My name is Linda Maraya, and when I look back at my life, I feel both humbled and grateful for the journey God has taken me on. I was born and raised in the Philippines, the youngest in a family of three girls, though our eldest was adopted—a fact I didn’t even know until I was about twelve. Family life was joyful and simple. My earliest memories are of playing with cousins, running around barefoot, and gathering seeds from the plants around our house. Life was busy but full of laughter, games, and neighbors who were like extended family. My parents were both teachers, and they taught me so much—not just in the classroom, but about life. My mother was ambitious, outspoken, and civic-minded. She organized libraries in small towns, pushed for clean water systems, and served as a principal at school. She was strict but accomplished. My father, on the other hand, was humble, gentle, and generous. He was happiest working with carpenters and farmers, running small businesses like a fishpon...