Lester Jose

My name is Lester. I live with my mother and extended family. We live in a neighborhood where there’s a lot of drugs; they’re sold on every corner. You can see groups of young people and adults smoking openly. Most young people barely pass high school or drop out; the majority choose a bad life or get jobs that just cover expenses.

I always lived with my mother, my grandmother and my brothers. When I was 12 years old my mother left home for one of her partners, stopped caring about us, and my grandmother had to manage alone. I felt that I had to beg for my mother’s love. When I was 18 years old, I couldn't find meaning in anything I did or anything I had in my life. I only heard voices in my head that made me feel bad. It was then that I learned about the ministry of Young Life from a friend. During the talk about the prodigal son and how the father loved despite all I heard a different voice that said, “I'm still waiting for you”. I began to have a better relationship with Jesus and returned to church.

Now, as a Developing Global Leader I want to be able to study languages, be an interpreter and translator to be able to help many young people. I want to reach other places like the Atlantic coast of my country where English is partially spoken and to be able to talk about Jesus to all the people who God puts in my path.