Mai

I am Mai, and I live in Grand Bassa, Liberia, with my mother and two sisters. Our father abandoned his family when I was four years old. As a single parent, my mother did her utmost to meet our needs as a struggling street vendor. At four years old I joined my mother in the streets to earn money for school fees and provisions for our family. I was a street vendor for sixteen years. Within that period, I encountered several challenges, from sexual assault to petty theft. Knowing my family and future depended on my income, I would not be hindered. God kept me for a purpose and has remained faithful.

At school, I always felt a bit different. I felt so much responsibility; I rarely could be a kid. Then, one day, God put a selfless Young Life leader in my life. He encouraged me to attend a Young Life outreach camp. There, I saw God in an entirely different light. There was joy, laughter, and shared meals. I heard the good news of Jesus Christ and felt unburdened knowing that He cradled me in His arms. Upon returning home, I joined a Campaigners group and began surrounding myself with a Christian community that loved and supported me. Currently, I serve as a Team Leader at a local high school.

As a Developing Global Leader, I attend Grand Bassa University in Buchanan, where I will become a nurse and be the first member of my family to graduate from college. My vision is to care for the underprivileged, ensuring they receive proper medical care. I want to be a beacon of light for those who are hurting and give them the hope I have found in our Great Physician, Jesus.