would rearrange all of my plans.

I met with 2 Christian sisters once a week. I found these times to be very fulfilling. When it came close to graduating from UC Irvine I heard of a place called the “full-time training.” I didn't know much about it. What I did know was how the Lord was working in my life. I was having problems with all of my close college friends; I ended a six-year relationship with someone whom I loved very much, my parents were already divorced and struggling to find re-employment in their older age, etc. All around me, the Lord was emptying my life!

When it came time for me to find a job as a teacher, I had no problem; I had employment offers, but I felt that those could wait. The Lord's calling in me was strong and evident. What if I ignored it and went on? Would I only struggle more? The opportunity to attend the full-time training came at the right time. It just seemed like the next step for me.

I came to the training in February and ever since I've had the deepest realization that I'm just in the place I need to be. As I write this, I cannot tell you the joy of this realization! I've never had this feeling of being right where I belong before. Since I've been here, my days have been blessed. This has been a great place for me to deepen my relationship with the Lord. I have the highest trust in whatever plans He has in store for me. I plan to continue with being an elementary school teacher, but I am so glad that I didn't ignore His calling. I believe that I will remember these times with the Lord in eternity!