Mathea

My name is Mathea, and I live in Bergen, Norway, with a friend who is also in school. I grew up in a small town outside of Trondheim, Norway, with my parents and two siblings. Even though I was raised in a God-centered family where I was told “I love you” every single day, I still felt that my worth was tied to my achievements. God worked on me, and He has transformed my inner life, and now I feel a freedom to rest in God’s grace and in what He says is my true worth. 

I grew up in a small church in my hometown, and my personal journey with Jesus began gradually in middle school when I started reading the Bible on my own and reflecting on what it really meant to be a Christian. My journey with Jesus continued into high school and He became truly real to me. The first time I heard about Young Life was when I attended Bible school. The work that Young Life does is revolutionary in youth ministry, and I wanted to be a part of it. I am now a volunteer Young Life leader with high school students. I also coach a girls’ football team with twenty wonderful 14-year-olds. I want to show all of them Jesus.

As a recipient of the Developing Global Leader scholarship, I am studying science and medicine at the University of Bergen in Bergen, Norway. When I graduate, I want to be a doctor and help people who are suffering. I hope to meet people in vulnerable situations with compassion and a glimpse of Jesus. I also want to continue volunteering with Young Life and I am passionate about telling middle school students that they are worth so much more than what the world tells them.