Perla Apolonio - First Year Profile

Perla Apolonio

I’m Perla – my name is the Spanish word for “pearl”. Knowing this always comes in handy whenever I need to remind myself that I am a precious daughter of the King – undeserving of His love, yet so precious to Him that He would give everything He has in order to have me. (Mat 13:45-46)

Before joining Moore, I worked in the corporate world for 20 years. I am an accountant and an SAP certified professional who specialised in setting up the billing area of an accounting system called SAP. I loved what I was doing, and I initially thought that I would work in this area until I retire. But these past few years, there’s been a nudge deep within me which says that there’s work to be done that is far more important, i.e. to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in His vineyard.

I was born in Manila, Philippines. I’m the eldest of five kids who were raised by very loving parents. I was fourteen years old when God revealed Himself to me through an unexpected storm – my dad had a stroke and was in a comatose state for almost a month. After being prayed for by my mom one day, my dad then instantly woke up from a coma. It was a miracle according to the doctors, and the first one which I’ve ever noticed myself.

Dad woke up from a coma that day but there were still countless times when we had to rush him to the hospital after that event. We didn’t have medical benefits in the Philippines which could help dad, so we almost sold everything to pay for the hospital bills. We experienced how it is to lack, even to the point of having times of not knowing where to find our next meal. Regardless, we would just always pray that the Lord will heal dad and provide for his medical expenses and for our other needs.

It was not easy to be still while in the middle of a storm. But God has been faithful. That storm is gone now. I was able to work, and my family’s needs have also been provided for. My dad just passed away last year – and I thank God so much for allowing us to still have dad with us for twenty-six more years after that first miracle. (And yes, he was saved!)

Going through that season was difficult, but it taught me that God indeed never leaves us nor abandons us, that He supplies all our needs, and that He is still the same God who’s in the business of parting Red Seas and quieting storms.

I don’t know specifically yet where I will serve after finishing my studies at Moore, but I pray that the Lord will be able to use me to share with others about His goodness and love – a love so lavish and selfless that He was willing to give everything He has, even His own life, so that we can have ours.