Antony

My name is Antony and I live in Piedra Blanca, Bonao in the Dominican Republic. My childhood was difficult because I come from a dysfunctional home. My parents split up when I was three, and I was unable to enjoy a parent’s love at an early age. My brother and I moved in with our aunt and even from a young age it felt like it was us against the world.

I was introduced to God at an early in my life through church and although I liked going, I did not understand what was preached or what I read from the Bible. I prayed to God and told him that I would return when I was eighteen. However, when I was eighteen, my life was very messy, and I didn't know what I wanted. Although I vividly remembered the promise I had made to God, I refused to go back even though God started to work in my life and was orchestrating everything. I made changes in my life because I was unhappy and I no longer did the same things as before, but I was still outside of the ways of the gospel. I stopped smoking and my life changed further, but I was still missing Jesus in my life until a friend invited me to a Young Life camp. With the first experience at camp my life began to change and when I returned the second time, I was able to be free of all the things that kept me far from Jesus and I asked Jesus Christ to be the owner of my life.

Now as a Developing Global Leader, I am studying engineering at Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and hope to become a land surveyor. I have always wanted to pursue a career that allows me to provide for my family while having time to put my family first and still serve in the Young Life ministry and my church.