A Life Lived in Service to HIM

In Memory of Mila Omilig and My Testimony of Deliverance

This past Saturday, I was given the opportunity to honor and say goodbye to a long time friend and mentor, Mila Omilig. She was one of a kind in my book, because she loved and served God with every cell of her being. She battled cancer in the last 5 years, fighting against Multiple Myeloma.

I can honestly say that I am the person I am today because of her influence and the impact she had in my life.

The following is an excerpt from what I shared at her memorial:

The first thing I’d like to say about Mila is that she was Unconditional Love ... WALKING on this earth.
In John chapter 21, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” 
Peter answers him, “Yes Lord, I love you!” Jesus answers, him, “Feed my Sheep, tend to my flock, feed my lambs.”
Mila did just that! Almost every day, in spite of her sickness. Not once did I hear her complain. There were times when she was weak and couldn’t meet, but when she was able, she fought the good fight with me, for me, and for others.

Here is a Brief List of How she impacted My life and others:
• She availed herself for the benefit of others
• She was called whenever there was a crisis
• She was an impactful Bible Teacher
• She had the uncanny ability to make you feel like you were the only person in the room
• She delighted in me, whenever she saw me, she beamed … she wore God Goggles
• She was my biggest cheerleader
• She prayed for me
• She along with my Mom prayed for Charlie’s arrival for seven years
• She was a Trusted Friend
• She was my Mentor and My Spiritual Mother

I have three quick stories to share about Mila, then I will be on my way.
I first met her through my Mom back in 1992. I was just a newlywed and my marriage to Andrew was already in crisis. She and my Mom drove up to San Jose where I lived to counsel both me and Andrew. 

I’ll never forget how she spoke to me. She was kind and gentle, yet bold and very knowledgeable in the Word. Back then I was just a Baby Christian. During that talk, she taught me about Spiritual Warfare. I understood and believed her, but that concept was so hard to integrate when I could see only the physical world in front of me. Even though she was short in stature, she was a Spiritual Giant in my eyes.

*  *  *

The next story was when I had yet another crisis in my marriage,17 years later. This time, it was really over. I had suffered through and tolerated fights for over 17 years, as Andrew’s verbal abuse grew worse after Charlie was born. And when he started triangulating me and my son, I went to a VERY dark place. 
I found myself on the Internet looking for a relationship to cope with my pain. Andrew found out and emailed 40 church friends and family about my online escapades. During this crisis, Andrew actually asked Mila to stay with me and pray with me. She did just that. 

When my so called friends judged me and walked away, Mila was the only one standing by me ... counseling me.
This may sound bad, but for the first 20 years of my Christian walk, I just went along for the ride. I wasn’t truly engaged to Christ.
Shortly after my divorce, I became a Desperate Serial Dater. I scoured the dating sites to find love online and went on over 200 dates in the course of about 3 years. 

Until one fateful night, God intervened. 

The fear of God suddenly hit me as I was driving home at 1 am in the morning. I was so scared that I felt like I wasn’t going to get home in one piece. After that, I no longer wanted to be involved with any man. All I wanted was JESUS. I was sorry and I repented. I shut everything down ... all my accounts and dalliances. I started listening to Christian Podcasts and saturated myself in the Word. That was in late 2011.

*  *  *

My last and final story was when my road back to God led me back to Mila. In 2012, I was so immersed in the Word and in the center of God’s will that I was actually writing Christian articles for this local newspaper and occasionally taught Bible Studies. One of my topics was Unconditional Love. I immediately thought of Mila. So I called her and couldn’t wait to tell her about my miraculous change. This time, I asked her to be my mentor. This time, I wasn’t in crisis, but wanted to grow deeper in God’s Word. She was overjoyed and more than willing to oblige. And again, she availed herself to me. At this time, she was already frail and weak, but she prevailed in her promise to mentor me.

We prayed together almost every night. We went to conferences, and shared more of our lives with one another. She became more of a close friend and confidant, instead of just a crisis counselor.

This probably made the devil mad because he tempted me ... and I fell. He brought a Christian man in my path. Long story short, he ended up seducing me and I stumbled. This time, I felt such remorse and guilt. Mila was there to pick me up and keep me accountable. She prayed for me and kept watch over me for several weeks, so I would NOT succumb to anymore temptation.  

What no one knows is that I had a sexual addiction. 
I actually tried to enroll in a recovery group at a local church four months prior, but I was rejected because they were full. I remember walking away asking God to be my partner.  

Fast Forward, He sent me Mila. 

I became so strong after that, that I haven’t been on a date or interacted with men on a romantic level ever since! God has been hiding me under His protective wings! It was Mila’s support and unconditional love that helped me overcome my addiction.  

I can honestly say that I am not only fully recovered, but I am truly DELIVERED!
I am here to testify 
that WITH God’s Power 
And the support of one trusted accountability partner, 
Anyone can overcome addiction.
BUT it took one faithful person to avail themselves to me. One person who invested in me, my spiritual life, and my inner life. This was no a small FEAT! 

This journey has led me to write a series of books for women – soon to be released. I created and founded Virtuous for Love, a resource for women who want to wait on God in a world hurried for love. It is a safe haven for them to read articles and watch videos to support their decision to stop dating, embrace virtue, and wait on God to bring them the love of their lives. 

www.virtuousforlove.com 

I am so glad that Mila was able to watch me GROW from that worldy, unforgiving, baby Christian, sinner, and adulterer – into a Godly Virtuous woman! She was able to witness and share in my success as a new author. She cried with such joy and pride when I showed her my website. 

Lastly, as I’ve shared all that Mila has done and all she has been to me, I would be amiss if I didn’t recognize that Orly was there in support of her the entire time.  Whenever she was there for anyone in crisis, Orly was there to drive her. Whenever she showed up for me, Orly not only drove, but waited patiently in the car.  

And if you knew Mila, she gave you everything she had and didn’t keep track of time, so it could be hours before she finished.  

So Orly I just want to thank you for supporting Mila all these years. You’ve been there with her helping others. You gave up time with her so she could be there to lift up others in NEED. I just want to acknowledge you for that! 

And I PRAY that God will richly bless you as you start this new Chapter in your life!
So today, even though I bid a temporary farewell to my friend and mentor Mila, I celebrate her life, her memory, and the fact that she is in the loving arms of Our Father in Heaven!

I was fortunate enough to have a faithful Friend and Mentor in Mila. She taught me so much not only in the Word, but through her actions and deeds.

Her ability to forgive, love, pray, and worship was second to none.

And the hopes she had for my tattered life were only God’s very best!

I cling to these hopes in Christ and won’t settle because I can still see her smile – knowing she sees what Jesus sees … a loved, redeemed, precious child of God!