Iakwe aolep! My name is Philmar Mendoza Kabua, jen Jibambam family. Etan jowi e ao ej Rilotobo. Etan mama in Baru and etan papa in Toto, kar juon ulio in Philippines. Currently, I reside in Majuro, however, my family and I are amongst the stranded in the US due to COVID-19. Mokta jen ao wonmaanlok, ikonan kile im kauteej Iroij ao Anij bwe ej wunnin mour in ao im kotobar kein woj ao. Jen ke iar lotak tok non kio, Iroij ao Anij ej pad ippa im ej loor ao ial. So ilo menwotemjej ij kile im kamolol E.

I grew up in Majuro and have attended many schools during my grammar school. In 2001, my father, siblings, and I relocated to Hawaii to seek for better education. I attended Waipahu Intermediate and then graduated from Kapolei High School in 2006.

I visited Chicago after my high school graduation, and I fell in love with the snow! So, I decided to stay here to pursue my college education. I took a leap year prior, and then I attended two of Chicago’s Community Colleges. During my first year in Chicago, my baby sister joined me from Hawaii and I took care of her while going to school.

Primarily, I was attending college part-time while working 2 full-time and 1-2 part-time jobs while taking care of my siblings as the rest of them moved in with me. I was the primary breadwinner. It wasn’t easy doing all that but I always had this in my heart to put God first in my life, then my family second and myself last. So regardless of the great struggles and challenges I went through in my life, and as the “mom-sister” to my siblings, full-time worker, part-time college students, and caregiver to my father who was very ill, with God’s help, I was able to overcome and still able to succeed in many things.

Finally in 2015, I stepped down from my role and responsibilities as the primary breadwinner, and since my siblings were able to work, they supported me while I continued to pursue my nursing education. I transferred and became a full-time student at North Park University. By the grace of God, I finally graduated in 2018! Can you believe it!? It took me 11 years in college and yet I never gave up! All those years of my undergrad, I worked in the medical field! And my goal to be a role model to my siblings and to be the first in my family to complete university has been accomplished! In the same year, I went back to Majuro to “ukot boka eo,” and I have been there since. It’s in Majuro where I met my amazing, God-given husband, Romaldo Kon Kabua. We got married kin iakwe and lap tata bwe ilo imaan mejen Iroij en erreo ijin amro. We now have 3 children and we love each of them very much!

In our lives, we go through many valleys, hills, mountains, and storms of life, but when we look at Jesus Christ we are able to overcome all of life’s challenges and still manage to live our life’s purpose with victories. What I’ve shared is a little bit of the divine story God has given me. And I am sharing to encourage you, the reader, as well as point you to the One who helped me throughout my life… to look upon the Lord as your Helper too and never give up on your goals and dreams to be the person and worker God has called you to be. Keep running the race of faith and keep persevering. Jeramon waj im kauteej elap!