Spirituality
www.SanTanSun.com
May 17 - June 6, 2014
53
Chandler resident shares personal journey BY MEGHAN MCCOY
When Momi Robins-Makaila was introduced to the power of writing as an adult, she began to take stock in her life. Documenting her life story, she began a healing process of sorts and realized she liked the person she became. “It’s very therapeutic,” says the Chandler resident, a teacher at Willis Junior High School. “I tell all my students, ‘Now just write and be truthful. Just write it.’ In the writing it reveals so many things.” Her latest book, “Rescued By a God I Didn’t Know,” helped Robins-Makaila further her healing process once she embraced her struggles. She became honest about her fears while focusing on Christ. Originally from Hawaii, RobinsMakaila says she knew she wanted to be a writer after working on her high school newspaper and yearbook. “I had always known I wanted to write, but never knew what I would write about,” the teacher of 12 years says. Her first book, “Candy Canes and Coke” began her healing journey. “That is a raw and very dysfunctional book that came when I realized my son had this cocaine addiction,” RobinsMakaila says. She says, too, her relationship with her ex-husband was very dysfunctional from the beginning, which she believes is where her son’s addiction manifested. “We crave relationships so much that
we will take whatever we get,” RobinsMakaila says. “I wanted the relationship so bad that I wanted to escape my reality. Even though the relationship was bad, I chose to stay in it.” Once the book was published, she still felt a void. “I realized it was good and it helped me heal, but it didn’t give me what I needed. I had known that I wasn’t living the life I was meant to live,” Robins-Makaila says. “The second book helped me.” “Rescued By a God I Didn’t Know” blossomed after learning the real story behind Jesus and the salvation that he offers. She explains that it made her realize she was not on her own. “Each chapter talks about a struggle that I was going through and how I was able to strengthen that relationship with God through that struggle,” she explains. Once the author learned about the Bible, the Scriptures and the promises Jesus made, she was able to take a step away from herself and understand it was not about her. “There is nothing that I have ever gone through that hasn’t worked itself out,” she says of her past. When she began writing her second book, she went to school and earned her second master’s degree in Christian leadership with a focus in pastoral care. Her first master’s degree is in education. “If I focus on what He did for us, I am rescued,” she says. “I don’t have to beat
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NEW RELEASE: Chandler resident Momi Robins-Makaila released her newest book, “Rescued By a God I Didn’t Know,” which shares her journey of filling a void. Submitted photo
myself up for worrying or doubting or not wanting to put myself out there.” Now she wants to empower others. She says that women are interested in her book because they seek connections and relationships. She says she hopes the book will show women that once they are honest with themselves, they will see growth and improvement that will guide
AUTHOR: Momi Robins-Makaila, a teacher of 12 years, released her second book “Rescued By a God I Didn’t Know.” Submitted photo
them in the direction of becoming closer to the life and person they are striving to become. “Rescued By a God I Didn’t Know” is available on www.amazon.com or www. momirobins-makaila.org. Meghan McCoy is the Neighbors and Business section editor for the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at meghan@ santansun.com.