Level 2 Training Testimonies

Manny

Manny was born into a Christian home. His father was a vegetable seller, who pushed a cart through the city streets selling his produce. Some of his earliest memories are of going to the market at 4am to buy vegetables with his Dad. By the time he was eight years old, he could pick out the finest fruits and vegetables by smell, touch and sight. About that time in his life, his father took on a partner and they bought a vehicle with another Christian to expand the business. But the partner cheated him, so the family had to sell their home to cover the losses, resulting in their moving into a shack in the city's slum. No job, no money, no house. He questioned God, why do these things happen? No Christians helped them and the church, rather than help, ridiculed them for being poor. His mother began baking bread to make money. Manny would take the loaves in a big pouch and sell them on the streets each morning before school. Occasionally his mother would make desserts on special order. Through that process he learned to bake. He found this embarrassing as his friends would see him selling on the streets and knew how poor his family was. He could not play sports like the other kids, as he had to sell bread. The family had one room. By the time he was 14, he knew he wanted to be a cook. He lost interest in school and began to hang out around restaurants doing odd jobs. It was around this age that his father had an affair, resulting in his parents getting a divorce.

At 15 he became more active in the church. He worked in a factory during the day and cooked at night and at weekends. He became the cook at a small restaurant. He took a second cooking job in an Italian restaurant. The next year, one chef who befriended him told him of a prestigious cooking school which he could attend. The chef wrote him a recommendation. He got his father to agree to pay his tuition and then he enrolled in this school of culinary arts. At the end of the first quarter when he went to collect payment from his father, his father refused to pay. This led to an argument in which Manny told his father off for his wayward life and departed with the words, "I will never see or speak to you again." Not long after leaving, his father showed up with the money for his schooling, and with tears asked for help and forgiveness. At his father's request, he moved in with his father to help him right his relationship with Jesus. Manny was one of the youngest ever to graduate from the school. His cooking degree opened doors to work in some of the better restaurants, but due to his age he often had to begin as a custodian or waiter. However, once the head chefs tasted his abilities, they would make him an assistant chef.

When he was 18, he attended a mission conference and went forward to give his life to serve among Muslims. However the missionaries he talked with told him he needed to go to Bible school. Not having an education, he wondered, "How can a cook ever serve God overseas?" At that time he determined he would cook for God and God alone. In his interview he clarified, "Every dish I make is not for the head chef, nor for the client, but for Jesus. God's gift to me is to cook, so I cook every meal for Jesus." His church said that as a cook, he could not be a missionary, so he moved to another church. A lady leader of the church asked him to go to a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Discipleship Training School in Bolivia. There God gave him Isaiah 49:1-3: "Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.'" The DTS helped him tie the loose ends of his life together. His calling is not emotional, but simply understanding the need.

During the EVI Level 1 program, all the cooks were involved in a cook-off. They were given $10 and taken to the market in a simple rural village and told to buy food and then return to the camp and prepare their best dish for the trainers and trainees. They had 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook. The 42 trainees and trainers voted on the food's taste and presentation. Manny was the unanimous winner in both categories.

Honestly, up until that time, the trainers had not taken much notice of Manny. He had arrived a day late and was not impressive in the first few days of the program. He was simply the guy who showed commitment in that he traveled six days by bus and boat to get there. But once he got behind the stove, he was a transformed person. Not only did he prepare his own dishes, but he helped the other cooks during the contest with their cleaning, preparing, and presentation. As he said after the preparation, "The kitchen is like my pulpit, I have to serve others there. Winning is not the goal, but helping others to honor Jesus in the kitchen, that's what I'm created for!" After his performance and such remarks, the trainers began to take notice. At 21 years old he was the youngest in the program. These events helped his own confidence to begin to soar in other areas as well.

During the final interviews he shared with us, "'When I told my mother about this program and that God willing there was a chance I might serve God in the Muslim world, I expected her to be upset. To my surprise she was excited, and not worried or concerned.' She said to me, 'I've never told you this, but before you were born I had several miscarriages. When I was 3 months pregnant with you, I began bleeding and the doctor told me I would probably lose you too. I was very depressed. After seeing the doctor, I found myself in a park, talking to God. I told him if He'd give me a boy child, I'd name the child after Him, and dedicate the child to God. Now that vow is being fulfilled! God is calling you to serve Him! I am not sad, but excited for you! God is answering my prayer!' I had been worried that she would not approve my going overseas, but it turned out to be the opposite."

He continued, "But the miracles do not end there. My boss would not give me time off to come to the level 1 training program. I was convinced God wanted me to come, so a week ago Friday I quit my job. My mother supported my decision and a week ago Monday we prepared for my journey. We did not have much money, so I could not afford to fly. Then just a few days before I planned to leave, my mother had a heart attack! She was hospitalized. What was I to do? I could not leave with her in the hospital. So I prayed that the doctors would release my mother by Wednesday, if not, I would cancel coming to the program. On Tuesday my mother had an amazing recovery and the doctors released her on Wednesday! I left early Thursday morning. If not for severe fog in the mountains, I would have been on time."