“I loved church as a kid—it felt like a big, safe family—and I was so full of joy reading the Bible and serving others. But when my family moved from Mexico to the U.S. when I was 15, the shift to a new language and culture left me feeling isolated. I was known for being outspoken in my faith, but I wasn’t as holy as people thought I was. Behind closed doors, I coped with my loneliness in unhealthy ways. I tried changing my behavior, but I couldn’t.
“I didn’t realize confessing my sin would help set me free until I told my parents everything. They showed me so much grace, and that was the first time I experienced the gospel for myself. I knew Jesus died and rose again to forgive my sins, but when my parents responded to my confession with love instead of condemnation, I understood what God’s forgiveness looked like.
“A few months later, I understood that Jesus wasn’t only a friend who loved me, but I needed him to be my savior. I surrendered my life to Jesus, and that’s when it all came together for me: My sin left me dead, but Jesus took that death on himself on the cross, and when he rose again, it was to break the chains sin had on me and make me new.
“Two years later, I met a missionary for the first time. Growing up in Mexico, I thought missions was only for Americans, so learning that I was also called to ‘go therefore and make disciples of all nations’ (Matthew 28:18-20) was revolutionary. Just six months later, I went on a mission trip to India that changed my life.
“While in India, Christ gave me love and compassion for the people there. My heart broke as I saw Hindu worshipers offering sacrifices to false idols, statues they believed to be their gods. There was one Hindu ritual I observed that made me weep, and I felt my heart ache as I sensed the Lord telling me, ‘These people are dying in front of you, spending their lives worshiping false gods, because no one has told them my name.’
“Everything those people did revealed they were searching for the true God, and I knew him. I refused to have the answer the world was looking for and keep it to myself. I wanted to dedicate my life to knowing God and making him known where he was not yet known (Romans 15:20-21).
“After college, I got to make God known as I went overseas to do humanitarian aid with a Christian organization. It was a challenging few years, but I saw God move in incredible ways. I got to see the local church in East Africa and the Middle East step up in serving those who were hurting in Jesus’s name. In places where the church should be shrinking, it was growing twice as fast.
“In 2022, I was asked to go to Ukraine, and I was terrified. The war had caused one of the greatest humanitarian crises since World War II. I had processed the question, ‘Am I willing to live and die for the sake of the gospel?’ in theory, but in Ukraine, it was reality. I spent countless nights in the bunker under attack, counting the cost of saying yes to what God had called me to do.
“I experienced God as my shield and fortress as he physically protected me each night: He was faithful, kind, and gentle to keep me safe (Psalm 4:8; 46:1-11). Even though serving the people of Ukraine was hard, I feel incredibly privileged to have not only met people's physical needs but shared how they, too—if they place their faith in Jesus—could have hope because God has overcome the world. (John 16:33).
“Coming home was the hardest thing I have ever done. It’s hard enough to come back after being on the field, but my mom’s chronic illness flared up. While she was in and out of the ER, I was battling PTSD. During that time, I questioned, Why would God allow me to suffer while I’ve tried to be faithful?
“Then, I remembered how much suffering Paul endured as he obeyed God, and how he counted it joy (2 Corinthians 11:23-31; Romans 5:3-5). God reminded me he never promised life without suffering, but to be with us in it. God’s call to make disciples of all nations comes with a promise that he ‘will be with us always, even to the end of the age.’
“By God’s grace, he healed me from PTSD, and I got to know him as a loving Father even more. So, when he called me back to the Middle East amidst another conflict last year, I was overjoyed to be part of ‘my Father’s business’ through missions again.
“This past year, I’ve served with the International Missions team through the Watermark Institute, Watermark’s fellowship program. There, I’ve been encouraged to remain steadfast in obeying God by serving his people, sharing the gospel, and teaching others about missions. I don’t know what God has for my future, but I know his call on my life—and on yours—is to know Jesus and make him known, especially among those who have never heard.”