A Life of Poverty

extracted from Bo Sanchez' Truly Rich Club newsletter

For 20 years, I lived a life of poverty....

Once upon a time, I was a poor missionary.  I was so poor, there were days I couldn't even get a haircut, or eat a burger, or even ride the bus. For 20 years, I lived with a few pesos in my pocket.  Yes, I was happy serving god, but there were days when I wished I had a little extra so I could give more, help more, share more.

I loved the poor.  For years, I lived with them.  To minister to them, I lived in a squalid slum area; and for 3 long years, I lived in the boondocks that had no water or electricity, so I could live with orphans and abandoned elderly people.  I really thought that to love the poor, I had to BE poor.

Bus as I look back, subconsciously, it was almost like I wanted to REMAIN poor.  (I never realized this before.  Just in hindsight.) Proof: I distanced myself from learning about money, learning about business, or learning about investments... I felt ALL of that was of the devil.

But every so often, I had dramatic, pivotal moments that would rock my world.  That shook me to my very core.

Like that phone call I received at two in the morning.  My friend called me up, saying, "Brother Bo, we're bringing my sick baby to the hospital.  Please pray for us because we have no money!  I don't know if the hospital will accept us.."

I said, "Yes, I'll pray..."

When I put the phone down, I felt a searing pain in the pit of my stomach.  Because I realized she wasn't just asking for prayer.  She was asking for money.  But I had nothing.  At that time, I had 55 pesos in my pocket.  I felt so bad.  I felt my heart was a can of Coke crushed under the tire of a truck.  I said, "God, will it ALWAYS be like this my whole life? I feel so helpless."

And in my heart, I felt God tell me, "Bo, life is a choice." [end of article]

And, indeed, life is a Choice...

At the end of 2007, I chose to become an Entrepreneur.  Looking back at my childhood, journals, and life situation at that time, I thought it was the right time to become Independent and venture on a business... but there was a detour - I will tell you about it next time...  Have a great weekend!