Kristina's Tesimony of Salvation

Let me tell you a story about the day my life changed and my eyes were opened to the truth. Growing up, I was a little girl who knew a lot about the Bible and what was right and wrong. But time after time, I was reminded that I had darkness around me and in me that kept me separated from God. I grew up struggling to make friends, and sometimes feeling depressed, unforgiven and unloved. My parents guided my siblings and I to participate in church activities and to learn about the Bible from an early age, but all my head-knowledge did not cleanse me from my anxiety that I was rebellious and unable to save myself from the evil inside me.

When I was 16 I had tried to make friends with the world and be accepted by my peers who I sought my value and acceptance in their friendship. I lived a frustrated life, angry with my family, hurt from past mistakes, running away from the guilt of my poor choices from before. I felt unworthy, fake, and alone. But I decided to challenge my fears and become an exchange student to Central America, asking the Father in heaven to reveal Himself to me. I believed He existed but I wanted to test what a relationship with Him really meant by leaving my comfort zone and seeking to understand a live and active faith in Him.

I returned a year later to California and began the process of re-entry as I readjusted to the different perspectives of people back home. As I was sitting in church one Sunday in September of 2000, I watched the imagery projected through the giant screen in front of the church building as a soloist sang in thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. A inexplicable sensation came over my physical body as my skin jumped out in goosebumps. God spoke to me through a voice in my heart that said, “Do not be afraid I am God your Father who I am with you wherever you go.”

Waterfalls of pain and past hurt surged from my eyes as I bowed my head in shame. Who was I to hear the voice of God?

I broke down inside and confessed that from all the wrong I had done against Him I did not deserve the honor of Him recognizing me. As I wept, He revealed Himself more vividly through the images of Christ and His precious blood that splattered on the screen and on the chambers of my heart. All of a sudden verses started bubbling from my heart: He sent His one and only Son Jesus so that we might have eternal life, if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, He is the way and the truth and the life, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God which we find through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Harder I cried. How would He want to save me? I felt a great peace as He spoke that He had died for the world, but He had also died for me. I knew in my heart that I was worthy for His love and gift of salvation because He had made me worthy. I sensed that He had forgiven me and He is faithful to restore me to a authentic relationship with Him. I realized that He is the only way to get to my heavenly Father and that Jesús, the Son of God, had risen to bring me healing, life, joy, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Luis Diego´s testimony of salvation

Luis Diego’s Testimony

My mother lived with her family in the countryside of Costa Rica. She became pregnant outside of wedlock and made the decision to avoid problems with her family and work in the city during her pregnancy. Eventually, I was born in San José, Costa Rica on August 22nd, 1972. After my birth, my mother took me to another family and paid them to bring me up along with another one of my sisters.

A little bit before I was ten years-old, my mother made the decision to take my sister and I to live with her in another town and begin living with her.

In reality, all my childhood I grew up without experiencing firsthand a father’s love. My father was absent in my life, and as an adult I analyze how important it is for a child to have a healthy relationship with their father. As a result of the conditions of my family relationships, I felt very insecure, unstable, unintelligent and confused during my youth. Many times those same feelings would stir in me even when a father-like figure would hug me during that time in my life.

When I was 13 years-old, I finished grade school and chose to stay at home. My daily activities consisted of waiting for my mom to go cook in some restaurant at ten in the morning, and I would leave the house to look through dumpsters to try to find some article of clothing, shoes, or other objects of some facevalue.

As an adolescent, I was known for being a trouble-maker and a jokester even among my friends. I argued alot with my mother and my two younger sisters.

One day, I had a big fight with my mom and left home. As I escaped farther and farther from the house, I talked to God and asked Him if He really existed even in the midst of all my trials and confusion. Tears fell down my face and I started to cry like a little baby. Through what I now know is the Holy Spirit, I felt a great release. I will never forget that day when I talked to God. A couple days later, someone invited me to go to church. I arrived to a Saturday night youth group. There I accepted Jesús Christ and I found the love that I needed so desperately. Jesús Christ, the Son of God died on the cross for my sins and forgave all my rebellions. He cleansed me whiter than snow and helped me to reach my heavenly Father.