My Testimony

I was born into a Christian family. My sister and I were born in Panama, but my mother is from Colombia and my father is from Chile. When I was six, we moved to Ecuador, and this was a great loss and a traumatic event for me, as I felt like I had lost my whole world and had great difficulty adjusting. The problem only worsened when I had to deal with an overprotective father and a sister with severe OCD. So for many years I was filled with anger and resentment. When I was 17, I was diagnosed with chronic depression, and that's when I understood the gospel. I accepted my painful reality (as Jesus says, take up your cross) and decided to follow Jesus and act more like him every day. Since then, I have been very involved in the church and in various ministries where I have grown a lot as a Christian, and God has worked in me beyond any expectation I ever had.

My first experiences in ministry

I remember that growing up, my family was always involved in ministry in one way or another, and therefore I was always close to all the people involved and I myself participated in small ways in various ministries. The first ministry I got involved with was the Agua Viva Foundation, a ministry that works with children in a remote and low-income area, mostly indigenous people. We did many things, from church services and events to social work in various forms. As a teenager, I had more basic responsibilities such as leading the dances to the songs, performing in short plays, helping with multimedia, and various other practical ways of helping. I really enjoyed the activities we did and the team environment. I learned to serve in whatever way was needed and saw how God greatly helped the community through the foundation. I participated in the ministry for about three years.

In University

When I started university, I got involved with CECE (Christian Student Community of Ecuador, part of IFES) thanks to my sister, who had been involved previously. I was the group's coordinator from the first semester, and when I transferred to a different university, I started the group from scratch. Thankfully, the group continued to thrive even after I finished my role as coordinator. During those seven or eight years, I learned a great deal about the Bible and the Gospel, how to teach it, and how to care for people. I also joined the CECE communications team, where I learned a lot about that field.

At Church

During my final years of university, I joined a C3 (Christian Counterculture) university church where several of my friends from CECE attended. I joined the leadership team in 2020. Here, I continued with responsibilities such as creating content, leading Bible studies, and following up with church members. I met many wonderful Christians there and saw how the Lord was with us even during the pandemic, when the church continued to grow while most churches lost many members. I also saw how many of the students took a lot of initiative and started various ministries, such as social outreach and missions. I learned a great deal about how to lead a church, and a very strong community was formed.

My year as a missionary in England

This missionary year just ended for me this August 2024, and I would like to elaborate more on this year of my life, as it was a life-changing experience that clarified my calling to do missions.

This year was unexpected for me because, due to unforeseen circumstances, my plans changed at the last minute, and I decided to volunteer only a few months before the trip. My sister had volunteered the previous year, and I followed in her footsteps. Unlike all the other ministries I had participated in, this was my first full-time one with very diverse activities. So I feel like I learned more in one year than in the several years before.

I feel like there are so many things to share, so I'll mention the most significant ones. I met wonderful Christians who came from countries with a lot of persecution. Nothing speaks of a more genuine faith than being willing to give your life for Jesus. I saw the enormous difference the gospel has made in the West and how these principles are lacking in the East. For example, in East Asia, life is all about work; if you make a mistake, you must be punished; parents have favorite children depending on how successful they are. But Jesus told his disciples to rest, which is why we have the concept of work-life balance. Jesus forgave even the worst criminals, which is why forgiveness is expected, even demanded. Jesus treated everyone equally, and that's why we love our children equally. Our value is given, not earned.

I also made great friends, something I've always struggled with. Some were Christians, others weren't. I saw how everyone can find God through their culture and how the gospel transcends cultural boundaries.

I had the opportunity to discuss the deepest topics with people who were truly searching for the truth.

I realized how much of a difference God makes for those who haven't grown up with Him. That's why I feel called to serve as a missionary. And why Japan? Well, I talked a little about that in the "Home" section ;).