Marie

My name is Marie. I live in Dakar, Senegal, in the suburbs of Malika with my mother and my sisters. My parents are divorced. My childhood was not easy because I missed my father’s love. He was my confidant. Years passed and I got used to his absence, but there was still a void inside of me.

Throughout my faith journey, I have struggled with forgiveness toward my father. My life was changed into a new, joyful, full life after I attended a Young Life prayer meeting where the theme was forgiveness and love. The preaching changed my way of seeing things and helped me forgive all of the people who have offended me in the past. Prayer is my greatest strength because it has allowed me to be a generous, jovial person, who is open and available, understandable and patient in all things. In my ministry, I am committed to walking with teens and teaching them to pray.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leaders scholarship, I am studying science and medicine at the Health Services Institute in Dakar. With my degree, I would like to work as a nurse. I live in a country where the health of the poor population is often threatened by negligence to those who have no money to afford proper care. I deplore this travesty which is why I am involved in the health field in order to be able to help those who are abandoned and forgotten. I hope to help the needy and point souls to Jesus. I also want to expand my Young Life ministry and spread the joy and love of belonging to Jesus to the whole world. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college.