My life took an unexpected twist, leading me on a journey of highs and lows that left an indelible mark on my life. With a heart full of dreams and a spirit eager for adventure, I embarked on a new chapter as I married at the age of 30 and moved to the United States, bidding farewell to my beloved family, friends, career, and the life I once knew. 

But the reality that awaited me was far from what I envisioned. Left alone for long hours while my husband toiled away, I found myself adrift in a foreign land. The feeling of being a stranger overwhelmed me as I grappled with unfamiliar cultural norms, bewildering systems, and the loneliness that accompanied uprooting my life. 

Just three months into my new life, a health scare shook me to the core. Though the alarm turned out to be false, the encounter with the healthcare system left me anxious and disillusioned. Little did I know that this was just the beginning of a series of health-related trials that awaited me. From battling cancer to being bedridden for a couple of months and suffering from postpartum depression, my resilience was tested time and time again. 

As the world plunged into the throes of a relentless pandemic, my feelings of isolation, longing, fear, and anxiety intensified. The weight of my burdens threatened to overshadow my faith, pulling me away from the solace I once found in God's embrace. It was a dark period, and I reached a breaking point. I no longer recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror, a shadow of my former self. 

Amid my darkest hours, as trials pressed to break me, hope gleamed. God's grace, like a beacon of light cutting through the darkness, reached out to me, promising consolation and renewal. It was this divine intervention, that initiated a profound transformation within me. It wasn't instantaneous, but it was steady and unwavering. 

It was during a long-awaited visit to my homeland that God made it clear to me. In the midst of family gatherings and reunions with loved ones, I observed something I had either forgotten or taken for granted - the unyielding kindness and Goldy love that permeated my home community. Acts of compassion were not just occasional occurrences; they were woven into the very fabric of everyday life. Witnessing this ignited a flame within me, and I made a conscious decision to embrace and embody this spirit of goodwill.

Armed with newfound purpose, I sought opportunities to make a difference, to spread light in a world overshadowed by darkness. It started with one simple act of kindness, reaching out to a military family new to town, longing for a place to call home. My love for interior design offered a ray of hope, a chance to transform their house into a home of joy and belonging. Through this act of compassion, a deep bond formed, and a chain reaction of good deeds was ignited, showing me the power of a single act of kindness. 

In the end, GoodWorks emerged from the heartfelt journey as an immigrant, navigating the turbulent waters of a foreign land in search of solace and support. My own trials taught me the profound significance of community, the power of united hands lifting one another. It was in this realization that I started crafting a sanctuary—a haven where vulnerability is welcomed, where needs find a voice, and a good Samaritan can hear the call.

I recognized the profound impact of vulnerability and reaching out for help—a courageous act that invites others to extend their hands in compassion. The act of giving and receiving has the ability to mend broken hearts, nourish souls, and weave a vibrant tapestry of interconnected lives.

And now I turn to you, extending my hand and hoping that through my story you can be inspired to open up, be vulnerable and courageous, to enrich your community one GoodWork at a time.