Despite multi-generational dysfunction, a young woman finds God.

My mother had a difficult childhood. When she was ten years old, my grandparents separated. My grandmother and her two daughters went to live in a country house on the outskirts of the town of Zarzal, Valle del Cauca, where she worked very hard. Unfortunately, my mother was often neglected, and at age eleven, she was sexually abused by an older man. This incident pained my grandmother. She decided to move the family to the big city of Cali, and it was there, some years later, that she became good friends with some women from the local Seventh-day Adventist church. My grandmother eventually accepted the gospel message and remarried.

Living in a city as big as Cali, my grandmother and my aunt, María Eugenia, went through difficult circumstances. When María Eugenia was 14 years of age, she decided to live with a 21-year-old named Hernán. It wasn’t easy for my grandmother to accept this situation, but by the grace of God, he turned out to be responsible and married her.

Several years passed; then my mother started dating men. Childhood trauma complicated her growing up years, and she struggled with anxiety and depression. She gave birth to two girls: Valentina and myself. I never knew who my father was. I lived such an unstable life that by the age of three, Colombia’s family welfare program prepared to remove me from the home. My grandmother quickly intervened and became my guardian for a time.

When my grandmother ran into some marital issues with her new husband, she asked María Eugenia and Hernán to take care of me for a few days. But after meeting me, they decided to raise me indefinitely.

I could not understand why all of these changes happened in my life. But a bright spot happened each week when I walked to the Seventh-day Adventist church with my aunt and cousins. As I grew into adolescence, our church family splintered, and my aunt became withdrawn. “There isn’t any more money for the church rent,” some said. “People with different teachings are visiting us,” others explained. The church closed, and the atmosphere at home declined over the next several years.

One day, I happened to learn that the church had reopened. My Aunt María Eugenia was very happy with this news! A pastor from Cali came to give lectures in Unión Valle, and we attended together. It was a special week in my life: I decided to give myself to the Lord. I was baptized on God’s holy day, Sabbath, May 4th, along with my aunt. We shared moments of great joy! I am grateful to the Lord for this new opportunity, and I ask for prayers to persevere! No matter how broken one’s family may be, God is always there to offer hope.

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Location
Colombia

Author
Narrated by Valeria to Juvenal Galo who is the director of the Bible and Evangelism Department at Fundación Las Delicias.

How You Can Help
Pray for Valeria as she starts her walk with Christ! Pray that her family can receive the help they need and find peace in their minds.  

Give to the work in Colombia by sending your donations marked “Colombia Evangelism” to:

Mission Projects International
PO Box 237
Kirksville, MO 63501

To give securely online, visit: 
www.missionspro.org/donate

Thank You! Fundación Las Delicias says “thank you” to all the MPI supporters for your contributions to God’s work in their part of the world!