We didn’t receive any Christmas-related miracles to share with you today, but we did receive this thought-provoking testimony from Sister Pat Valenti. It’s a wonderful read for anyone who has ever asked, “Who am I and why am I here?”

A family secret emerged in my early teens which shattered me. I was told that I was adopted and that I was not born in America but in Torino, Italy. I came to this country with my adoptive parents as a naturalized citizen when I was a little over a year old. As a teenager, you’re already dealing with trying to find yourself asking, “Who am I and why am I here?”

I went to meetings with a family that attended the church, including the Thursday-Nighters, a youth-oriented meeting in the Edison Branch. As I got older, my belief in God was there, but I strayed far. Visits to church became fewer. Years passed before I attended any church service.

At age 21, I found myself in an area where I started attending the Levittown, PA Branch. I eventually was baptized, and then I met a young man, we started dating, became engaged, and then got married.

My husband was ordained an elder, and I went on my first missionary trip, which was to Dominica. Sister Helena, a local deaconess, was washing my feet, and at that moment, I saw myself as an infant in the orphanage in Italy. The words, “I brought you from there to here for my purpose” were ringing in my ears. That was the answer to “Who am I and why am I here”!

As tears were streaming down my face, I testified how my adopted father, a man not of the church, raised me to believe that Native Americans are special people. Brother Mathias, an elder from Dominica, leaned forward, sobbing into his hands. When I was done testifying, he stood up and said that he always felt that his people were special and that was confirmed through my testimony.

My life would have been hard if I stayed with my biological mother. She was unwed and had a total of five children, all girls. I searched and was never able to locate her. Every attempt failed. It wasn’t that God was refusing to answer my prayer; He was waiting to enlighten me at the proper time. Never would I have guessed that the time would be on a missionary trip to the island of Dominica.

I am now at peace knowing that He had me in mind from the very beginning. I have a heavenly Father who loves me more than anyone else, and I can always count on Him.

Share Your Testimony

This month’s Miracle Monday theme is Christmas testimonies and memories. We’d love to hear any touching, God-honoring story that you’d like to share with us related to Christmas. Don’t be shy. We love hearing about how God is working around the church. Click here to submit your story.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.