Lily Marlinda

My name is Lily, and I live in Masaya, Nicaragua, with my family made up of my father, mother, older brother, and sister. We experienced difficult times due to financial hardship. When my parents both lost their jobs, my father moved in search of better opportunities resulting in my parents splitting up and my mother busy working to support us. With my parents absent, my older sister became my authority figure, she was like a mother to me. I harbored resentment toward my parents, avoiding my mother, and rarely speaking to my father. We were a very distant family.

I knew Jesus existed, but I never thought He would see me and call me. However, I experienced that at my first Young Life camp when my life changed meeting someone who deeply cared about my feelings and wanted to heal my heart, Jesus. He filled me with His love and compassion; Jesus healed my heart and restored my family. Today, my parents are together and have healed their marriage, my family is more stable, and my heart has found peace. I believe that God has a purpose for my life, one that goes beyond any earthly goal. I trust that, with His guidance, I can positively impact others’ lives and be a testament to His love and restoration.

As a Developing Global Leader, my vision is to connect my professional life and goals with my spiritual life and leadership. As a marketing student attending Keiser University, I hope to develop the skills to make a positive impact on brands or organizations through my professional knowledge, always remembering that I chose a creative field that would allow me to connect with people and impact others.