Level 6

My Decision That Changed My Life

Getting married can be an exciting and challenging decision. In my personal experience, it is one of the happiest and most important moments for human beings, but it requires many skills and qualities to successfully overcome any trouble. In my personal opinion, marriage is for life. This decision taught me two important lessons: good communication is essential, and about the power to forgive easily.

In December 2020, I got married to my best friend, and I moved to the USA. During the first months, we did not have any trouble because we talked a lot about our expectations before we got married. For example, we talked about financial issues, so we were very clear about our budget and responsibilities. However, unexpected things happened. Due to Covid-19, I lost my job, and the company did not pay. I felt so sad about that situation. In addition, I financially supported my parents. My husband and I talked about it, and we made an agreement together.

The other important lesson is to be forgiving. Any married couple is formed of two imperfect people. Sooner or later, everybody makes mistakes. In December 2021, after one year of marriage, my husband decided to hang out with some friends one night. That night was so freezing, and all of Portland began to snow. Any Uber did not work that night, so he spent the night at his friend’s house. I felt so mad at him, but we talked, and I understood his reasons and why it was so dangerous to travel in the snow. 

Overall, marriage is a blessing. We have been together for over two years, and I am still able to say that. Married life has ups and downs, but with good communication and by learning to forgive easily, it is mostly simple to overcome any situation together. I have been so happy during our short time as a couple, and I hope that “the love never fails.”

Written by: Mariel Gonzalez Perez 

San Alexander Church in Cornelius OR

My home town church is a perfect place to visit if you want to encounter something different from other places that you visited before. During my adolescence when I was bored or depressed, I generally used to go to the clothing and shoe store to de-stress or get temporary happiness. Nowadays I have been visiting this attractive church for several years. It looks and feels like heaven, and brings me great memories.

When you first enter the church, the first thing to spot is an immense cross hanging on the wall across from the main entrance with a figure of Christ in it, all handmade with fine wood. The lights inside the church are a warm color that invites anyone to daydream, and it warms the soul. Underneath the huge cross, there is an enormous altar with plenty of roses and other gorgeous flower arrangements. Besides the altar, there is the majestic tabernacle in which the priest keeps the sacred hosts in it. There is always a red candle on the side of the tabernacle which indicates that the sacred host is there in it. On the right hand side from the main entrance, there is a sweet figure of Virgen de Guadalupe with lots of rose arrangements as well as burning candles by her side. Above by the ceiling, there are several windows that show the beautiful sky. Another fascinating area to see on the left hand side is the liturgical music room known as choir religious music room.

I love to visit the church as often as I can because I like to feel that I belong there. Most of the time when I go into the church is because I am in need of a pause of the routine of my life, a quiet moment, giving thanks for a request, or something beautiful I experienced. As soon as I get in the church, I feel a sense of warm welcome that right away my mind and heart relaxes. My mind and heart both enwrap in a current of spiritual grace that I can not see, but I can feel. Then I smell the delicate fragrance of the roses and the scent of the intricate candles. Besides that I love going when there are no people; however, I also like to be there when there are a lot of people to celebrate Sunday mass, baptism, quinceaneras, and funerals because I engage with other people in the community.

Another reason that makes me visit the church is it brings me unforgettable memories that I lived there before the church was built. The church was constructed seven years ago. Before the construction was made, there was a lovely manufactured home in which we lived for six years. My daughter, now ten, was born there and my son who is 15 years old, was eight months old when we moved to this charming house. When I enter the church it feels like getting into that house that used to be there although much smaller than the church. When I am inside it automatically transports me to those years when my kids were running all over the house chasing each other, and laughing like it was yesterday. As a mother I was trying to be a good mom even though I did not really enjoy all of those precious moments that will never come back because I was so absorbed by other occupations.

In conclusion, there maybe different churches in the area where to go for many reasons, but for me San Alexander Church is the number one in the whole world because, it has and it will always have my admiration for its unique, very traditional beauty, and the essential feeling for my spirit, as well as the indelible memories from my children’s childhood, and other experience lived there.

Written by: Eva Rivera Melchor