What Moving to a Foreign Country Taught Me about Spiritual Self-Reliance

By Clariza Chavez

Spiritual self-reliance doesn’t mean doing everything on our own; it’s about relying on the Lord.

When I moved from Peru to the United States to be a live-in nanny, everything felt so foreign. The language, culture, food, and weather were all so different.

It was also the first time I’d been on my own. Growing up, attending church was simply part of my family’s life. I loved it, but it was easy to rely on my family to stay spiritually strong.

It wasn’t until I moved that I began to understand what it meant to be spiritually self-reliant.

Finding Strength in the Church

When I moved, I didn’t know anyone and couldn’t speak English. I felt lost, disconnected, and alone. It was terrifying.

When I’d shared my concerns about living in a different country with my mom, she’d advised me, “Wherever you go, look for the Church.”

So that’s exactly what I did: I located the nearest chapel and found my ward. Little did I know that this simple step would be a turning point in my journey of spiritual self-reliance.

My first Sunday in this new country was overwhelming, but being welcomed by the members of my new ward was a true miracle. One sister invited me to attend institute, and through that, I not only improved my English but also expanded my circle of friends.

Thanks to institute, I attended a nearby conference for young single adults in the Church and connected with other young adults who were striving to live the gospel.

I truly felt my spiritual self-reliance growing as I prayerfully lived my covenants, took the sacrament each Sunday, and served others.

Relying on the Lord

Despite all these blessings, I still faced challenges.

Working as a live-in nanny didn’t go as smoothly as I was expecting. My host family didn’t keep up their end of our contract, and I ended up deciding to search for a new job and place to live.

There were many nights when I didn’t know where I would go. The search seemed endless, and tension with my host family made me question everything.

I knew that the first step was to pray to Heavenly Father about my situation. As Elder Clement M. Matswagothata, Area Seventy, taught: “Be prayerful as you look for ways to become self-reliant. I assure you that Heavenly Father will bring thoughts into your mind and will bless you.”

Every night, I turned to Heavenly Father in prayer, asking not only for a way out but for strength to act on promptings. I knew that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).

When I shared my situation with friends in the ward, a sister offered me a part-time job, helping me save extra money to support myself. I was so grateful that I’d connected with my ward and could rely on them during this difficult time.

Embracing Spiritual Growth

Eventually, I found a new host family in Utah. After much prayer, I felt strongly that this was where I needed to be. I moved again, finding a YSA ward where I could continue to serve and grow.

This experience taught me that self-reliance—spiritual or temporal—doesn’t mean facing everything on our own. As Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “‘Self-reliance’ does not mean relying only on ourselves. Ultimately it means faith and reliance on the Lord. Self-reliance is a choice we make to come unto the Lord so He can help us help others.”

Through faith and humility, we can surrender our weaknesses, and the Lord can “make weak things become strong” (Ether 12:27). My weaknesses became opportunities for me to grow closer to God, relying on Him to help me “to act, to stand independent, and to become as He is.”

Whenever I feel uncertain or scared about the future, prioritizing my relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by praying, connecting with my fellow disciples, and renewing my covenants helps me feel peace.

Looking back on my journey, I see that every challenge was an opportunity for spiritual growth. Just like my temporal self-reliance grew, my spiritual self-reliance grew as I acted to strengthen my relationship with God.

No matter where life takes me, I always remember my mom’s counsel to look for the Church—to look for Christ. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are fully aware of my circumstances. Wherever I go, turning to Them always points me in the right direction.