35 Years in New Zealand: A Journey of Grace, Growth & Gratitude
By Brenda Cacho-Bevin
Thirty-five years ago today, a 26-year-old Filipina stepped off the plane at Wellington Airport with nothing but excitement, hope, and a heart wide open to God’s leading. That young woman was me. I had no idea that Aotearoa would become the land where some of the most beautiful chapters of my life would unfold.
When I look back on these 35 years, my heart overflows. New Zealand has been more than a country, she has been a blessing, a teacher, and my true home.
A Landing That Changed My Life
I arrived in 1990, welcomed not just by the beauty of Aotearoa, but by the most important people who supported me from day one: my two loving sisters, Norma and Ate Melyn (bless her soul).
They came to New Zealand a year before I did, and it was because of them that I entered this new life with confidence and comfort. Their love sheltered me from homesickness. I was surrounded by family, embraced with warmth, and guided gently into my new world.
For a migrant, that kind of foundation is priceless, and it shaped everything that followed.
The Life New Zealand Has Given Me
Today, I look back at three and a half decades of blessings:
🌿 Lifelong friendships that have become chosen family
🌿A rewarding career in accounting, an awakened life with essential oils and businesses that continue to grow
🌿 A spiritual home where my faith deepened and strengthened me
🌿 Unforgettable travels that enriched my soul
🌿 A meaningful wellness journey that allowed me to serve, teach, and inspire
🌿A rewarding career in accounting, an awakened life with essential oils and businesses that continue to grow
🌿 A spiritual home where my faith deepened and strengthened me
🌿 Unforgettable travels that enriched my soul
🌿 A meaningful wellness journey that allowed me to serve, teach, and inspire
🌿 And most of all, my beautiful family - my loving husband Gary and our three amazing children: Monica, Christopher, and Thomas
Aotearoa gave me room to grow, to reinvent myself, to serve, and to live with intention and passion.
Shaped by Every Joy and Every Trial
New Zealand taught me resilience, courage, and purpose. Every experience, joyful or painful, molded me into the woman I am today.
From navigating the early years as a young migrant, to building my career and businesses, to caregiving for my beloved husband as he journeys through Parkinson’s disease, I can now see how every season was guided by God’s hand.
Nothing has been wasted. Everything has been grace.
Gratitude to the God Who Led Me Here
When I reflect on these 35 years, gratitude is the only word that comes to my heart. God brought me to Aotearoa, carried me through every chapter, and surrounded me with people who lifted me up.
This milestone is a reminder that life is a gift, not because it has been easy, but because God has been present through it all.
To New Zealand: Thank You for Being My Home
Ngā mihi nui, Aotearoa.
Thank you for embracing me, shaping me, and giving me the space to become who I am today.
And thank You, Lord, for every blessing, every lesson, and every moment of grace in these last 35 years. My heart is full.
Looking Ahead: More Years of Purpose, Service & Love
Here’s to more years of meaningful work, healing, service, joy, and deep gratitude.
Life is beautiful, and I am forever grateful.
