Here's a brief testimony about me:
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. Grew up in a Christian family. I always went to church but I never really knew why, I just went because that's what my family did. I went to a Christian school up until middle school. Then I changed to a secular school. And it was a big difference. So in middle school, due to being made fun of a lot and a lack of friends, I became very insecure about myself. I was miserable during this time. In high school I changed again to another Christian school. I made a lot of good friends here. But then I started to get involved with the things this world has to offer, putting my identity in these things, like drinking, partying, girls and eventually smoking marijuana. Throughout this whole time I really wanted to get closer to God, but I just didn't know how and didn't have enough determination to do so. In 2009, I had the opportunity to go to a Christian high school in South Carolina. So I went in January. I really thought this would be perfect to get away from the life I had and start fresh with a God-centered life. It didn't happen. I just started hanging out with people that did those same things. Though I did make a lot good friendships that I know will last forever. But I was eventually caught smoking marijuana and ended up getting kicked out in April. I was devastated when it happened, I felt like my whole world was over. Calling my father to tell him what happened was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It was really hard on my parents too. So I flew back to Costa Rica, and my parents welcomed me home like the lost son in Luke 15. By the grace of God, I was able to go back to school in Costa Rica to the school year I would've been in if I hadn't left, which was my last year of high school. But it didn't take long for me to fall back again. In July, the youth group I used to go to when I was in South Carolina, came to Costa Rica on a missions trip for a week. I managed to go where they were going and translate for them. During this time God really touched my heart. I had a little taste of God's love. After that was over, I fell back yet again. But now I knew what I was missing out on, and I knew there was so much more. I graduated that year and I didn't really have a career in mind. So I decided not to go straight to college to study for a career I would probably end up not liking, and instead decided to do a DTS (discipleship training school) with YWAM (youth with a mission). Best decision of my life. I heard from a friend of my mom's about the base in Kona, Hawaii. So I decided to look into it. I ended up doing the Fire & Fragrance DTS in January 2010. It changed me forever. I learned and experienced a lot, both during the lecture period and on outreach. In April, I did my outreach in Haiti, that was 3 months after the earthquake hit. It was a really rough experience but it made me grow so much. After my DTS, both lecture and outreach, I felt like I needed more, and I wasn't ready to leave the community here in Kona. So I decided to do the continuation that Fire & Fragrance offered in July, called the School of Revival & Reformation. That's where I'm at right now. Getting immersed in a culture of worship, prayer and fellowship with God.
Thats a very shortened version of my testimony, just so you guys can know a little of me and what God has done in my life. If I hadn't been kicked out of the school in South Carolina, I'd still be there, and I would be there till mid 2011. I've learned that even when things seem painful at the time, God will use every bad thing for good to those who love Him. Being here has forever changed me. I will never go back to chasing the things of the world but will chase Him instead, because He is the only one worth going after.
