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Well, if you're that interested, I'll tell you. First and foremost, I'm a daughter of God. Then, I'm the daughter of Jose Joseph & Aleyamma Jose. :) My parents came to the U.S. from Kerala, India in the early '70's. Soon after, they brought my sisters over (they were born there), and then I was born in 1977 in Philly. When I was born, I had developed a skin disease called eczema. You might have heard of it, you might not. It's basically a rash that covers your entire body but varies with different people. Anyway, mine was a severe case. At times it wasn't that bad, only on my arms and my legs. At other times, it was horrible...to the extent that I had no skin. I'll spare you the details. So my parents, in their desperation, took me to every doctor they could think of, and made me undergo every type of treatment. Allopathic, homeopathic, steroids, ayervedic, everything. Doctors took me off of certain foods thinking that they were attributing to my illness. Still, nothing. They used to send me to India like every few years or so for treatment, and I would get better when I was there, but as soon as I returned to the States, it would start up again. No one knew what to do about it.
As I was growing up, my parents always told me to surrender my illness to Jesus, and ask Him to heal me if it was His will. (Thank the Lord for their strong faith!!) We came from a good religious background (Dad's house is right between the main town church [St. George Forana Church, Edathua] and the convent back in India!), and we always had a strong faith in God. Even though we were a model family here in the States amidst our Indian community, we never LIVED the true Christian life. I mean, all the superficial stuff was there, but that TRUE devotion for God wasn't there. Anyway, so in 1992, my parents sent me to India for treatment again. While I was there, my uncle called my dad on the phone and asked him if he could take me to Muringoor (Divine Retreat Center) where all the miraculous healings were taking place, and all the conversions were happening. So my dad said yes. And I said yes because I didn't have anything better to do while I was there. Little did I know that it was a week-long retreat and the living conditions weren't the best. I freaked when I got there because I wasn't used to leaving home for so long, especially in an unfamiliar setting and situation. Well, nevertheless, I stayed, and boy, am I glad I did. I was touched by the Holy Spirit, and gave my life to Christ. I told Him He could do anything He wanted with me and decided that my health was now in His hands. I was never in desperation about my illness throughout my life, knew there was a reason for why He allowed it, and never blamed Him. So from that moment on, He started using me.
I came back to the U.S. with the hopes of starting a youth group. Unfortunately, I chickened out because I didn't have enough 'support'. During the next year, my family started undergoing a spiritual transformation, like myself, and things started happening. The next summer, we went back to India to get my sisters married off. It was then that I got the little push that I needed. We came back and with the help of my sisters, we started a prayer group. A month later, we were host to the very famous team from India that had ministered to me...this was the beginning of an unbelievable journey in my life. After '93, I refused any further medical treatments (I was tired of being an "experiment"), and I wanted to depend on the Lord. I was willing to suffer for Him. But He knew what was in my heart, and in early '97, around April or May, He guided family friends of ours to suggest a doctor in New York. I was hesitant and stubborn at first, but something inside of me told me not to say 'no' immediately. So I prayed about it. And I felt Him telling me to go ahead with it, so I did. That was the best decision I ever made in my life, because within one week of the treatment, my family and I started to see dramatic changes in my skin. It was a miracle. For 20 years, we couldn't find something across the globe that could help, and right in NY, was the answer to my prayers. Well, I was only on treatment for about half a year, and I'm fine now.
Back to ministry. The team from India are now close friends of ours and usually stay with us at our house when they come to Philly. We've been blessed to partake in their ministry over the past couple of years. They've even told my story at retreats around the world in front of thousands of people. All glory to God. And it wasn't just a physical transformation that took place, but a spiritual one. It's a blessing; definitely a blessing. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be where I am right now. The first time they came here, they had a message that I would become a great servant of the Lord. That really blew me away because I was only 16 then...I was 15 when I attended my first retreat. Ever since then, the Lord has been working to use me to animate the youth group here, and the active JY movement in the U.S., as well as help my peers and those younger & older to come closer to Christ.
The account of my sisters' marriages is a story in itself, and God has worked in that aspect as well. Our family is TREMENDOUSLY blessed, but we deserve none of it. But we choose to serve the Lord because He called us. My eldest sister married a well-known servant of the Lord in India. My other sister also married someone who was active in the renewal, specifically Jesus Youth (JY), back in India. Both of my brother-in-laws came to the U.S., and our work began. Our prayer groups grew in Philly. My cousins came from India in '95, and they, too, were very involved in JY. One of them was the zone coordinator once and he was the main contact person for JY in Edathua. Our house back home was the "headquarters" for the city. Even when I was there this past summer, they had gatherings there. My cousin was the one who really got me into JY when I attended a retreat that was conducted at St. Aloysius College in Edathua in '92. Anyway, once they came, our ministry team was pretty much complete. Abraham (my older brother-in-law) teaches, Jerry (other b.-in-l.) sings & does fillers, I sing, give my testimony, and do background organizational work with my dad, Jose; my cousins mainly do music and intercession, and my dad's our 'manager' & 'booking agent'; Princy (from NY) is involved in our music ministry, and Raveen (a Brahmin who converted to Catholicism) gives excellent catechetical sessions and also helps with the music ministry. Lastly, we usually have various priests assist us in local areas when we do the retreats. That is our team. So far that is. We have ministered to youth in the Indian American community (and those in Canada) and any others who choose to attend our retreats. It's pretty dumbfounding when I think of all that God's done and all the places He's taking us.
Well, there you go. That's my story. I'm sure I left a lot out (about how Caedmon's Call and my online friends strengthened my faith and walk with the Lord), but I figured this was long enough for now. Maybe I'll add some more things under the upcoming "Thoughts" section. Keep checking back for more. If you've been one of the special people that've touched my life, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, because I wouldn't be where I am today without you. God bless and may the Lord do great things in YOUR life!
