levelupwithZandra
Embracing the Call in America
The vision of living for something greater than myself did not begin in America. It was already stirring back in the Philippines, where I first pursued business endeavors with a heart to create and to help. At that time, I never imagined that this vision would follow me across oceans, and yet, it did.
When we arrived in the United States as tourists, uncertain of what the future would hold, the call to permanence pressed upon us. To make that possible, I worked as an accountant by day and as a caregiver by night. Growing up as the daughter of a military father and a housekeeper mother, I thought I was prepared for hardship. Yet nothing could have prepared me for the abasement and pruning I would endure in America.
For nearly two years, I worked almost twenty-four hours a day, splitting my time between offices and sickrooms. By morning I was an accountant, and by night I cared for patients, often sleeping along the corridor of a beautiful home, separated from the cold outdoors only by glass doors and walls. I stayed alert in fear that my patient might fall during my watch. In those long nights, I came to understand more deeply the meaning of service. True service is costly, it demands sacrifice, but it is also sacred.
That season became the foundation of my journey as a registered nurse. Like many immigrants, I pursued the profession for a higher-paying salary, yet even with three jobs together with my husband, it was never enough to cover the expenses of processing our papers and meeting the needs of our family. And yet, in the midst of exhaustion, the vision within me only grew stronger.
It started as small steps in business back in the Philippines was rekindled here in America. It was never just about earning, it was about serving. I realized that what I could build, no matter how small, could become a source of purpose and provision for others. That conviction led to the creation of Osher Resources Inc., a company that, through refining and many changes, revealed itself to be destined for something far greater than myself or my family. What began as a single step of faith and vision became the seed for multiplication. Through that first company, we were able to build more — expanding opportunities, creating impact, and developing platforms that elevate others. Each business became not only a means of provision, but also a channel for transformation, carrying forward my commitment to improve lives one person at a time.
From that seed, other endeavors were born. Through them, people found not just employment, but dignity and stability. They were able to support their families, build their futures, and even achieve the ultimate dream of citizenship through the work they performed.