From Wilderness to Wonder

By: France Salariosa Alviz

Mark Alvin Icawat, 29, comes from a family of four. Everything seemed well until he had a series of bleeds and was diagnosed with severe Hemophilia A.

Mark Alvin leads opening prayer during HAP 2nd Anniversary

In the dark
Both of his parents had already retired from teaching by then and the expensive treatment he required was not within their means. The money they borrowed from friends and family incurred them a huge sum of debt which became a setback to their family.

In the face of difficulty, their family remained strong and Mark Alvin learned to be persistent. Through the help of the people around him, he was able to study in regular schools despite his condition. Of course it was not easy, but his desire to improve himself gave him the strength and motivation to earn his bachelor’s degree in Advertising in 2013.

Despite the strength he used to move forward, he could not accept his condition. Mark Alvin asked God why he had to go through such pain — why hadn’t He allowed him to be like the other teens his age? Why couldn’t he do the things he wanted? Mark Alvin was filled with existential questions.

The Light answered
Finally, in 2008, Mark Alvin heard God’s response. He found hope and security in his belief and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. The words in Jeremiah 1:5 comforted him — that God knew him even before he was formed in his mother’s womb. God had plans for his life.

Mark Alvin learned that God was stronger than any weakness, and the struggles he faced in his life could be overcome by believing and trusting the plans his Creator has for him. By asking God to renew his strength daily, he was able to dedicate his life to bring glory to God in spite of, and along with, his disability.

The hardest battles for God’s strongest warriors
In 2016, Mark Alvin experienced severe bleeding on his right thigh that sent him in and out of the hospital. He developed inhibitors that prevented him from using regular clotting medicines.

Having all the reasons to lose hope, Mark Alvin and his family held firmly onto their faith in God and did not waver. They believed and waited for Him to lay His healing hand. Their faith was rewarded with a story about a helpful patient organization.

Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines welcomed them like family. With the help of HAP and generous donors, Mark Alvin was able to receive 3.6 million pesos worth of anti-inhibitor medicines (bypassing agents) for free.

(RIGHT) HAP Youth group visiting Mark Alvin at the hospital; (LEFT) Mark Alvin’s relatives and friends from HAP, with HAP President Andrea Trinidad, Ptr. Alex Tinsay and wife Judy Tinsay at the HAP office.

Newfound strength
“Project SHARE through the Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines has changed my life,” shares Mark Alvin. “They helped me get free access to the medicines we could not otherwise afford. I’m now receiving regular treatment and therapy. I’ve found a family in them and gained friends whom I can share my struggles… We help strengthen each other.”

Mark Alvin is passionate in sharing how God has worked in his life and currently serves as a youth leader at their church, shepherding 100 young men. He devotes time to pray especially for his Tita Andrea Trinidad of HAP and Ms. Laurie Kelley of Project SHARE as his way of supporting them in their advocacy to help people with bleeding disorders.

In his journey as a believer and person with hemophilia, Mark Alvin always carries God’s promise in 1 Corinthians 2:9 with him. The word says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Mark Alvin sharing his testimony at his church, Doulos For Christ