Luis Mario

My name is Luis and I live in Managua, Nicaragua, with my family along with my grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. When I was a kid, I remember always having what I needed. However, after my father separated from my mother she eventually remarried and began to struggle with alcohol. This caused emotional problems for my siblings and me, and over time, I began to resent her.

I had always heard of God and sometimes we went to church, but that was all I knew about God. It was at a Young Life camp that I heard about Jesus in a more meaningful way. During that camp, I decided to accept Jesus as my Savior, and He was the one who freed my heart from all resentment and negative thoughts toward my mom. The loneliness I felt disappeared, and all the emotional baggage I carried was completely removed as I learned to walk by faith.

Now a Developing Global Leader, my plans are to become a professional in the field of tourism and hotel management after I earn my degree from National Polytechnic University and become the first in my family to graduate from university. Above all, I want to reflect the love of Jesus on earth. I want to continue to grow as a leader in Young Life, committed to the mission of reaching young people and talking to them about God. My goal is that through my example and what I share, many can experience a real change in their hearts and find in Jesus the hope and purpose they so desperately need. I also want to be a model of faith and dedication, helping others live according to the values Jesus teaches and see how His love can transform everything.